Tyron Woodley: 'I didn't get the chance to enjoy being champion'
Tyron Woodley appeared on The MMA Hour to talk about his critics and his upcoming fight with Stephen Thompson at UFC 205.
Tyron Woodley has become one of the most hated men in mixed martial arts. Part of it is due to the fact that he knocked out fan favorite Robbie Lawler at UFC 201. Since then, his decision to seek “money fights” has caused some of the fan base to turn against him.
Instead of getting what he considers a big draw in the sport, Woodley is expected to face number-two ranked welterweight Stephen Thompson. Woodley joined Ariel Helwani on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour to speak towards this coming fight.
“I don’t feel like I’m obligated to share that moment with someone who hasn’t earned that yet,” Woodley said in speaking about the pending fight with Thompson. “The fans weren’t letting me enjoy it. They automatically wanted to give ‘Wonderboy’ my shine. I respect ‘Wonderboy, but he’s not a world champion.”
Woodley has faced a lot of criticism since pushing to fight the returning Nick Diaz or Georges St. Pierre rather than the perceived number one contender in Thompson. Fans and other fighters lashed out at Woodley, claiming he was attempting to pick a fight rather than face the man deemed the number one contender. Woodley even took things so far to make text messages with St. Pierre public to show how the conversations were developing around a fight that didn’t include Thompson.
Still, Woodley would end up being booked against Thompson and he addressed the idea that he was trying to duck the 13-1 fighter.
“It wasn’t that I didn’t want to fight him. It’s not that I didn’t think he’s the number one contender. I’ve fought that battle for years. With that said, what does a number one contender ship fight mean?” Woodley asked. “It’s about timing and what I do with my moment is up to me. When Diaz and St. Pierre come back there’s going to be big money involved. So why should the champion of that division not want to be involved? Those aren’t only money fights because I’m going to make a lot of money; these are legacy fights as well. I have not declined ‘Wonderboy’ one time.”
Tyron Woodley versus Stephen Thompson is set for November 12, the first UFC event to be held in Madison Square Garden.
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