Woodley is the current UFC welterweight champion. Photo: Disclosure/UFC
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UFC welterweight champion, Tyron woodley insinuated that there are different criteria for the public to criticize or praise certain athletes. According to him, fighters who are not of African descent have greater “freedom” to ask for fights without being rejected by fans, unlike what happened to himself.
Woodley, who won the UFC title in July, faced criticism for immediately asking for fights with Georges St Pierre ou Nick Diaz. For him, the racial factor may have weight in this issue, as it is an attitude normally adopted by other champions – he cites as an example Michael Bisping, middleweight champion.
“The same thing I said was also said by other athletes who are not of African descent. There were no problems. Michael Bisping he will fight [for the belt] with the 12th or 13th guy in the rankings. I adore Dan Henderson, he did a lot for my career, but, if you look at the sport, he is not the person who would deserve the title fight. But why does the fight make sense? Because Bisping wanted the fight and because it could make money. But, if I do that, there’s a problem”, complained Woodley, in an interview with the podcast “The MMA Hour”.
Woodley's requests were not heard and he made his first title defense at UFC 205, in New York (USA), against Stephen Thompson. Bisping, mentioned by Woodley, takes Dan Henderson this Saturday (8), at UFC 204.
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