Tyron Woodley says race a factor in status as 'worst-treated UFC champ'

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UFC's Woodley: Race affecting stature as champ

Tyron Woodley alleged Wednesday that race has affected his stature as UFC's welterweight champion, saying he is "the worst-treated champion in the history of the UFC."

During an appearance on SportsCenter on Wednesday, Woodley, who was is black and was born in Ferguson, Missouri, suggested the UFC hasn't promoted him as well as other champions -- nor has the fanbase embraced him like other champions.

"Let's put the cards on the table," Woodley said. "Real is real. If I was a different complexion, I think people and fans would treat me a different way."

Woodley, 34, is scheduled to defend his 170-pound title against Stephen Thompson at UFC 209 on March 4 in Las Vegas. It is a rematch of a majority draw that took place between the two at UFC 205 in November.

Prior to accepting the rematch, Woodley expressed interest in several other opponents. He said the UFC's marketing campaign for UFC 205 made it seem as if Thompson was the champion, not him.

"Going into [the last] fight, I feel like Wonderboy was promoted as the champion," Woodley said of Thompson. "I'm the champion. I knocked out the baddest welterweight in the world [Robbie Lawler] in record-breaking time. I don't get the respect I deserve.

"Don't have him walk out with the American flag, like I'm from a different country. Don't have him paraded around. Don't have everything revolve around him."

Woodley has been a betting underdog in seven consecutive fights. He went on to say he's not in the "genre" of athletes the sport currently favors.

Spoiler

Hairline is crisp tho

 

[Splakavellie504]

I agree. That outcome against Wonderboy was some bullshyt.

 

[Stuntone]

Cacs have to love or hate you for you to get paid.




He beat the brakes off of Wonderboy.

 

[DynamoEAR]

They bout to fry him for this shyt. Gotta be no other sport that attracts far right wingers like MMA/UFC does.

 

[Big Boss]

Talk that shyt bruh

 

[Ruck]

ufc is rooted by white supremacy. jakes on him or any black fighter trying to get approval of a fanbase thats 90% white.

jon jones, who imo the greatest fighter ufc has ever produced, has always been villainized and never appreciated by cacs.

if u black and want to be a ufc fighter. u better have a mercenary attitude to handle your business and collect the itty bitty check

 

[Donald Trumps Twitter]

This isn't fair and its discriminatory,


All champions should have the same base pay, with others being able to garner more incentives based on fought won, titles defended and other accolades.

 

[ATearInMyEye]

That boy the most handsome UFC Champ ever

But yeah he got robbed that first wonderboy fight

 

[keond]

They bout to fry him for this shyt. Gotta be no other sport that attracts far right wingers like MMA/UFC does.

Hockey up north and NASCAR down south

 

[O.T.I.S.]

ufc is rooted by white supremacy. jakes on him or any black fighter trying to get approval of a fanbase thats 90% white.

jon jones, who imo the greatest fighter ufc has ever produced, has always been villainized and never appreciated but cacs.

if u black and want to be a ufc fighter. u better have a mercenary attitude and handle your business and collect the itty bitty check

Same with Silva

They tried to pull that bullshyt with him as well. Probably 2 of the top 3 MMA fighters were black and pretty much villified in every fight

 

[O.T.I.S.]

Hockey up north and NASCAR down south

Nah its more popular

Even white people that are fans of those are UFC fans by default.

 

[Propaganda]

They bout to fry him for this shyt. Gotta be no other sport that attracts far right wingers like MMA/UFC does.

woodley's been talking about this for a long while...and yeah, they've been going at his neck the whole time. they legit hate the guy now, i mean they fukking HATE the guy. that's what i've seen on sherdog, at least.

 

[Professor Mac]

I just watched the fight on YouTube fr the first time and my honest opinion is that is was a draw

 

[heart]

woodley's been talking about this for a long while...and yeah, they've been going at his neck the whole time. they legit hate the guy now, i mean they fukking HATE the guy. that's what i've seen on sherdog, at least.

They hate a lot of people over there, especially the non white fighters.

I remember leading up the Rampage/Evans fight, evans was basically calling page a c00n for acting like a bumbling idiot and playing down his intellect for the fans. That's another reason why the monopoly UFC has over MMA is a bad thing. You have to rely on them to book your fights and promote you to the masses versus boxing when you just have a manager and you're dealing directly with the promoter.

Majority of the UFC guys are barely above the poverty line, they have shytty insurance, they have to pay for their own camp, gym fees, food, and things of that nature. If you're not at the upper echelon you're not doing very well financially and even if you are then you better be conservative with your money. Woodley also has been very vocal about fighters pay as well.

Under dana's tenure, the guys he has promoted as been Liddell, GSP, Brock, Rhonda, and now Conor. Even though Jones has been successful, even before he started to get into trouble people wanted him to fail, also Dana/UFC did everything the could to make Gustafsson a star and it was so sweet to see him get has beat by rumble in sweeden.

So absolutely Woodley is correct about the overt racism from the UFC and some of its fans, I predict in a few years or less the company will fold or a better company will form anyway. I hope woodley KO's wonderboy.

 

[Big Boss]

The cacs at Sherdog