Stephen Thompson Says Fans Booing Got in Tyron Woodley’s Head

In June of this year, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson extended his win-streak to seven with a decision win over recent Bellator signee Rory MacDonald. With the win, he established himself as the obvious opponent for Robbie Lawler and Tyron Woodley’s July welterweight title fight.

When Woodley won the title with a first-round KO of Lawler, however, Thompson’s contender status began to look less certain, as the new champ expressed interest in “money fights” with Georges St. Pierre and Nick Diaz, and a complete disinterest in a bout with the division’s number one contender.

In the end, however, the UFC decided not to heed Woodley’s wishes, and instead penciled him for a November 12 title fight with Thompson. The two will share the co-headlining honors of UFC 205, which will mark the UFC’s debut in New York City.

While the bout is now official, Woodley’s early reluctance to accept it unfortunately generated some animosity from the fans. This animosity came to a head at the UFC 205 press conference, when the reigning champ was the victim of some thunderous booming from the fans in attendance.

According to Thompson, this negative fan reception might just have gotten in Woodley’s head.

“Looking in his eyes, I don’t know if there was a little disappointment there that I saw,” Thompson said on a recent episode of The MMA Hour. “I figured that he might’ve thought that the fans maybe would’ve had his back. He was a little surprised that they were booing him and I could tell that, and I think that’s in his head a little bit.”

Do you think Woodley is rattled by the lack of fan support in the buildup to UFC 205? Who are you picking to win this looming welterweight title fight? Sound off, PENN nation!