Recently Tyron Woodley relayed that he’s still planning to make a move to middleweight at some juncture, and he also said he doesn’t think Israel Adesanya is as good as a lot of folks think. Well, Adesanya took those comments as Woodley calling him out, and now the former welterweight champ’s responded.
Adesanya responds to Woodley’s initial comments
During a recent Instagram Live session, Woodley repeated his plans to make a run at 185 pounds. The powerful wrestler said he still intends to win back the welterweight crown, and after that, he wants to move up to middleweight.
But, during the session, Woodley also said that he doesn’t think Adesanya is “as dope” as a lot of people believe. He also argued that the vaunted striker is “scared” of fighters with power, and that Kelvin Gastelum and Yoel Romero exposed that.
Well, since then, Adesanya spoke with The Score. While discussing Woodley’s recent comments, the middleweight champ said this (quote via MMA Mania).
“Tyron is reaching because he’s broke, or he’s about to be broke,” Adesanya said (transcribed by Natasha Hooper). “He’s like, ‘I need anyone that’s not Leon Edwards. Anyone that can be a big cash grab.’
Tyron would take an ass whooping just to fight me as long as he gets paid good, put it that way. You should not be talking to me. You’re not a champion, so shut the f-ck up. The last Nigerian you faced, you faced him at 30 percent and he whooped your ass. And three, we’re black, I thought we’re cool.
I’ve met him before, we’ve had good banter, so why is this guy calling me out suddenly? I dissected it, and he’s reaching because he needs money. I just can’t see any other reason why he would do that.”
Woodley fires back
Well, those statements clearly got back to Woodley, as since then, he responded with these tweets.
@stylebender u sound like an idiot! The question was would I move up. The answer is yes. How TF is that calling u out?
I’m just not a bitch like U that cowards at the thought of @JonnyBones. If u could read U would see I said my goal is to get my belt back, then move up. Duh!
@stylebender I gave u props zillions of time & never been a hater. Actually said u was a star. But what makes greats Great is fighting the Best.
I’ll always want to fight who everyone think is the best. It’s How I earned my key. Now I wanna knock ur block off cause u a whole HOE!
@stylebender u sound like an idiot! The question was would I move up. The answer is yes. How TF is that calling u out? I’m just not a bitch like U that cowards at the thought of @JonnyBones. If u could read U would see I said my goal is to get my belt back, then move up. Duh!
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) April 28, 2020
@stylebender I gave u props zillions of time & never been a hater. Actually said u was a star. But what makes greats Great is fighting the Best. I’ll always want to fight who everyone think is the best. It’s How I earned my key. Now I wanna knock ur block off cause u a whole HOE!
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) April 28, 2020
So, ya. It would seem like these two are developing some serious issues with one another. Question is, will we see them fight in the future? It seems like a lot has to fall into place before that happens.