Coming off a disappointing event with UFC 208, the biggest mixed martial arts organization in the world looks to bounce back in a big way with UFC 209 on Mar. 4. Headlined by the welterweight championship rematch between Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson, along with the highly anticipated lightweight clash between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson, UFC 209 is set to give fans what they missed during this past weekend’s forgettable show in Brooklyn.
Last week, UFC president Dana White opened up on Tyron Woodley’s comments about racial prejudices affecting fighters’ opportunities in the sport. Speaking with ESPN Radio last week, White dismissed his welterweight champion’s claims of racial prejudice and called Woodley, who is set to defend his title for the second time at UFC 209, a “drama queen” and said that if he had Conor McGregor’s “fight anybody, anywhere” attitude, he would be a massive star.
“He wonders why he shows up at a press conference [and] the whole crowd is booing him,” White said in the interview as transcribed by MMA Junkie. “They’re not booing him because his black,” adding that Tyron Woodley shoots himself in the foot with his social media antics. Woodley has a chance to cement his championship status at UFC 209 following a controversial draw against Stephen Thompson at UFC 205.
Meanwhile, one half of UFC 209’s co-headliner, Khabib Nurmagomedov once again sounded off on lightweight champion Conor McGregor, offering to help the UFC by “smashing” the Irishman to make him humble. Nurmagomedov was referring to McGregor saying that he can fight against Floyd Mayweather with or without the UFC. As reported by MMA Mania, during the UFC 208 Q&A session Friday, the Russian also called McGregor “not loyal” and “disrespectful of the UFC.”
Two of the best lightweights in the world, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson finally meet inside the Octagon at UFC 209 to settle the No. 1 lightweight contender debate. Nurmagomedov is undefeated in 24 professional fights, while the dynamic Ferguson is riding a nine-fight win streak.
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