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Rory MacDonald Expects To Fight Robbie Lawler Couple More Times

Rory MacDonald (18-3) is set to fight Stephen Thompson (12-1) in the main of UFC Fight Night 89 in a welterweight bout and spoke with FOX Sports to promote the fight. During the interview, MacDonald talked about his classic fight with UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler at UFC 189. In that fight, both fighters went

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Rory MacDonald (18-3) is set to fight Stephen Thompson (12-1) in the main of UFC Fight Night 89 in a welterweight bout and spoke with FOX Sports to promote the fight. During the interview, MacDonald talked about his classic fight with UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler at UFC 189. In that fight, both fighters went to war and MacDonald suffered a broken nose, which was nasty. Lawler won the fight by fifth round TKO. MacDonald thinks he will fight Lawler a couple more times.

“I wouldn’t be surprised at all if me and Robbie fight another couple of time. I really don’t know how much time he has left in his career, but I know I have many fights left at the top of the sport. If he’s still around in a few years, I wouldn’t be surprised if we fight multiple times.”

MacDonald was then asked about his fight with Thompson. According to MacDonald, he believes he is a different kind of fighter and a better striker than Thompson’s previous opponents.

“I think he’s a vicious striker but I don’t think a lot of the competition he’s faced really understand his striking the way that I do,” MacDonald explained. “So I think that’s where I’m going to have the advantage versus the guys that he’s fought. He’s made them look pretty bad. I don’t feel that I’m going to be put in the same boat as his last few fights.

“I believe that this fight could go many different directions. I feel confident dragging him into deep waters in the fifth round, but I also feel confident in the first few rounds as well. I prepared myself for every scenario this fight could go. I really don’t feel I’ve been prepared for any other fight in my career. If I don’t have the best performance of my life then kudos to Stephen for shutting me down.”

UFC Fight Night 89 takes place on June 18 at the TD Place in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The prelims kick off at 6:45 p.m. ET/3:45 p.m. PT on Fight Pass then continue over to FOX Sports 1 at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT. The main card will air at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT on FOX Sports 1.

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Video: Fight Night Ottawa: Stephen Thompson – Rise Of Wonderboy

https://youtu.be/bOzUiqqcCX4

Ahead of his fight against former UFC title contender Rory MacDonald in the main event of this Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 89 event, UFC welterweight contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson is featured in the new, “Rise of…

https://youtu.be/bOzUiqqcCX4

Embedded above is “Rise of Wonderboy,” which looks at Thompson’s journey to his fight against MacDonald this weekend. With a potential win over MacDonald, it is expected that Thompson will receive a UFC Welterweight title shot against the winner of the Robbie Lawler vs. Tyron Woodley fight scheduled for UFC 203.

The official description for “Rise of Wonderboy,” which you can watch above, reads as follows:

“After tearing every ligament in his left leg while competing a professional kickboxer, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson was told he may never fight again. Find out how he overcame the injury and made it all the way to the doorstep of a UFC title shot.”

Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson battles Rory MacDonald in the main event of this Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 89 event, which goes down from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Georges St-Pierre Previews UFC Fight Night 89’s Main Event

He’s obviously a little biased, but former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre offers up a solid preview of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 89 main event between Rory MacDonald and Stephen Thompson.

GSP trains with MacDonald at Tristar Gym in Can…

GSP trains with MacDonald at Tristar Gym in Canada.

The welterweight bout airs live on FOX Sports 1.

Stephen Thompson Says Rory MacDonald Is ‘One-Dimensional’

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

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‘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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Rory MacDonald ‘Surprised’ Tyron Woodley Got A Title Shot

The UFC’s welterweight division is set for a huge shake-up when No. 1-ranked Rory MacDonald takes on the surging No. 2-ranked Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, at UFC Fight Night 89 next week in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. MacDonald was last seen inside the Octagon in July of 2015, when the Canadian suffered a fifth round TKO loss

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MacDonald was last seen inside the Octagon in July of 2015, when the Canadian suffered a fifth round TKO loss to Robbie Lawler in their championship bout at UFC 189. Now Lawler is set to make his second title defense since his bout with MacDonald, against the No. 3-ranked Tyron Woodley in July’s UFC 201 main event.

