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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 23: Stephen Thompson walks to the Octagon prior to his welterweight bout against Anthony Pettis during the UFC Fight Night event at Bridgestone Arena on March 23, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 23: Stephen Thompson walks to the Octagon prior to his welterweight bout against Anthony Pettis during the UFC Fight Night event at Bridgestone Arena on March 23, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
An intriguing welterweight clash between top contenders Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson and Gilbert Burns has been added to the UFC 264 pay-per-view on July 10th. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reported about the booking of the fight. ‘Wonderboy’ is currently on a 2-fight winning streak having earned consecutive decisions over Vicente Luque and Geoff Neal.
‘Durinho’ fought for the belt against former teammate Kamaru Usman at UFC 258 and lost the fight. However, the top welterweight is back on the horse again and will look to make himself relevant again in the title picture with a win over ‘Wonderboy’.
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UFC President Dana White has reportedly confirmed the booking of the fight. Brett Okamoto tweeted, “Two of the nicest (and baddest) dudes in the sport have agreed to throw down at UFC 264 on July 10. Gilbert Burns (@GilbertDurinho) vs. Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) has been verbally agreed to, per Dana White (@danawhite)”
Two of the nicest (and baddest) dudes in the sport have agreed to throw down at UFC 264 on July 10. Gilbert Burns (@GilbertDurinho) vs. Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) has been verbally agreed to, per Dana White (@danawhite). pic.twitter.com/Lv5uEsxqRb
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 3, 2021
The match-up is yet to be officially announced or confirmed, but fans will know that an announcement will be imminent.
‘Durinho‘ and Thompson both happen to be two of the most gentle characters to ever enter the Octagon, but it would be foolish to expect nice things from them when they fight, as both are ruthless killers once the battle begins. Given their current status as top contenders of the division, stakes will be high for the UFC 264 clash.
Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson vs Gilbert Burns: Early prediction
Burns has a skill set combining his grappling and striking attributes. The Brazilian is heavy-handed and can knock his opponents out. He almost dropped Kamaru Usman with a heavy shot early in their fight.
His submission game is excellent as he is a long-time jiu-jitsu practitioner. Overall, his skillsets complement his game perfectly, making him one of the most diverse fighters in the division.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 19: Stephen Thompson reacts after his victory over Geoff Neal in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on December 19, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)
But, Thompson is a former two-time title challenger and is an experienced campaigner at the 170lbs division of the UFC. Many can argue that at 38, ‘Wonderboy‘ is past his prime, but his last performance against Magny should be enough to brush them aside.
His technical wizardry of striking is truly amazing and he should be able to apply it against Burns as his excellent takedown defense will be a key fundamental for his triumph too. Thompson should add yet another big name to his ever-impressive record.
Who’s your pick for UFC 264? Are you excited to see this fight?
