Tyron Woodley once publicly criticized Dana White without his boss even realizing it.

In September 2018, Woodley, after a dominant welterweight title defense against Darren Till at UFC 228, was in a tense relationship with White, which worsened after White`s comments following Woodley`s championship fight against Demian Maia at UFC 214.

After Woodley defeated Demian Maia at UFC 214, White criticized the fight`s lack of action, blaming Woodley for not finishing it. This led Woodley to include a hidden message for White in his debut rap single, I’ll Beat Yo Ass, released shortly after the Till fight.

“That’s why I made that song I’ll Beat Yo Ass,” Woodley explained on the Verse Us podcast. “If you listen to the lyrics, it was directed at Dana White. I couldn’t directly say I wanted to beat Dana White’s ass, but I really wanted to because he made me look foolish. Everyone was laughing, and I couldn’t defend myself at that moment.”

Woodley was the UFC welterweight champion from 2016 to 2019. During his reign, he often expressed his dissatisfaction with the promotion and his desire to fight high-profile, veteran fighters like Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz.

From Woodley’s perspective, he was using his leverage, but the UFC didn`t appreciate his negotiation strategies.

“I think they felt like, ‘This guy thinks he’s too smart,’” Woodley stated. “I always felt that way. But I won’t underestimate myself for anyone. I know everyone`s financials. When you are a fighter and know these figures, you negotiate differently. If I know someone negotiates a new deal for each fight, then as a champion, it’s my turn to do the same. I knew an athlete on my management team who did this.”

“When I fought Robbie Lawler, you need to remember he was with American Top Team, managed by Dan Lambert. I know about a lot of the negotiations to fight me. I know you received an extra $250,000 to fight me.”

Woodley defeated Lawler at UFC 201 via a first-round knockout to win the welterweight title. He then defended his title against Till, Maia, and Stephen Thompson (twice, with their first fight being a majority draw).

According to Woodley, this wasn`t the UFC’s plan. He claims officials intended to book Lawler against St-Pierre or Conor McGregor if Lawler had defeated Woodley at UFC 201. Woodley disrupted these plans and was later disappointed he didn’t receive the same opportunities as Lawler.

“The conflict started before then, but the major power struggle was knowing what he was offered,” Woodley said. “If this is like the NCAA tournament, and he’s the top seed and I beat him, then I become the top seed. So, I want everything he was supposed to get. I want all the perks and extras, and I was persistent about it.”

Here are the lyrics to I’ll Beat Yo Ass, courtesy of Genius Lyrics.

[Intro: TWOODLEY & Wiz Khalifa]

Uh (Uh)
Hahahaha (Yeah, gang)
Best welterweight in the world (Best welterweight in the world)
On God (On God)TWOODLEY (TWOODLEY)
Uh, y’all in trouble (Yeah, yeah, uh, yeah)

[Chorus: T-Dubb-O & Wiz Khalifa]

I’ll beat your ass (Yeah)
I’ll beat your ass (Yeah)
I’ll beat your ass (Yeah)
I’ll beat your ass (Yeah)
I’ll beat ‘em, on God, though (Yeah)
Talk slick, move quick like a macho (Uh)
Where have you, huh? Back with my eyes closed (What? Wow)
You can’t fuck with me, yeah, I know (Yeah, look, I’ll)
Beat your ass (Yeah)
I’ll beat your ass (Yeah)
I’ll beat your ass (Beat your ass, uh)
I’ll beat your ass (Beat your ass, yeah)
I’ll beat ‘em, on God, though (Yeah)
Talk slick, move quick like a macho (Yeah)
Where have you, huh? Back with my eyes closed (Uh)
You can’t fuck with me, yeah, I know (Yeah, look, I’ll)

[Verse 1: TWOODLEY]

Beat your ass in real life, beat your ass on TV (N*gga)
I’ll beat your ass with some beef shit, beat your ass on GB
Pull up on that slick tip, n*ggas run when they see me
Now your eyes fuckin’ poppin’ out, you seein’ shit in 3D
Beat your head to the white meat (Bow), knock out all your white teeth (Gone)

One fruit punch on your shirt for n*ggas thinkin’ that I’m sweet (Uh-uh)
Walls loaded with concrete (Yup), fingertips with Nyquil
Quick to put a n*gga right to sleep (Uh-uh), he lookin’ like he might scream (Oh)
Hands on that, H-O-D (H-O-D)
When I’m in this octagon, I’m G-O-D (G-O-D)
Get that ass beat live on TV (On TV)
N*gga layin’ out, glad it won’t be me (Uh-uh)

[Chorus: T-Dubb-O & Wiz Khalifa]

[Verse 2: Wiz Khalifa]

Beat your ass, I’ll hit that gas
I’ll roll up the joint of the kush, ain’t enough in the bag, can’t last
I was raised up on that block where them n*ggas stay fast
I’ll take a n*gga out like a n*gga do that trash
Watch a n*gga move right past, oh, I’m more lit than you
What would a real n*gga do? Ooh, fuckin’ up you and your crew, ooh
I had a long day, I’m cool, but I ain’t in the mood
And, no, I just ain’t bein’ rude, you push me, I might make a move
On the ground, on the ground, fuck with me, that’s where you goin’, it’s goin’ down
Goin’ down, test me and you already know and I’m with the champ
Train hard, so I already got the stamp
Young n*ggas try, but can’t, try to explain, but I think y’all don’t understand

[Chorus: T-Dubb-O & Wiz Khalifa]

I’ll beat your ass (Yeah, hahaha)
I’ll beat your ass (Yeah, uh)
I’ll beat your ass (Yeah, hahahahaha)
I’ll beat your ass (Yeah, yeah)
I’ll beat ‘em, on God, though (Yeah)
Talk slick, move quick like a macho (Uh)
Where have you, huh? Back with my eyes closed (What? Wow)
You can’t fuck with me, yeah, I know (Yeah, look, I’ll)
Beat your ass (Yeah)I’ll beat your ass (Yeah)
I’ll beat your ass (Beat your ass, uh)
I’ll beat your ass (Beat your ass, yeah)
I’ll beat ‘em, on God, though (Yeah)
Talk slick, move quick like a macho (Let’s go)
Where have you, huh? Back with my eyes closed (Uh)
You can’t fuck with me, yeah, I know (Look, I’ll)

Tyron Woodley: ‘I’ll Beat Yo Ass’ Rap Targeted Dana White