UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley will be defending his belt in a rematch with Stephen Thompson at UFC 209. Woodley though, isn’t much of a fan with the way he’s treated by the UFC.
“I'm by far the worst treated champion in the history of the UFC, blatantly facts,” he said to ESPN. “When March 4 come along, I will defend this belt, I will move forward in my legacy, and I will continue to do what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. I fight for my family, I fight for God, I fight for my legacy. I don't fight for fame, I don't fight for money, contrary to what people believe,” Woodley added. “I'm going out here and trying to be a legend. I'm trying to be the best welterweight that ever graced the Octagon. To do that, I have to knock [Thompson] off again, I have to knock three or four other loudmouths off again until it's undeniable I'm the best welterweight on the planet Earth.”
Woodley also feels that MMA fans accuse him of race baiting, when he's just stating his case.
“The second I bring up race in the sport I’m immediately race baiting,” Woodley continued. “I can point out clear facts: no other champion has been treated like me. I’m not saying they support [Thompson] more, but he has some fans who have crossed the line. It’s not his fault, I’m not saying it’s him, let’s get clear on that. I do respect him. I have been friendly and cordial with him, I will be friendly and cordial when we walk out. But let’s put the cards on the table. Real is real. If I was a different complexion, I feel fans would treat me a different way.”
UFC 209 takes place on Saturday, March 4 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson headlining.
