Former UFC welterweight champion Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks has fallen on some rocky times as of late. After losing his title to reigning champion Robbie Lawler at UFC 181 in December 2014, Hendricks bounced back with a decision victory over Matt Brown in March 2015, but it was then that things began to fall downhill.
Former UFC welterweight champion Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks has fallen on some rocky times as of late. After losing his title to reigning champion Robbie Lawler at UFC 181 in December 2014, Hendricks bounced back with a decision victory over Matt Brown in March 2015, but it was then that things began to fall downhill.
Hendricks was forced to withdraw from a scheduled bout with Tyron Woodley just a day before last October’s UFC 192, leaving a bad taste in the mouth of the UFC brass. He was then matched up with rising talent Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson last February, but “Bigg Rigg” ended up getting steamrolled and knocked out in the first round by the karate expert.
Now, the Texas native will get his chance to get back to his winning ways when he meets former The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) winner Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 200 on July 9, 2016 from Las Vegas, Nevada. Gastelum has actually lost two of his last three, and Hendricks feels as if he has the keys to victory locked up. In fact, “Bigg Rigg” recently detailed a past sparring session between the two that he says ‘didn’t go well’ for Gastelum:
“He likes to move forward. That’s something that I can definitely use against him. And the way that he throws punches – I’m not gonna get into too much of the details because some of it is my gameplan – but the way that he does certain things, I have figured out, I’ve watched the footage and I think I’ve figured out how to use that against him. And I really, really hope that he is gonna fight that way, but I’ve also prepared for a guy who knows that I can hit hard, that knows that he’s sparred me before and it didn’t go well. So what I’m thinking is that he might do a little bit of both, where he’s going to try to come out and see if he can set up himself to be a forward fighter and come forward. And once I do what I’m supposed to do and once I do all that, then he will turn into a guy that might try to throw a couple of punches and run.” Hendricks told Submission Radio.
Do you feel as if the former champion will come prepared and get back to his winning ways, or will his downward spiral continue in ‘Sin City’?
No. 1-ranked UFC welterweight Stephen Thompson has done everything in his power to receive a UFC title shot in his next fight. Enjoying a seven-fight win streak, “Wonderboy” has burst onto the packed UFC 170-pound title scene by defeating two of its top contenders in 2016. He first starched former champion Johny Hendricks in a
No. 1-ranked UFC welterweight Stephen Thompson has done everything in his power to receive a UFC title shot in his next fight.
Enjoying a seven-fight win streak, “Wonderboy” has burst onto the packed UFC 170-pound title scene by defeating two of its top contenders in 2016. He first starched former champion Johny Hendricks in a massive first-round upset back in February, and he put a stamp on his title readiness by outlasting former title contender Rory MacDonald in a one-sided decision at June 18’s UFC Fight Night 89 from Ottawa.
With welterweight champion Robbie Lawler scheduled to face Tyron Woodley in the main event of July 30’s UFC 201, there’s simply nothing left for “Wonderboy” but to wait and hope he gets the next shot at gold.
Speaking during a recent interview with Submission Radio, it appears that actually may be a good thing, as Thompson apparently sustained some relatively serious injuries in the win over MacDonald:
“I ended up hurting my left foot and my right foot. My shins are a little bruised up too, but I thought I ended up breaking my left foot kicking his elbow – I think it was in the second round – just totally crushed my foot on his elbow. And so we got x-rays yesterday – actually, it started feeling a whole lot better. So I actually did class, did a little bit of moving around, a little bit of shadow-boxing.”
The foot injuries weren’t the worst of his problems, however, as Thompson described a thumb injury that may unfortunately require surgery from a torn ligament:
“The worst injury, I believe, is my right thumb. I ended up tearing a ligament in it and doctors were talking about maybe having to do some surgery on it. I’m keeping my fingers crossed though, hopefully that doesn’t happen. Yeah man, so far right now, the worst injury is my right thumb. And hopefully after that, if I do have to have surgery, it will be a quick recovery.”
If his thumb is indeed healed up soon, Thompson understandably believes that the UFC should have little choice but to give him the next title shot based on his recent body of work. If and when they do, Thompson is eying the UFC’s New York debut at UFC 205 in November as the place to finally fight for a UFC title. Thompson then guaranteed a war in his fight for the belt:
“I’m on a seven-fight winning-streak, which is the most in the division. So I beat the best guys in the division. I beat the number two guy, the number one guy, finished Jake Ellenberger in the first round, Johny Hendricks in the first round. I think they have to give it to me.