MacDonald recently spoke with MMAJunkie, stating that he was a bit surprised that the title opportunity was given to Woodley and that he believed the next man up for the title should have been Brazilian jiu-jitsu wiz Damian Maia:

“I thought they were going to give it to Demian Maia,” MacDonald said. “I was a bit surprised that Woodley got it. But the champ needs to stay busy, wants to fight, and Woodley was patiently waiting. He was ready. It’s how it plays out.

Sometimes it’s not always the rightful guy gets the shot. You look at boxing, they have like tune-up fights in between their title fights. They’re not always fighting the No. 1 guy year around.

It’s a little different in our sport. Everyone thinks it always has to be the next guy, because it’s the next top guy. Woodley’s a good challenge. I’m not saying it’s not going to be a good fight, I just would have expected Demian to be the next guy because of his success.”

MacDonald was also adamant that if he can finish Wonderboy, like he believes he will, there will be no question he will be next up for another opportunity at the title:

“I’ve beat everybody,” MacDonald said. “If I put away ‘Wonderboy’ like I think I am, it’s going to be no question that everyone’s going to want to see me in that title fight because I feel like I’m going to take that title and hold it for a long time.”

MacDonald vs Thompson is set to go down at UFC Fight Night 89, live on FS1 from the TD Place Arena in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on June 18, 2016.

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Stephen Thompson Wants To Win The Belt & Fight Conor McGregor

Top welterweight Stephen Thompson is heading into by far the most pivotal fight of his UFC career when he meets former title contender Rory MacDonald in the main event of June 18’s UFC Fight Night 89 from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It’s a perceived title eliminator that couldn’t be much else with the No. 1 MacDonald

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It’s a perceived title eliminator that couldn’t be much else with the No. 1 MacDonald facing the No. 2-ranked “Wonderboy,” who shocked the MMA world earlier this year when he knocked out former champion Johny Hendricks in one round to score his sixth straight win in a row.

Win streak or not, “Wonderboy” has his hands full against the gritty “Red King,” but in a recent interview with Submission Radio, he could already be looking ahead three fights to when he expects to have the belt. At that point, he wants to take on Irish featherweight champion Conor McGregor:

“When I become the welterweight champion, I would love to step in the octagon with Conor McGregor. He’s a phenomenal martial artist, right? And I honor him for doing what he’s doing with the sport. But like you said, it would be a big payday. It really would. And it would be a great payday for anybody who steps in the octagon with Conor McGregor. And you would be stupid if you thought otherwise. And I think all the fighters would know that. You know, if somebody would say, “Hey, you wanna fight Conor McGregor?”. Heck yeah. They’d all be jumping at it (laughs).”

However, even though he wants the great payday that McGregor provides, Thompson went on to say that “The Notorious” fighting at welterweight, which he did in his loss to Nate Diaz at UFC 196, isn’t a great idea for his personal well-being based on the current champ:

“You’ve got Robbie Lawler who’s a monster. Probably walks around at 200, maybe over 200 pounds. And just somebody like that, that much bigger than you, it’s crazy. I wouldn’t see him – it wouldn’t be smart if I was his coach, for him to go up to 170. Yeah, the people probably will want to see it, but you know, you’re thinking about your fighter, you’re thinking about your sparring partner, the guy you’ve been training for years. And that’s a good way to really get somebody hurt.”

Whether or not it’s a good idea for McGregor to fight welterweights, there is no question that fans everywhere would love to see him square off against a striker of “Wonderboy’s” caliber. That is, if he’s not fighting Floyd Mayweather in a boxing ring instead.

Will it ever happen?

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