Former welterweight champion exposes his relationship with Dana White’s UFC while shedding light on Robbie Lawler’s Hall of Fame induction

Former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley opened up on not being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame after Robbie Lawler’s induction announcement at UFC 313. Woodley has left a credible mark in the welterweight division after winning the title against Lawler at UFC 201 and then defending it four times. However, he lost the title to Kamaru Usman at UFC 235. In a recent episode of Verse Us, the veteran fighter spoke about his relationship with former teammate Robbie Lawler as well as how Dana White and the UFC have been biased against him in terms of giving him the honor he deserves, owing to a significantly inspiring career.
Despite an inspiring MMA career run, Tyron Woodley’s journey in the UFC came to an end with a 4-match losing streak. The fighter went on to explore his career in boxing but announced recently about his comeback in MMA combat sports by joining the promotion, Global Fighting League.
In a recent episode of Verse Us, the fighter talked about his MMA journey, relationship with teammates, especially Robbie Lawler, Woodley’s relationship with UFC and much more. Lawler and Woodley were good friends and teammates in American Top Team. However, their bout at UFC 201 changed the friendship forever. Woodley secured the welterweight title in that fixture and since then the duo has not spoken.
“Robbie never spoke after that and that was really a bummer. Because I really supported him. Like let me tell you, I did viewing parties for his title fights. My family loved Robbie. I really loved Robbie…He was one of the last of a dying breed. He was a martial artist. He didn’t have to talk crap. If you really got to know him, which many people didn’t because he didn’t speak much. He was real giving. He was real gentle. He was just a good dude.”

While the title bout was perceived by Woodley as just an opportunity, Lawler seemed to have taken it more personally, which later on affected their friendship. Along with his relationship with Lawler and acknowledging the fact that Lawler deserved to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Woodley also expressed his feelings about the fighter not being considered for induction yet.
“I would love to have a conversation with Robbie. I was happy to go to the Hall of Fame and see what they were doing, ’cause you saw he is not a social media guy at all, like I just told you. I took his phone, and I signed him up for Instagram at Dan Lambert’s house. The UFC had him take over Snapchat and take over UFC, and the greatest moment for Robbie to do because what they’re doing is they are pleading his case, which they don’t have to.” Woodley continued, “Nobody is gonna argue that he is a sure in. But how did he go in before I went in? That’s what this was really about. One, if you know me, you know I’m never gonna beg to be inducted with anything, only the Hall of Fame I’m trying to make into that I care about for real is heaven.”
Woodley emphasized on how the fighter rather wants to be perceived as someone who never gave up despite the odds being against him. The fighter stated that the UFC's building up a case for Lawler was more to justify the fighter’s induction into the Hall of Fame before Woodley.
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Tyron Woodley had a long history of conflict with Dana White and UFC, which was further ignited by UFC announcing an interim championship title between Rafael dos Anjos and Colby Covington, while he was still the champion. While the former UFC welterweight champion plans to be back with GFL, it is only a matter of time before we get to see how his comeback journey pans out.