Tyron Woodley gave up his UFC championship moment for the sake of Conor McGregor

Tyron Woodley missed out on an opportunity that most fighters in the UFC will never get.

The welterweight champion gave up his post-fight photoshoot with his championship belt after retaining the title against Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson in a majority draw judge’s decision at UFC 205. Woodley gave up the photo opportunity after letting the UFC use his belt to lend to Conor McGregor to have for his historic moment.

“I was a little frustrated that at that current moment that they needed it, because I needed to take my pictures — you know the pictures they take behind the stage if you win?” Woodley said to Ariel Helwani on Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour (transcribed by Chuck Mindenhall of MMA Fighting). “I wasn’t able to do those pictures because they wanted me to take it without the belt. And it would be a cold day in hell before I’d take any other picture without the belt or come out of the blue corner again. I didn’t get a chance to take those pictures because that moment was going on.”

Woodley says that he gave up his moment with his belt in great part due to the person who had asked, which was UFC Vice President of Athlete Development, Reed Harris. Woodley stated that has always appreciated Harris for his honesty and character.

“They told me how great of an individual I was that I would be willing to do something like that,” Woodley continued. “Especially after all the wolf tickets that was sold by Conor McGregor, that I would be willing to ever do something like that, and that it just shows the kind of man and character I am. But I’ve been making some calls, and hopefully they financially express their gratitude as well.”

What do you think would have happened if Tyron Woodley did not lend his belt to the UFC for Conor McGregor and his historic moment? Luckily for both the UFC and Conor McGregor, “The Chosen One,” Tyron Woodley holds championship character both in and out of the Octagon!