The UFC’s welterweight division has a new top title contender after Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson defeated Rory MacDonald in convincing fashion at UFC Fight Night 89 this past weekend.
“I expected to come out and it to be a little more of a war,” Thompson said in his post-fight interview. “I didn’t think Rory was going to be prepared for the angles and the speed, but as soon as I met him in the middle – just his stance – I realized this was going to be a chess match.”
Having previously spent time training with some of the world’s best MMA talent at Tristar Gym in Montreal, Canada, Thompson and MacDonald – Tristar’s top active fighter – were well-acquainted long before they were matched to face each other in Ottawa, Canada on June 18th.
“Rory’s always evolving,” Thompson said. “You don’t know exactly what he’s going to bring. I love him, man. I’ll always be his friend and I love those guys at Tristar.”
Having beaten the division’s official #1-ranked contender who was coming off a loss to champ Robbie Lawler, Thompson is unarguably next in line for a shot at the title which is set to be contested between Lawler and Tyron Woodley at UFC 201 next month. Wonderboy isn’t the most outspoken of MMA athletes, but it’s a much different story where the UFC championship is concerned.
When asked what he wants next, the welterweight contender couldn’t have been more clear: “Title belt, baby! I want the winner of Robbie Lawler and Tyron Woodley (in) New York.”
The UFC is set to host an event in New York for the first time in its history on November 12th with UFC 205. No fights have been announced for the card.
