Tyron Woodley and Jamie Varner engage in Twitter battle over race-baiting comments

Current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight champion Tyron Woodley made headlines earlier this week when he stated that fans don't like him because he is black, citing mistreatment for fellow fighters like Demetrious Johnson and Jon Jones. In response, Woodley's UFC 205 and UFC 209 opponent, Stephen Thompson, weighed in on the situation. Now, mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Jamie Varner seems to have joined the party, which immediately prompted a heated Twitter war between he and Woodley.

The race baiting and the excuse making of @TWooodley is sad. I would expect more from a fellow wrestler and fighter. #noclass

— Jamie Varner (@jamievarner) January 21, 2017

@jamievarner Sounding like a fan is sad. Ur career is sad, & u made the most excuses & complaints in all ur fight. Faked injuries & Irrelevant.

— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) January 21, 2017

@TWooodley u are a great talent My career is over but remember this u see all the same people on ur way 2the top that u do back 2the bottom

— Jamie Varner (@jamievarner) January 21, 2017

@jamievarner If I ever make it there I'll come say hi to you. Just don't speak globally on issues you have no knowledge on or business with!

— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) January 21, 2017

@TWooodley here's the thing, out of anyone on twitter I'm the most qualified to talk about treatment of fighters under the ufc umbrella

— Jamie Varner (@jamievarner) January 21, 2017

Well, that escalated fairly quickly. It's going to be hard to tell Woodley anything about his lack of popularity growth when he's trying so hard to be liked. He may be better suited accepting the role of heel and refraining from defending his own UFC stock. Above all else, Woodley will have to defend his title yet again opposite "Wonderboy" at UFC 209 this March.