Former welterweight title challenger Stephen Thompson is confident that 2021 will be the year where he will have the UFC strap around his waist.
Stephen Thompson headlined the last fight card of 2020 against Geoff Neal at UFC Fight Night 183. In that fight, Wonderboy put on a clinic as he outstruck Neal for the majority of the fight.
Prior to beating Geoff Neal, Stephen Thompson defeated Vincente Luque via decision at UFC 244. Both fighters were ranked below Wonderboy and now he is ready to fight someone ranked above him.
“I know I am,” Stephen Thompson said on What the Heck about no longer fighting up and comers in the UFC. “And I hope the UFC is on the same page. I think I proved it in my last few fights against some tough guys, some up and comers, undefeated — Geoff Neal was in the UFC. The seven-fight win streak that Vicente Luque had. They’ve got to give me somebody at the top.
“I really know that I could fight for the title, for sure. I was telling everybody, 2021’s gonna be my year. It is my year. And I’m gonna have that belt around my waist.”
Stephen Thompson wants Jorge Masvidal
In the meantime, Stephen Thompson is targeting a rematch against former title challenger and BMF belt holder Jorge Masvidal. The pair previously fought at UFC 217 and in that fight, Stephen Thompson defeated him via unanimous decision.
“I really do hope so, I think I’ve proven myself,” he said about the rematch against Jorge Masvidal. “Obviously, I poked a little bit at Leon Edwards and he wasn’t havin’ it. I know Masvidal was interested in it not too long ago when he was fighting [Kamaru] Usman. He said he wanted to defend the title against me and he wanted that win back. So I’m still in his head. Obviously, it’s still in his head about facing me again. But we’ll have to see what’s going and what happens with these fights coming up. Is Masvidal gonna be fighting Colby Covington? What’s gonna happen with Leon Edwards and Khamzat [Chimaev]? Who’s gonna win that? And obviously, everybody’s looking at that title fight in February.” (H/T – BJPenn.com)
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