Woodley says he and White have cleared the air
Tyron Woodley: “There was some yelling back and forth. At the end of the conversation, I felt pretty comfortable. It ended on a positive note.”
UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley successfully defended his title on Saturday at UFC 214, but the crowd did not appreciate his tactical approach and booed loudly. UFC president Dana White too was loud in his condemnation, publicly withdrawing a highly lucrative fight with returning division G.O.A.T. Georges St-Pierre. Woodley then appeared on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, revealed he suffered a torn labrum in the first round, defended his championship record and conduct, and demanded an apology, with a threat.
“If I don’t get that, I’m going to start leaking some s*** that people don’t want to be out in the wind,” said Woodley. “I’m not even kidding about that. They know what I’m referring to. I’m due a public apology.”
Then a former sparring partner threatened to reveal damaging information on Woodley. Then someone else threatened to reveal damaging information on the former sparring partner threatening to reveal damaging information on the champ threatening to reveal damaging information.
Now, Woodley tells ESPN Staff Writer Brett Okamoto that he and White spoke on back to back days this week, and while he still believes an apology is due, the two are in a better place.
“There was some yelling back and forth,” said Woodley. “At the end of the conversation, I felt pretty comfortable. It ended on a positive note. Two men can talk on the phone and maybe not agree on everything, but at least respect each other.
“I still feel he should apologize publicly, but I’m not going to hold my breath. The conversation ended with respect and that was really my goal. Dana knows all about talking off emotion. I went a little [crazy] and was talking off emotion, too. Did I really plan on leaking stuff? Probably not. But at the time, I was mad and it sounded good.”
Woodley repeated that he and his coaches remain pleased with his performance, particularly given the torn labrum.
“I don’t fight safe, I fight smart,” said Woodley. “I’ve watched the fight several times and I feel the same way I did when I walked out of the cage.
“I fight with a game plan, but sometimes you have an [inaudible]. In this fight we had one. Were there times that I thought I could knock him out? Yes. But I had to do an [inaudible] because my shoulder wouldn’t let me throw the overhand right.”
“[The GSP fight] was never going to happen. My fight played no factor in that.
“I want Georges to know there’s no shame in his game. I’m not saying he’s scared. He’s not coming back for a belt or to be the best. He’s coming back for big-money fights. He sees a sport in which he helped the pay-per-view model grow and he wants to get on it. There’s no shame in that. But don’t say you’re here for any other reason.
“For me, it’s about the legacy, being the best fighter and a champion who takes all comers. I’m going to make more money outside the Octagon, after my career, than I make in it. But it’s making it difficult for me to achieve my goals when I have unnecessary stumbling blocks like my promoter saying damaging comments about me.”
Woodley, 35, told Okamato that he hopes to avoid surgery for the shoulder. He is currently suspended for 180 days by the California State Athletic Commission due to the shoulder injury. The champion can return sooner than January 25, 2018, if cleared by an orthopedist.
