TAMPA – The expectation of ridicule was already on Tyron Woodley’s mind, though the least of his concerns.

The former UFC welterweight champion not only suffered a loss in his first pro boxing match, but also had to honor a pre-fight bet made with his eventual conqueror. A split decision defeat to content creator-turned-cruiserweight prospect Jake Paul left a bitter taste in Woodley’s mouth, though not to the point where he would go back on his word to get a tattoo with the inscription, ‘I love Jake Paul.’

Ever the sportsman, Woodley made good on his promise—though strategically placing it on the inside of his middle finger.

“To be honest, I controlled where it was placed,” Woodley told BoxingScene.com and other reporters ahead of his upcoming rematch with Paul. “I put the tattoo in place where when you’re lifting weights, when you’re training, there’s nothing you wash more than your hands. It’s gonna wear down anyway.

“I feel like if he would have lost the bet, he would’ve gotten the tattoo or he wouldn’t have made the bet. It doesn’t really bother me. What I’ve done in combat sports and what I’m gonna continue to do is cemented.”

Woodley (0-1 as a boxer) has a chance to get his revenge and supplement his base income in the process. The 39-year-old from Ferguson, Missouri immediately jumped at the opportunity to rematch Paul (4-0, 3KOs), a content creator originally from the greater Cleveland area who now lives and trains in Puerto Rico. The unexpected rematch came about when England’s Tommy Fury (7-0, 4KOs) suffered a broken rib and bronchial chest infection in dropping out of the December 18 Showtime Pay-Per-View event from AMALIE Arena in Tampa, Florida.

A knockout win by Woodley will activate a $500,000 bonus clause, which he fully expects Paul to honor. Meanwhile, whatever criticism has come from the first fight and the aftermath continues to go ignored.

“I’m not really worried about the naysayers,” insists Woodley. “If my opponents make a bet with me, I’m gonna honor the deal. Nobody can say sh!t to me, I’d probably be able to beat your ass anyway. For anyone coming at me, you’re probably broke and still chasing your dreams, spending a lot of time on the internet trying to tell me what I should do.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox