Tyron Woodley accomplished an incredible feat at UFC 201 last June, when he knocked out Robbie Lawler in under three minutes. Yet, he still can’t seem to get his much warranted love and respect.
The lack of appreciation from fans has been evident, from qualms about him taking “big money fights”, to the resounding boos he received from the crowd in attendance during the UFC 205 pre-fight presser on Tuesday. But for “The Chosen One”, none of these are a cause for concern.
“I don’t take nothing to heart, that’s what makes me a great businessman because I don’t get emotional and I know that at the end of the day, when I fight, I am going to do what I am supposed to do, which is win,” Woodley said in his appearance on Monday’s MMA Hour episode. “The more I do that, the more you are not going to be able to deny me.”
Upon his entry into the UFC, Woodley was able to build a reputation of being one of the hardest-hitters in the division. Now that he is the champion, he aims to further solidify his status, but is willing to go through the motions of earning the fans’ admiration the harder way.
“I may be like a Muhammad Ali to where he didn’t get credit until after he retired. And I’m not, for you fans that are like, ‘He’s comparing himself to Muhammad Ali.’ I am not comparing myself to Muhammad Ali, people,” Woodley clarified. “What I am saying is that a lot of you guys love Muhammad Ali now, but during his era, when he was fighting, no one liked Muhammad Ali and a lot of people hate Muhammad Ali and then after he finished, then people started giving him the credit that he deserves.”
“If that’s the case, fine. But, the people that train me, my family, my kids, my wife, my legacy, everything that I am doing now, those supporters are instantly being rewarded because they have seen me broke, beatdown with no money and getting cut short. now, I cut to the front of the line and nobody likes it. Well guess what, I am sorry I don’t feel bad about it.”
Woodley’s interview begins at the 1:37:54 mark of the video.