“I would be a bad match-up for him,” Stephen Thompson wants the champion, Kamaru Usman, after UFC 264
Stephen Thompson and Kamaru Usman
UFC Welterweight contender Stephen Thompson is aiming for is title shot as he looks to target the champion Kamaru Usman.
The “Wonderboy” Stephen Thompson will be taking on Gilbert Burns at UFC 264 in the pay-per-view co-main event on July 10 in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Burns is ranked number 3 as Wonderboy is at number 4. Thompson is looking to dismantle Burns in July and look to fight the champion. Stephen is the only fighter that Kamaru Usman has not fought in the top 5 ranks.
Recently Stephen spoke to Submission Radio about his bout with Gilbert Burns and how he wishes to progress in the division. “I know that a good win over Gilbert Burns will put me up there with those guys,” said Thompson in the interview. “And as you said, I mean, Usman, everybody wants me to fight him cause I’m the only guy that hasn’t fought him in the top five. So, he’s fighting guys multiple times now.” Kamaru is training to take on Colby Covington in his next title defense.
Stephen Thompson is focused on UFC 264 right now
The Wonderboy is currently riding on a two-fight win streak with wins over Vicente Luque and Geoff Neal. He also has a record of 16-4-1 in his career. “I think I would be a bad match-up for him,” Thompson continued. “Yes, he’s a phenomenal wrestler and he’s got cardio for days, and now he’s knocking out one of the best strikers in the division, Jorge Masvidal. So, his striking is improved.”
Despite wanting to fight the champion Stephen has his eyes on his current opponent. “And that’s what makes this fight so fun for me, is knowing that I’m fighting just the best version of Kamaru Usman. Obviously, I gotta get past Gilbert Burns. Not looking past him at all. But yeah, I know that’s there, I know that’s at the top of the list. But I got one guy that I’m focused on right now, and that’s in three weeks, Gilbert Burns, baby!”
Prateek Athanur
(2944 Articles Published)