The UFC’s welterweight division is in a transitionary phase. Once dominated by wrestler-grapplers like Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington, Tyron Woodley, and Gilbert Burns, the division now has strikers like Leon Edwards, Jack Della Maddalena, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Ian Garry on the rise. With the welterweight title on the line at UFC 304, contenders are vying for the next title shot. Stephen Thompson seemed to have an exciting idea of who it should be.
Thompson has not fought since his second-round submission loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 296. ‘Wonderboy’ is one of the best strikers in MMA, definitely in the welterweight division. As a two-time title challenger, the 41-year-old suggested a number one contender fight to face the winner of Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad at UFC 304.
“He [Ian Garry] wants that title shot next after the Belal [vs. Edwards], whoever wins that fight. So, I think he’s going to be pushed. Maybe him and Shavkat [Rakhmonov] would be a good one. Winner of that will go on and fight [for the title],” Thompson said in his interview with the FightWave YouTube channel.
Garry had called out Thompson before the latter fought Rakhmonov. Therefore, he felt a matchup with the Irishman won’t likely happen. As for his next opponent, Wonderboy expressed interest in a matchup against Joaquin Buckley, who has been on a roll since he moved down to welterweight. Fans want Thompson to fight Michael ‘Venom’ Page, but Thompson has little interest in it.
Thompson and Page Rule Out UFC Clash
Stephen Thompson has several highlight reel knockouts in his UFC and kickboxing career. Wrestling has been his Achilles heel, as no fighter has figured out Wonderboy in the striking department. When Michael ‘Venom’ Page signed with the UFC from Bellator, fight fans wanted to see Page and Thompson in action, an idea both fighters have no interest in.
“Everybody wants to see. You now a lot of people want to see me [vs.] MVP but we both know that, you know. Uh, he said it better. He could have said it better myself. He said a positive, positive doesn’t always make a positive,” Thompson said.
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“We’re both counter strikers. We’re both come from that karate world and it could be just a match of us just standing in front of each other waiting on somebody to do something, you know? So I don’t know if that would be the most exciting for the fans,” Thompson added.
The UFC does not like lackluster matchups, particularly if fighters say they will be so. Hence, despite massive fan interest, the UFC won’t likely make the fight.
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