Tag: Stephen Thompson

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

The post Rory MacDonald ‘Surprised’ Tyron Woodley Got A Title Shot appeared first on LowKick MMA.

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.

Lawler vs MacdonaldMacDonald 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.”

WonderboyTKOSHendricks2MacDonald 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.

The post Rory MacDonald ‘Surprised’ Tyron Woodley Got A Title Shot appeared first on LowKick MMA.

Fight Night Ottawa Primer: Stephen Thompson Vs. Robert Whittaker

Later this month, Stephen Thompson will try to make his claim to being the No. 1 contender in the UFC’s welterweight division when he heads to Canada to meet Rory MacDonald in the main event of UFC Fight Night 89.

In this special fight primer, see T…

Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson (Source: UFC on YouTube)

Later this month, Stephen Thompson will try to make his claim to being the No. 1 contender in the UFC’s welterweight division when he heads to Canada to meet Rory MacDonald in the main event of UFC Fight Night 89.

In this special fight primer, see Thompson finish off Robert Whittaker in a thrilling battle of strikers.

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

The post Stephen Thompson Wants To Win The Belt & Fight Conor McGregor appeared first on LowKick MMA.

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 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).”

robbie lawler

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?

The post Stephen Thompson Wants To Win The Belt & Fight Conor McGregor appeared first on LowKick MMA.

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

The post Stephen Thompson Wants To Win The Belt & Fight Conor McGregor appeared first on LowKick MMA.

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 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).”

robbie lawler

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?

The post Stephen Thompson Wants To Win The Belt & Fight Conor McGregor appeared first on LowKick MMA.

Stephen Thompson “Definitely” Planning Champion Call-Out After Beating Rory MacDonald

Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson (Source: UFC on YouTube)

Stephen Thompson is coming off the biggest win of his career, having finished former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks.

Now, Thompson will meet fellow top contender Rory MacDonald in a title-eliminator later this year at UFC Fight Night 89.

With Tyron Woodley expected to challenge champion Robbie Lawler, Thompson has plans to make sure he is guaranteed the next shot after that, as he told Submission Radio.

“Definitely. I mean, after I just beat the No. 2 guy, former welterweight champion (Hendricks). When I beat the No. 1 guy (MacDonald, they have to give it to me,” he said. “I’m definitely going to go out there and put my foot down and say, listen guys, I deserve the title shot. Give it to me.”

Thompson added that he if he was passed over, it would be “really disappointing.”

“I mean, if they don’t give me the title shot, something’s wrong. That’s just not right,” he continued. “I believe I’ll definitely be making some noise – you know (laughs), or try to at least. I’m not really… you know; people don’t really take me serious because I am a nice guy. But man, something’s gotta be wrong if they don’t give it to me after this.”

The 33-year-old Thompson (12-1) has won six in a row, including four finishes vs. Hendricks, Jake Ellenberger, Robert Whittaker and Chris Clements since a 2012 decision loss to Matt Brown.

Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson (Source: UFC on YouTube)

Stephen Thompson is coming off the biggest win of his career, having finished former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks.

Now, Thompson will meet fellow top contender Rory MacDonald in a title-eliminator later this year at UFC Fight Night 89.

With Tyron Woodley expected to challenge champion Robbie Lawler, Thompson has plans to make sure he is guaranteed the next shot after that, as he told Submission Radio.

“Definitely. I mean, after I just beat the No. 2 guy, former welterweight champion (Hendricks). When I beat the No. 1 guy (MacDonald, they have to give it to me,” he said. “I’m definitely going to go out there and put my foot down and say, listen guys, I deserve the title shot. Give it to me.”

Thompson added that he if he was passed over, it would be “really disappointing.”

“I mean, if they don’t give me the title shot, something’s wrong. That’s just not right,” he continued. “I believe I’ll definitely be making some noise – you know (laughs), or try to at least. I’m not really… you know; people don’t really take me serious because I am a nice guy. But man, something’s gotta be wrong if they don’t give it to me after this.”

The 33-year-old Thompson (12-1) has won six in a row, including four finishes vs. Hendricks, Jake Ellenberger, Robert Whittaker and Chris Clements since a 2012 decision loss to Matt Brown.

Stephen Thompson: I Will Demand A Title Shot After I Beat Rory MacDonald

Stephen Thompson is set to fight Rory MacDonald in a welterweight bout at the June 18th UFC Fight Night event. During a recent interview, Thompson revealed that he was surprised that the UFC gave him this fight. “I was a little bit surprised,” Thompson told BloodyElbow.com’s The MMA Circus. “I was kind of bummed about

The post Stephen Thompson: I Will Demand A Title Shot After I Beat Rory MacDonald appeared first on LowKick MMA.

Stephen Thompson is set to fight Rory MacDonald in a welterweight bout at the June 18th UFC Fight Night event. During a recent interview, Thompson revealed that he was surprised that the UFC gave him this fight.

“I was a little bit surprised,” Thompson told BloodyElbow.com’s The MMA Circus. “I was kind of bummed about it. Rory MacDonald had fought for it in July, and it’s almost like they’re kind of giving him a second crack at it, I guess. But he’s the No. 1 contender, he’s the only guy standing in my way, above me in the rankings. And if the UFC wants me to fight one more time, I’ll do it. What better guy to face off against? Not only is he a friend, but a phenomenal martial artist. So I’m training really hard to get up there and put on a show for everybody June 18th.”

Thompson believes that he should be fighting for the UFC welterweight title, which is currently being held by Robbie Lawler. Thompson vowed that he once he beats MacDonald at this event then he will demand a title shot.

“Oh no man, they have to give it to me,” he said. “I’m demanding it after this fight. I never want to look past anybody, I know it could be a possibility, it could be around the corner, that title shot. But like I said, I try not to look past anybody. I got one guy I’m focused on, and I just gotta make sure I get past him before I even start thinking about that. Sometimes you get guys, they don’t worry about the guys standing in front of them at that moment. Just gotta stay focused, baby. Good training partners, my family around me to keep me focused and positive, it definitely helps.”

“I wasn’t really upset that the fact they were putting me up against Rory, it was just the fact they weren’t giving me the title shot at the time. We do have a good relationship, me and the guys at Tri-Star. Love those guys. Firas Zahabi, Aiemann, Georges, Rory MacDonald. We’ve fought on the same cards, and whenever we do that, we see each other and like to sit and chat. We’ve been on a few media tours together.”

Thompson (12-1) is currently on a six-fight winning streak.

The event takes place Ontario, Canada and will air on FOX Sports 1.

The post Stephen Thompson: I Will Demand A Title Shot After I Beat Rory MacDonald appeared first on LowKick MMA.