Kanye West took us all for a crazy ride ... and brilliantly created that bizarre media firestorm as part of a diabolical plot to promote his new album -- so says Tyron Woodley.
The UFC champ had always been skeptical about Kanye's outbursts -- including the one during TMZ Live -- and had been adamant Yeezy was putting on a erratic front to grab headlines.
And after listening to Kanye's new album ... Tyron says he's CERTAIN he's right -- because he thinks it's the work of a pure genius.
Woodley spells the whole thing out in this week's "The Hollywood Beatdown" -- where he also blasts hecklers and finally addresses UFC contender Colby Covington .