The UFC has seen more than its share of ‘bad guys,’ who openly despise their opponents and stir controversy. But few have made their mark on the sport with their niceness and warrior spirit. Stephen Thompson has been dazzling UFC fans for over a decade with his unique karate-based fighting style. The 41-year-old welterweight contender recently opened up about his hopes for the future.
Despite never clinching a championship belt, Thompson’s impact on the sport is undeniable. His highlight-reel knockouts, nice persona, and crowd-pleasing performances have made him a fan favorite. ‘Wonderboy’ has now his sights set on immortality. In a recent interview, he expressed his desire to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
“I’ve been with them [UFC] for a very long time and have done the best I can to represent who I am and the UFC. It would be cool to go down in UFC history. It would be cool to be able to do that, to be in the Hall of Fame. I think that would be sick,” said Thompson via RG.org.
It is a lofty goal, but one that’s not out of reach for the seasoned striker. After all, he has been a top contender in one of the most competitive divisions for years.
But this doesn’t mean Stephen Thompson is ready to hang up his gloves just yet. The man has still got some fire in his belly and a few more fights left in him. He is still taking on all comers, and his next fight against Joaquin Buckley showcases his willingness to take on anybody.
Stephen Thompson Hopes To Make One Last Attempt At The Title; Eyes Former Champion
‘Wonderboy,’ at 41, just isn’t ready to go down. He is still throwing kicks and chasing dreams in the UFC’s welterweight division. He’s got his sights set on one last title run, and he has a fighter in his sights.
Stephen Thompson’s career has been a rollercoaster of highlight-reel knockouts and near-misses. He’s challenged for the belt twice but came up short both times. Most fighters would hang up their gloves after that. But not Thompson. In a recent interview, he name-dropped former champion Leon Edwards as a potential future opponent.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MMA stories via Google! Follow Us
“I know Leon Edwards just lost the title. He’s not normally known as a grappler. He’s more known as a striker. That’s one of the fights that I’ve been trying to get for years and hopefully, we can make that happen now that he’s not the champ now,” said Thompson via talkSPORT MMA.
It’s an intriguing matchup. Both men are primarily strikers, and fans would love to see them trade kicks and punches. But here’s the thing: Edwards is ranked way above Stephen Thompson right now. It remains to be seen if the UFC brass will be willing to pit these two against each other.
