Tag: woodley vs wonderboy 2

Wonderboy: Tyron Woodley Has Been Begging For Money Fights

For the second time in his UFC career, Stephen Thompson will compete for a belt on March 4. Although he didn’t lose against Tyron Woodley during their UFC 205 clash, ‘Wonderboy’ also didn’t have his hand raised. When the resulting draw was (eventually) read out, talk of a rematch was immediately in motion. Having gone

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For the second time in his UFC career, Stephen Thompson will compete for a belt on March 4. Although he didn’t lose against Tyron Woodley during their UFC 205 clash, ‘Wonderboy’ also didn’t have his hand raised. When the resulting draw was (eventually) read out, talk of a rematch was immediately in motion. Having gone five hard rounds with ‘The Chosen One’ with no clear winner, a second go seemed the obvious option, maybe the only one. Soon after that November night in New York, the champion threw some other ideas out there.

Chucking his name in the hat for fights against Nick Diaz and Conor McGregor, to name a few, Woodley kept us all guessing. Would Thompson really be denied a second crack of the whip? As it turns out, no, but there were reports that Diaz had indeed been offered a fight against the champion. Speaking to our good friends Submission Radio, ‘Wonderboy’ details the timeline of events leading to the UFC 209 booking, and also the heat surrounding the rivalry with Woodley.

Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Wonderboy Says Woodley Is Entitled

“I didn’t have to work too hard to get this fight. I know he was talking about McGregor, St-Pierre and Bisping. If it’s a draw, you always run it back. I was surprised when he was talking about other people, he was talking about all these guys. I got the contract before the Christmas break and sent it right back. Then I posted a picture of the contract on Twitter, and I think it hit a nerve. He told me later that he was going to sign and announce the fight, and that I had kinda jumped the gun by announcing it.”

“I laughed (when Woodley said I was entitled). There’s not an entitled bone in my body. I didn’t ask the UFC for the contract, they sent it to me. If anything it seems like he’s entitled, begging for the money fight and riding these other guy’s coat tails.”

Racism Comments

During a number of interviews since UFC 205, Tyron Woodley has claimed to be the worst treated UFC champion. Citing his race as the reason for alleged lesser treatment from his employers, ‘T-Wood’ has sparked some tense debates. Responding to these claims, Thompson says he doesn’t see Woodley as the most hated champ:

“The guy hasn’t been champion long enough to even feel this way. To me it seems like the most hated champion would be Bisping. (Tyron) hasn’t defended the title like he’s supposed to. When it comes to race, that’s stupid. One of the highest paid athletes in the UFC is Jon Jones, Anderson Silva too.”

“He’s focusing on that, and he should be focusing on the task at hand. I don’t want to fight a distracted Tyron Woodley. I don’t see what goes on from his point of view, during negotiations, maybe I’m missing something. From my side, it’s not necessary. I know the fans were more on my side because of him denying me, he was asking for a money fight.”

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Tyron Woodley Says The UFC Has Contacted Him About Racism Comments

During the UFC 205 co-main event, a lot of questions were answered about Tyron Woodley. The apparent misconception about him being able to go five rounds was vanquished, for a start. Also answered emphatically was his ability to deal with a diverse pressure striker such as Stephen Thompson. Perhaps fuelled by his performance against Rory

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During the UFC 205 co-main event, a lot of questions were answered about Tyron Woodley. The apparent misconception about him being able to go five rounds was vanquished, for a start. Also answered emphatically was his ability to deal with a diverse pressure striker such as Stephen Thompson. Perhaps fuelled by his performance against Rory MacDonald, Woodley’s perceived chances against ‘Wonderboy’ weren’t great according to some fans. What’s happened in the time since has kept Woodley in the headlines, and able to get what he feels is a very important message heard.

Since winning the UFC welterweight title against Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley has found himself in a powerful position. Able to have his voice heard on a global scale, ‘The Chosen One’ has been raising some sensitive issues. Pointing out problems which he feels are buoyed by racism and prejudice in the UFC, ‘T-Wood’ has gone where nobody, especially not a champion, has ever delved before. Obviously his claims were met with a frenzy of debates, and so Woodley has tried to clarify his comments in his latest interview.

Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

The Sensitive Issue

Speaking with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Woodley touches on his reasons for speaking up about racism and prejudice in MMA:

“It was never convenient, it was never comfortable, never the right time. Same thing with any other freedom fighter. Martin Luther King. I’m not comparing myself — because I know some people are gonna take this to left field — I’m not comparing myself to the great Muhammad Ali or Martin Luther King, what I’m telling you is that at that time they did not know they were going to be Martin Luther King and Muhammad Ali. They did not know that they were going to be figures that did so much outside of their field to impact change. They did it because it was right.”

“What is our platform for? Is it for me to make all this money and showboat and talk about how great I am, or is it to speak to a large group of people all at once, knowing that everybody won’t receive it, but the fact that some will?”

Support From The UFC

Further explaining his comments, Woodley says that not everybody will understand. Although his former and next opponent Thompson may not see it, ‘The Chosen One’ says the UFC is supporting him:

“He won’t understand it, he won’t get it. Because it’s not him. … That does not mean it does not exist. I think what we have is, is individuals who have not participated and individuals who have not done it themselves. Since they have not, they feel like it’s not happening.”

“If you look at the history of our sport, not just our sport, the history of the American culture. Certain things are subliminally racist that people don’t understand are racist,”

“If it wasn’t a problem and if it wasn’t a current situation that exists in the sport, why would my promoter be contacting me on how to solve the problem? Now, hats off to them, because they didn’t have to do that.”

Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Thoughts

Currently set to rematch ‘Wonderboy’ at UFC 209, Woodley certainly has a lot on his plate right now. Their first bout was a thrilling draw, and showed the fighting spirit of both men. Taking on a new cause outside the octagon fences, will Woodley’s crusade lead him to legendary status?

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