It's really well written but I'm not a huge fan, it's a bit disingenuous. For example, there's no mention that Tyron was offered and took a fight with Hendricks that was considered a number one contenders match that Hendricks pulled out of last minute. If he had won that fight he likely would have ended up facing Robbie Lawler during the same timeframe as he did. It's misleading to frame his layoff in the way you did.
"Tyron Woodley wants to treat the divisional meritocracy with the same contempt he has for the past year and a half." I also think that's misleading. He wants to treat the division in the same way that recent fighters like Conor and Michael Bisping have.
"Georges St-Pierre, a dominant champion in a bygone era, so shaken by his bout with Johny Hendricks that he walked away from the sport and the belt in 2013 and hasn’t been seen since. Three men who haven’t earned anything close to a title fight in recent times" Really? You don't think the UFC was going to give GSP a titleshot when/if he returned? I agree that Wonderboy deserves it MORE, but why on earth would anyone think the UFC forces the WW kingpin Georges to take a tuneup fight first?
"The UFC’s next move doesn’t just affect the welterweight division, but rather each division in the UFC and all of its fighters. It will signify their intentions going forward." I disagree. This isn't a novel situation, this precedent was set before. There's a LONG LONG LONG history in MMA of undeserving titleshots for all sorts of reasons, and there is a LONG history of number one contenders getting screwed out of chances at the belt.
"UFC – the ball is in your court." One of the few things I agree with (outside of the facts). This is the UFC's choice and decision. Tyron has the right to talk and say anything he wants, such is the nature of the sport. The UFC can still ask him to take the Wonderboy fight, but from what we've heard this week from both Thompson and Woodley neither have spoken closely to the brass and neither have heard anything. Ultimately what Tyron has done has drummed up interest for a title defense that likely would have been a ho-hum UFC on Fox or Second fight beneath a BIGGER title fight kind of affair. Now even if he fights Thompson we as fans care a little bit more, even if it's just to see Thompson style all over Tyron.