“I think everybody is waiting to see how everything is going for the Tyron and Robbie Lawler fight coming up. I’m really anxious to see that as well. So I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on that. And yeah man, I’m trying to get that title shot in November in New York in Madison Square Garden. I think that’s the place to do it.
“I’ve done what the fans and what the UFC expected of me. I went out there and finished some guys in the first round, went five rounds, unanimous decision against Rory MacDonald the number one contender. Give me that title shot, guys. I guarantee you it’ll be a war and an exciting fight.”
As for whom he prefers to fight for the title, “Wonderboy” hasn’t been shy about voicing his opinion that he’d rather fight Lawler than Woodley. That sentiment is based on Lawler’s hard-nosed, all-out style, which “Wonderboy” has a lot of respect for.
Watching the recent title defenses of “Ruthless,” Thompson praised the brutalizing champion for his heart and toughness, but also noted that the champ has a basic striking game that he believes he could ultimately pick apart if Lawler stood in front of him:
“I would love to fight Lawler. Just because he’s been the champion longer and faced a lot of tough guys. For me to beat Lawler, when nobody else has at the top of the game, would be awesome.
“I believe that Robbie Lawler, he’s the toughest as they come. I mean, he’s got basic striking but he’s got tons of heart. He’s very tough, as you’ve seen in the past. His fights with Carlos Condit, Rory MacDonald have all been really, really tough, and he just came out there [in] the fourth and fifth round and came back stronger. He’s just that kind of guy. But he is a guy that will stand there and try and bang it out with you, so I think it would be a good matchup for me. Just the fact that he is the type of guy to stand there. I’ll be able to use my stand-up, my movement, my angles to try and pick him apart.”
It looks like Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson’s confidence is rising following his two most impressive victories inside the Octagon.
Wonderboy spoke with FOX Sports after defeating Rory MacDonald at UFC Fight Night Ottawa earlier this month and made it…
It looks like Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson’s confidence is rising following his two most impressive victories inside the Octagon.
Wonderboy spoke with FOX Sports after defeating Rory MacDonald at UFC Fight Night Ottawa earlier this month and made it clear he feels he can knockout current UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler.
Thompson moved to the number one contender spot at 170 pounds after beating MacDonald and former champion Johny Hendricks in his last two fights.
“I know I can knock Robbie Lawler out,” said Thompson. “He’s going to move forward and he’s going to end up walking into something.”
Wonderboy continued, “I think I am the better striker. He’s the type of guy that stands in front of you, he’s very, very tough. I believe he’s slower than Rory MacDonald. I believe I’m faster than him. The speed is going to be tough for him, and I think the angles are going to be tough for him. But he’s a champion, he’s going to be coming with his ‘A’ game. I need to be ready for the best Robbie Lawler in the world.”
“Just from what I’ve seen in the past from both fighters, Robbie Lawler gets stronger as the fight goes on,” said Thompson. “He breaks a lot of guys mentally that way. When guys are starting to get tired, Robbie Lawler’s just picking it up. Tyron’s the opposite of that.”
Coming off of his dominant win over Rory MacDonald at last weekend’s UFC Fight Night 89 event in Ottawa, Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson is certain that he’s next in line for a crack at the 170-pound title. Before ‘Wonderboy’ can get his shot, however, he has to wait and see just who will be holding the
Coming off of his dominant win over Rory MacDonald at last weekend’s UFC Fight Night 89 event in Ottawa, Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson is certain that he’s next in line for a crack at the 170-pound title.
Before ‘Wonderboy’ can get his shot, however, he has to wait and see just who will be holding the welterweight crown, as current champion Robbie Lawler is set to battle it out for the strap with No. 3-ranked Tyron Woodley in the main event of UFC 201.
Thompson told FOX Sports that he expects Lawler to remain the 170-pound champion when it’s all said and done in Atlanta:
“Just from what I’ve seen in the past from both fighters, Robbie Lawler gets stronger as the fight goes on.
He breaks a lot of guys mentally that way. When guys are starting to get tired, Robbie Lawler’s just picking it up. Tyron’s the opposite of that,” Thompson said.
