Thompson also thinks he’s more deserving of a title shot than ‘Rocky.’
UFC welterweight contender Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson had an expletive-laden, sharp-tongued rant about Leon Edwards following Leon’s no contest main event vs. Belal Muhammad.
Nah just kidding. But he did share some thoughts on how the fight ended, as well as his belief that Edwards should not get the next title shot.
“With the eye poke, there’s only one thing to do, and that’s to run it back,” Thompson said on his What’s Up Everybody?! podcast (via MMA Fighting). “I know Edwards is saying he deserves the title next, but you can’t get the title after being gone for two years and then having a no-contest with a poke to the eye.”
Edwards had been warned for eye pokes previously be referee Herb Dean, which has prompted some opinion that the no contest should’ve actually been a disqualification. Thompson thinks Leon’s unbeaten run should be over.
“It was the second time, he got warned didn’t he?” Thompson said. “That should have been a disqualification. It was a no-contest, what? Edwards should have been DQ’d. That’s twice. He got warned, did it again, done-zo.”
To be fair, Thompson was (as you would expect) complimentary of Edwards’ “really sharp” performance up until the fight-ending eye poke, so not everything was fixated on the ending and Leon’s subsequent title shot demands. But since I’ve just mentioned the title shot, you might as well read what he has to say.
“I know Edwards is like, ‘No man, I want to fight for the title,’” he said. “Come on, dude. You haven’t fought. I deserve the title more than you deserve it at this point. I’m just saying. You know what I mean? Come on, guys. I’m the only guy that Usman hasn’t fought.”
Thompson (16-4-1) is on a two-fight winning streak with impressive decision victories over Vicente Luque and Geoff Neal. He also had a dominant decision win over Jorge Masvidal, who will once again challenger Usman for his welterweight crown at UFC 261 next month. The 38-year-old twice challenged Tyron Woodley, getting a draw in the first fight before losing a decision in the rematch. Perhaps it’s not inconceivable that he can get one more title opportunity.