Tyron Woodley is the UFC welterweight champion, you may not know that because he’s arguably the promotion’s least promoted champion. That’s all changing now because Woodley made the most of his ESPN appearance yesterday.
In the interview Woodley openly addresses the UFC’s inability to market minority fighters and what he feels is blatant disrespect to him as the champion.
“The second I bring up race in the sport I’m immediately race baiting,” said Woodley. “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.”
Woodley went on to point out how the UFC has treated other black champions.
“The best pound-for-pound fighter, Demetrious Johnson, African-American male, completely a Tasmanian devil. Why doesn’t he have the big endorsements? Why isn’t he making the most money? What’s the difference? Think about it. The second Jon Jones steps on a banana peel, granted, he’s his own worst enemy, but, they can’t wait to throw him underneath the bus. People of different races get so many different chances.”
This is a point that many MMA journalist have pointed out for years, myself included, but this is the first time that a fighter has voiced their displeasure publicly.
Will Woodley’s segment evoke change? Not initially, but maybe MMA will look back on this as one of the moments that changed the UFC’s marketing of minorities.
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