Home

UFC

“No One Takes Him Seriously Anymore”: Fans Give 40 Year Old Stephen Thompson a Reality Check as He Plans to “Go for That Title Run Again”

Published 04/19/2023, 7:00 AM EDT

Follow Us

via Getty

The welterweight division of the UFC is stacked with big names and high-level competition. With fighters like Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington, and Gilbert Burns, it is no surprise that this division is one of the most exciting in the sport. Among these welterweights, Stephen Thompson has stood out as one of the most dynamic and exciting fighters in the division.

Thompson is scheduled to face Michel Pereira at UFC 289 on June 10, 2023. This is a highly anticipated fight as both fighters are known for their striking abilities and have a track record of exciting performances in the octagon.

Fans react to Stephen Thompson’s recent title conversations

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

In a recent interview with MMAJunkie, Thompson discussed the possibility of running for the UFC Welterweight title again. Despite suffering two losses in his last three fights, Thompson believes that he can make another run at the title. Having won his last fight against Kevin Holland, he stated that a good win over Pereira would set him up perfectly for a fight in the top five and put him on track for a title shot.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest UFC stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

“I think a good win over Kevin and a good win over Michel Pereira, the next fight after that I could definitely be fighting somebody in the top 5. And that’s the goal: to go for that title run again. And I still feel like I have the ability and youthfulness to do so.”

UFC World Goes Wild as Stephen Thompson Shows MMA Pioneer Bruce Lee’s Lethal 1-Punch Move

However, not all fans are convinced of Thompson‘s ability to make another title run. Many are quick to point out his weaknesses against grapplers. Many others believe that Thompson is only good for fun fights at this point in his career. Here are some of the fan reactions –

One had some pretty tough words for ‘Wonderboy’.

While another fan compared him to Dustin Poirier.

Some questioned Thompson’s abilities to fight grapplers.

Another one pointed out Thompson‘s recent fight against Kevin Holland.

Some even questioned his age.

However, there are some fans who still believe in him.

One fan sarcastically said –

Another one had an interesting potential match-up for Thompson.

It remains to be seen if ‘Wonderboy’ can get back to winning ways and fight for the title.

Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson’s previous title shots

Thompson entered UFC in 2012 as an undefeated fighter. After suffering one loss to Matt Brown, Thompson went on a seven fight-win streak. This landed him a title shot against champion Tyron Woodley at UFC 205. Despite putting in an impressive performance, the fight ended in a majority draw and Woodley retained the title.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

via Getty

Thompson then lost the rematch against Woodley at UFC 209 via a majority decision. After this, Thompson suffered four losses in his next eight UFC fights.

Watch This Story – Stephen Thompson and Aljamain Sterling Fail to Break Joe Rogan’s Record

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

However, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson has given MMA fans many memorable moments inside the octagon. While some fans doubt his ability to make another title run, his upcoming fight against Michel Pereira presents an opportunity for him to prove his doubters wrong.

 

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Sushant Sharma

913Articles

One take at a time

Sushant Sharma is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports who has a keen understanding of the complex commercial nature of the sport. With a degree in Commerce from a prestigious institute, Sushant has a unique perspective on the multi-million-dollar industry that surrounds the UFC. He is an avid fan of the sport and has been following it closely since 2016.
Show More>

Edited by:

Sherjeel Malik