Though most people know Tyron Woodley for his punishing power inside the cage, the UFC welterweight will showcase his talents on the big screen in N.W.A: Straight Outta’ Compton.
Speaking with Patrick Whitney (P.A.W.) of The Main Event Zone, Woodley went into detail about his time on set with rap legends Ice Cube and Dr.Dre, his role in the film, and the influence the experience left him with.
“When I was on set, one day I just sat there like man, I’m sitting next to Ice Cube and Dr.Dre and I’m doing this scene, and I’m like, I’m making history right now. It didn’t really sink in with me until after the shoot, but I’m a part of history,” Woodley told The Main Even Zone.
The film is not Woodley’s first foray into film, following brief appearances in 2013’s Olympus Has Fallen and 2014’s Blunt Force, but arguably his most notable.
In the film Woodley, the current #4 ranked UFC welterweight, plays T-Bone – a rapper part of the Lynch Mob – a group started by Ice Cube upon leaving N.W.A to start his own record label, Lynch Records, in the early 90’s.
“In the movie I’m with Ice Cube a lot, and in the movie it’s actually Ice Cube’s son, who looks a lot like Ice Cube, and knows the story better than anybody, because he was literally born during the story, so there’s a lot of passion from all the actors in their particular roles, and I’m like his road dog, so you’ll see me riding with him quite a bit in the movie.”
Woodley’s acting crossover follows in the footsteps of fellow UFC Stars, George St. Pierre, Ronda Rousey, and Rampage Jackson, to name a few, who have all been successful in their transition from steel cage to silver screen – an often sought after post-fight career.
Woodley, however, told Main Event Zone he hopes to use his time in the spotlight not to promote himself, but as an opportunity to bring awareness to issues surrounding his community.
“If you’re a celebrity and you have any kind of platform, it’s your job to go out there and inspire these kids, because these kids live in your neighborhood that you made it out of, and found a way to be successful in it.”
It’s a motif he told P.A.W that he sees in rap icons N.W.A
“These guys aren’t in Compton selling drugs, they’re not out there bringing hoodlums with them trying to keep it real – They’ve been successful in life. They’ve used their pain and put it in their writing, they used the opportunity with their music to go and see parts of the world they never would have as young inner city kids from Compton.”
Check out The Main Event Zone’s full interview with Tyron Woodley Below
