Dana White Gasses Up The Bus To Run Over Tyron Woodley
Or Sure Woodley's Fought More Than Conor McGregor Recently, But White Won't Mention That.
Welcome to the latest C’mon Now, a newsletter focused on mixed martial arts. This is the place where I’ll share my thoughts on all the goings-on in MMA. Those thoughts could range from media criticism to advice for folks looking to get into MMA writing to why certain fighters or managers are not good for the sport.
In this edition I look at something that’s become common in the UFC, Dana White running over a fighter who refuses to do what White wants. This time it’s former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, who has faced the wrath of White in the past. Woodley’s crime? Actually looking out for himself. The audacity!
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In the lead up to UFC 245, UFC president Dana White sat down with Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports. Iole began his talk with White by asking the UFC boss why the UFC 245 fight card was top-heavy. The event, which took place on December on December 14 in Las Vegas, featured three title fights.
While explained that with the move to ESPN, the event would serve as the UFC's last big fight card of 2019. In the past, the promotion would hold a blockbuster event on New Year's weekend, that won't happen with its new broadcast partner.
White then went on to explain the factors that went into booking UFC 245. The UFC's head honcho said that one of the considerations was who was available to compete on the card. That's when a switch inside White's head clicked and his focus moved to one of his favorite targets, former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley.
"We get people, believe it or not, that are here and do not want to fight," said White. "When's the last time you saw Tyrone (sic) Woodley fight? So we have people we actually have to beat over the head with a stick to get to fight."
Iole followed up on the Woodley statement by asking if White had offered the ex-champ a fight lately.
"We've offered him many fights," said White.
His interest piqued, Iole wanted at least one name. White didn't even let Iole finish his question.
"He's busy. He's doing stuff," White blurted. "He's got rap albums and TMZ reports and shit like that. So, we're working on getting him out there."
Iole could have moved on at that point — and I'm sure other MMA media members would have — but he kept the conversation on Woodley. Iole followed up by asking White, wasn't Woodley doing precisely what White has preached in the past, getting his name out there and trying to become a star outside the insular world of MMA?
"Sure, sure. I would love them to do that when they're not fighting," White said. "He's the No. 1 ranked guy in the world. It's great if you do that sometimes."
What's funny about that is Woodley has fought four times for the UFC since he battled Stephen Thompson to a majority draw at UFC 205. Meanwhile, the promotion's golden boy, Conor McGregor, gets a pass. McGregor has a single UFC bout on his record during that period.
And what has McGregor been doing during his time off? Well, some illegal things that haven't been good for his brand, but he's also been making money outside the cage, pitching the sugary swill he calls Proper 12.
I applaud both men for doing what they can to make money outside the octagon, but to shit on Woodley while ignoring McGregor's inactivity is a pure Dana White move.
Woodley has to worry about a lot more than White. White is already wealthy. Woodley has to set up himself and his family for a secure future. At 37, Woodley's closing in on the end of his MMA career. If he doesn't make moves outside the cage now, it might be too late, and then what? He'll be another fighter who struggles to make ends meet when the bright lights above the cage get shut off.
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Unlike other major sports, the UFC doesn't offer its fighters pensions. Once UFC fighters end their careers, they're lucky to walk away from the organization with a handshake and an offer of good luck. Woodley is doing the right thing. If he can turn down fights and set himself up for financial viability in the future, he should applauded for that. Instead, White, who refuses to make fighters under the restrictive UFC contracts employees, paints Woodley as an ungrateful former champion who should sit around and wait to do the bidding of an organization that will throw him to the side as soon as his talents begin to deteriorate. Don't believe that will happen? Ask Jon Fitch who was 14-3-1 in the UFC when White released him, claiming at the time that Fitch was, "super f—ing expensive."
Contrary to what White might want to make you believe, Woodley is no dummy. He knows the UFC will toss him overboard one day. Good for him for making sure he has a somewhat soft landing.
