Maybe it's time for Tyron Woodley to drop that Irish accent.
That's according to top welterweight contender Stephen Thompson, who cannot fathom why "The Chosen One" is trying to land money fights so quickly after capturing the 170-pound crown (it happens), especially when it comes off as a poor imitation of featherweight motormouth Conor McGregor.
"Wonderboy" talks to Submission Radio:
"I knew for a fact that he was gonna say, "yeah man, let's do it. Madison Square Garden, let's go". And then he hits me with the, "nah man. You wanted to fight Robbie, so you're gonna fight Robbie. I'm gonna get a money fight". I was like, are you...I was laughing, but in my head I was like, is this guy kidding? This guy's gotta be kidding. What champion doesn't accept the number one contender? You know what I mean? That's just how it goes. You defend that title a few times before you ever starting asking for a money fight. Come on, what's going on? I mean, you hear Conor McGregor doing that, but Tyron's nowhere near the level of Conor McGregor when it comes to marketing and popularity. He's just not there. I think everybody else, the fans see that as well. And it upset not just me, but a lot of other fans and people that follow the UFC too."
Often imitated, never duplicated.
Thompson (13-1), slightly ahead of Demian Maia in the welterweight title race, has captured seven straight, recently turning away Rory MacDonald and ex-champion Johny Hendricks. Barring a surprise return from Georges St-Pierre, it's hard to imagine the promotion denying his crack at the crown.
Besides, it's not like the "C" in UFC stands for "Chosen One."
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