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Donald Cerrone Disputes The Existence Of Red Panty Night

Former UFC and WEC lightweight title contender Donald Cerrone made a smooth transition up to welterweight in Fenbruary, defeating fellow ‘Cowboy’ Alex Oliveira with a slick triangle choke. After a failed 155-pound title attempt against Rafael dos Anjos in December of last year, the nine-year UFC/WEC veteran decided he’d try his luck at 170 pounds.

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Cerrone’s willingness to take short notice fights against anyone, anytime saw him compete 12 times in the UFC octagon between January 2013 and December 2015. Wins over Benson Henderson and Eddie Alvarez highlight ‘Cowboy’s’ 16-4 promotional record.

Cowboy Cerrone

Talking during a live Facebook Q&A this week, Donald Cerrone addressed a number of interesting questions from fans, and also some ‘keyboard warriors.’ First up he made a prediction for the welterweight main event in Ottawa between Rory MacDonald and Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson:

“I think Wonderboy is going to win (the main event vs. MacDonald). I think he’s going to take it, I really do, that’s a fight I’d be interested in facing the winner of. I don’t know if I’m going to stay at 170 or go back to 155, but I know I’m going to stay fighting, I love it, it’s what I enjoy doing; kicking ass.”

On Brock Lesnar vs. Mark Hunt at UFC 200 and GSP’s return:

“If Mark (Hunt) gets a hold of him, I think he’s going to put him to sleep. But if Brock (Lesnar) goes out there and wrestles him he’s going to take it to the ground…I also think GSP is going to make a comeback, I hear there’s works for him to come back at 185. Should be fun, I really like him.”

Cerrone also got asked a number of questions about UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor, which you can find on the next page.

Continue to page 2…

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‘Wonderboy’ Could Be Robbie Lawler’s Last Roadblock To Legend Status

No. 2-ranked UFC welterweight contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson may very well be the best striker in all of mixed martial arts (MMA), or he at least ranks amongst the elite in that category. The 33-year-old has suddenly emerged as a legitimate contender in the 170-pound division after putting together a six fight win streak that

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No. 2-ranked UFC welterweight contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson may very well be the best striker in all of mixed martial arts (MMA), or he at least ranks amongst the elite in that category.

The 33-year-old has suddenly emerged as a legitimate contender in the 170-pound division after putting together a six fight win streak that was capped off by a dominant stoppage victory over ex-champion Johny Hendricks last February.

In the wake of such success, “Wonderboy” will get his chance to establish himself as the clear No. 1 contender in the main event of this weekend’s (June 18, 2016) UFC Fight Night 89 when he meets former title challenger and top-ranked welterweight Rory “Red King” MacDonald.

If Thompson can secure yet another win over a respectable name, the UFC will no longer be able to deny him a title shot, and he could very well represent the last roadblock to champion Robbie Lawler, who has been on a quest to clean out the top of the division since becoming the champion in December 2014.

The welterweight division packs some serious competition, but in terms of true title contenders, the level of talent appears to dip after the No. 6-ranked Hendricks.

When looking at the fighters ranked from No. 1 to No. 6, Lawler has already beaten three of them, one of them twice, and is slated to face a fourth in Tyron Woodley in the main event of July 30’s UFC 201 from Atlanta, Georgia.

If the “Ruthless” one can get by Woodley, who has been waiting on the sidelines since January 2015, only “Wonderboy” and grappling guru Demian Maia will remain, and the UFC doesn’t appear to be too enthusiastic about pushing Maia towards a title shot given the fact that he isn’t the most marketable name.

With that being said, Thompson could seemingly serve as Lawler’s last obstacle before cleaning out one of the best upper echolons of a division in all of MMA, a true murderer’s row of contenders.

Of course this will be irrelevant if Lawler comes up short against Woodley, and if “Wonderboy” falls opposite MacDonald, then the “Ruthless” one will likely be left with rematches and trilogy bouts. That may not necessarily be a bad thing given the action-packed nature of Lawler’s recent fights, but a division is always striving for new contests.

Lawler vs. Thompson is that new contest.

Neither man has an easy path towards making this bout happen, but given the way each has been fighting, it’s a very realistic possibility. If and when this fight occurs, Thompson will look to continue his rise towards UFC stardom while Lawler’s trek towards 170-pound greatness will hang in the balance.

How do you see the future of the welterweight division playing out?

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Video: UFC Looks At ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson’s Rise “From Karate Kid To MMA”

https://youtu.be/IBIB-LymZ9I

On Tuesday evening, UFC added a new video primer for this weekend’s UFC Fight Night 89 event in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Embedded above is “Fight Night Ottawa: Stephen Thompson — From Karate Kid to MMA,” which looks …

https://youtu.be/IBIB-LymZ9I

On Tuesday evening, UFC added a new video primer for this weekend’s UFC Fight Night 89 event in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Embedded above is “Fight Night Ottawa: Stephen Thompson — From Karate Kid to MMA,” which looks at the rise of “Wonderboy” Thompson inside the Octagon, as he prepares for his second major welterweight challenge this weekend in Canada.

Fresh off of his knockout over Johny Hendricks earlier this year, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson meets former UFC title contender Rory MacDonald in the main event of UFC Fight Night 89.

The official description for the video featured above reads:

“Stephen Thompson’s transition from karate kid to mixed martial artist has been a successful one. Thompson is one win away from a potential title shot as he fights Rory MacDonald in the main event at Fight Night Ottawa on Saturday on FS1.”

UFC Fight Night 89: MacDonald vs. Thompson is scheduled for Saturday, June 18, 2016 from the TD Place Arena in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

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

The post Stephen Thompson Says Rory MacDonald Is ‘One-Dimensional’ appeared first on LowKick MMA.

‘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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