Lloyd Woodard
Lloyd Woodard is an American professional mixed martial artist, currently competing in Titan FC's lightweight division. A professional competitor since 2005, Woodard has also formerly competed for Bellator and King of the Cage.
Background
Lloyd Woodard was born in Memphis, Tennessee, the third youngest of nine children. At the age of two, his parents divorced and him and his siblings were relocated to relatives' homes in different regions of the country. In South Memphis, Woodard learned to defend himself, being biracial, poor, and having a speech impediment until high school.At Hellgate High School in Missoula, Montana, Woodard excelled at wrestling. He frequented a local boxing gym and competed in amateur mixed martial arts fights before becoming a professional.
In a Bellator interview, Woodard stated that he went through a "bad kid" phase growing up. When Woodard's best friend at the time got into an altercation with a former University of Montana basketball player, he and the rest of his friends came to Woodard, the "tough kid" on the block. Woodard avenged his friend by going to the basketball player's house and beating him severely. Woodard referred to this as the "breaking point" of his life. Although he did not participate in the fight, Woodard was convicted of felony burglary and violated his probation after getting into additional fights.
After his probation, he ended up in a prison boot camp. He said he was "glad it happened because I could control my feelings a lot better and have more control of my life."
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Woodard's first MMA match was on March 19, 2005. Before his professional debut on October 11, 2008, he amassed a 4-1 record. He made a name for himself as a "scrappy fighter" with "unorthodox" submission skills. Prior to signing with Bellator, Woodard amassed a perfect 10-0 record.Bellator
Lloyd Woodard is currently signed to Bellator, competing in their Lightweight division. Woodard made his Bellator debut at Bellator 36 on March 12, 2011, where he defeated Carey Vanier via TKO. Woodard lost for the first time in his career by decision to future Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler as a Lightweight semifinalist in the Bellator Season Tournament. In the quarter finals of Bellator's Season 6 Lightweight Tournament, Woodard faced Patricky Freire at Bellator 62. Woodard defeated Freire via submission in a back-and-forth fight. On April 20, 2012, Woodard faced Rick Hawn in the semifinals. Woodard lost the bout via knockout in the second round.Woodard then participated in the Bellator Season 8 Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinals on January 31, 2013 at Bellator 87 against David Rickels. Woodard lost via unanimous decision.
Post-Bellator
Woodard faced Dave Courchaine at ICF: Intense Cage Fighting 8 on March 22, 2013. Woodard lost via split decision, his third loss in a row. Woodard rebounded with a first-round TKO victory against Jerome Jones at KOTC: Unleashed on February 13, 2014.Woodard is currently signed to Titan Fighting Championship. He made his debut for the organization against Kurt Holobaugh in a Titan FC Featherweight title eliminator bout on August 22, 2014 at Titan FC 29. He lost via TKO in just 15 seconds of round one. Woodard was expected to face Danny White at GCMMA: Magic City Mayhem 4 on October 14, 2014. However, the bout was cancelled for unknown reasons.