Hopefully he’s (Woodley) worked on his cardio, but in the past he slows down as the fight gets longer. He goes out very hard in the first round, very explosive in the first round, but if Robbie Lawler gets past that first round, which I believe he will, I think he’s coming away with a win, possibly a knockout.”
While Thompson isn’t too confident in Woodley’s ability to get the job done against Lawler, ‘Wonderboy’ is determined to be the one to put an end to ‘The Ruthless One’s’ title reign:
“I believe I can (knock him out),” Thompson said. “I believed I could knock out Rory MacDonald, Johny Hendricks and Jake Ellenberger, and sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t, but I know I can knock these guys out.
It definitely puts a smile on my face that people think I might be a favorite in that fight,” Thompson said.
“I think people are starting to see the skills I have, the karate style that I use, and hopefully we’ll get more people out there studying and getting into karate as well. It does put a smile on my face.”
‘Wonderboy’ is one of the most dynamic strikers we’ve ever seen in the sport, due in large part to his impressive 57-0 kickboxing career, and he believes he has everything it takes to de-throne ‘Ruthless’:
“I think I am the better striker. He’s the type of guy that stands in front of you, he’s very, very tough.
I believe he’s slower than Rory MacDonald. I believe I’m faster than him. The speed is going to be tough for him, and I think the angles are going to be tough for him.
But he’s a champion, he’s going to be coming with his ‘A’ game. I need to be ready for the best Robbie Lawler in the world.”
While Lawler and Woodley slug it out at UFC 201 in the Phillips Arena, Thompson says he wouldn’t mind taking a trip to Georgia to witness the title bout firsthand:
“I want to be there,” Thompson said. “If not there, hopefully I’ll be in the studio analyzing the fight.”
UFC 201 takes place live on pay-per-view (PPV) from the Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on July 30, 2016.
With every decision comes a consequence and for those fighters who took part in battle this past at UFC Fight Night 89, it’s their time to faces those consequences in the form of medical suspensions. Some of the more notable suspensions include Rory MacDonald, Stephen Thompson, and Patrick Cote being suspended for 60 days. UFC
With every decision comes a consequence and for those fighters who took part in battle this past at UFC Fight Night 89, it’s their time to faces those consequences in the form of medical suspensions.
Some of the more notable suspensions include Rory MacDonald, Stephen Thompson, and Patrick Cote being suspended for 60 days.
UFC Fight Night 89 took place on June 18 at the TD Place in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The prelims aired on Fight Pass and FOX Sports 1 while the the main card aired on FOX Sports 1.
The Ontario Office of the Athletics Commissioner released the complete list of medical suspensions for fighters who competed at the recent UFC Fight Night 89 event.
While the OAC did not disclose why any fighter was suspended, they did issue suspensions to Stephen Thompson and Rory MacDonald.
Both fighters received 60 days, as did Patrick Cote.
Below is the complete list:
Rory MacDonald suspended 60 days
Stephen Thompson suspended 60 days
Patrick Cote suspended 60 days
Donald Cerrone suspended 14 days
Sean O’Connell suspended 60 days
Steve Bosse suspended 14 days
Gouti Thibault suspended 14 days
Olivier Aubin-Mercier suspended 60 days
Joanne Calderwood suspended 14 days
Valerie Letourneau suspended 60 days
Leandro Silva suspended 30 days
Jason Saggo suspended 14 days
Ion Cutelaba suspended 45 days
Misha Cirkunov suspended 14 days
Krzysztof Jotko suspended 14 days
Tamdan McCrory suspended 60 days
Joe Soto suspended 30 days
Chris Beal suspended 14 days
Sam Alvey suspended 14 days
Elias Theodorou suspended 14 days
Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger suspended 30 days
Randa Markos suspended 14 days
Colby Covington suspended 30 days
Jonathan Meunier suspended 14 days
Geane Herrera suspended 45 days
Ali Bagautinov suspended 14 days
The Ontario Office of the Athletics Commissioner released the complete list of medical suspensions for fighters who competed at the recent UFC Fight Night 89 event.
While the OAC did not disclose why any fighter was suspended, they did issue suspensions to Stephen Thompson and Rory MacDonald.
Both fighters received 60 days, as did Patrick Cote.
