Woodley won't be cleared to fight until August

The highly anticipated return of UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley to the Octagon won't come until the latter portion of the summer, at the earliest.

"We were trying to get him to fight, he came back with a doctor's note that says he is injured and he cannot fight until August," UFC president Dana White said Wednesday on "UFC Tonight."

Woodley has been battling a shoulder injury that's prevented him from stepping inside the cage since July 2017. He's been vocal about his desire for a big-money fight when he returns, and said in February he was eyeing a bout against Nate Diaz.

With Woodley's absence set to continue, Rafael dos Anjos and Colby Covington are scheduled to battle for the interim welterweight title at UFC 224 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.