Tyron Woodley shuts down boo birds at UFC 205 presser: ‘I knocked out Robbie Lawler, you have to respect me'

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight champion Tyron Woodley might be the most hated fighter in all of mixed martial arts (MMA). The fans can’t stand him, his fellow fighters think he’s a bum -- heck, even his own promotion likes to bag on him whenever it gets the chance.

That’s probably why it didn’t surprise anyone to hear “The Chosen One” getting booed out of the building on Tuesday during the UFC 205 pre-fight press conference (watch it), where Woodley was answering questions about his upcoming title fight.

And by his own admission, it was “dope.”

“You can boo if you want but there’s one thing you have to call me and that’s the welterweight champion of the world,” Woodley said. “I knocked out the most vicious welterweight — the fighter of the year with fights of the year — in record-breaking time. So you have to respect me no matter what.”

This guy does.

Woodley, who stiffened Robbie Lawler to capture the crown last July, will defend his 170-pound strap against division No. 1 contender Stephen Thompson on Nov. 12, 2016 inside Madison Square Garden in New York City (details). Maybe by turning away “Wonderboy,” the former collegiate wrestling standout can get the respect he deserves.

Then again, maybe not.