The TD Arena in Ottawa, Canada is set to shakeup Saturday night, as hometown hero and No. 1-ranked welterweight Rory MacDonald clashes with the No. 2-ranked Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson in the exciting UFC Fight Night 89 main event.
‘Wonderboy’ is riding into Saturday night hot off a first round knockout win over former champion Johnny Hendricks in February, while MacDonald is coming off an eleven-month-layoff following his five round war with current title holder Robbie Lawler at UFC 189.
Ahead of his presumable title eliminator bout with MacDonald, Thompson took some time to speak to our friends over at Submission Radio about the perennial 170-pound bout. ‘Wonderboy’ began by expressing his displeasure for being passed up for a title shot in favor of Tyron Woodley, after downing Hendricks at UFC Fight Night 82 just four months ago:
“To be honest with you, yes. It’s kind of upsetting that it’s happening this way,” Thompson said.
“I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get the title shot. Just because I finished the former welterweight champion and a guy that went five rounds with Georges St-Pierre —?? which is controversial —?? ten rounds with the champion now.
And even though Robbie won the last one, it was still controversial,” Thompson said. “So I see it as me beating the welterweight champion. And the fact that Rory just fought him for the title in July … It’s almost like they’re giving away a second shot for the title. But yeah, man, sometimes that happens.”
Despite being focused on a title opportunity Thompson is sure to not overlook the ‘dangerous’ MacDonald, who he needs to get past if he wants a shot at the gold:
“You have obstacles that are gonna get in your way and you gotta just mow through it. He is the number one, I’m the number two,” Thompson said.
“So I wanna be that number one spot. I want that. And it’s a dangerous guy to do that [against], you know? [laughs] I was wanting the title shot, but he’s definitely a dangerous guy to be stepping in the octagon with.
Which is why he’s the number one contender. But you know, we’re buds and we’re going to be friends before and after the fight.”
Thompson stated that he will be in excellent shape for his weekend war with MacDonald, and that he has carefully studied the Canadian’s ‘one-dimensional’ striking style:
“I’m gonna be in the best shape of my life. So I know I’ll be able to go hard for those five, five minute rounds. And that’s what I’m preparing for, you know, keeping him away with my hands and feet,” he promised.
“I know [MacDonald is] kind of one-dimensional when it comes to the striking. He keeps his left side forward, he loves to walk his way in to throw his jab.
And then once he sets down, he likes to throw combinations. Right after that combination, he shoots for the leg. So I’m gonna be prepared for that, staying on my toes, working angles.
He may come out with a different strategy, maybe just bum rush me to the cage or try to get me to the ground quick.
Although ‘Wonderboy’ finds MacDonald’s striking to be one-dimensional, he is well aware that the UFC veteran has steadily evolved throughout his incredibly impressive career:
“That’s the thing about those guys, about Rory. He evolves. He gets better and he comes in with different tricks. So we’re going to see what happens, man.
And that’s why I’m excited just to see what he’s bringing to the table and how I’m gonna react to that. But wherever the fight goes, I’m gonna be prepared for it.
If a knockout happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, I’m going all five minute rounds, baby.”
A knockout over Hendricks may have not been enough to secure Thompson a title shot in the eyes of UFC brass before, however, ‘Wonderboy’ says something has ‘gotta be wrong’ if he doesn’t get his shot at the 170-pound crown with a win over ‘The Red King’:
“You know; people don’t really take me serious because I am a nice guy. But they … Man, something’s gotta be wrong if they don’t give it to me after this.”
Rory MacDonald and Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson are set to headline UFC Fight Night 89 live on FS1 from the TD Arena, in Ottawa, Canada on June 18, 2016.
(All transcribed quotes courtesy of FOX Sports)
You can check out the full interview here bellow:
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