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Stephen Thompson Plans to ‘Muhammad Ali' Tyron Woodley at UFC 205
Since making his UFC debut in February 2012, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson has earned three Performance of the Night bonuses and one Knockout of the Night honor in his nine fights inside the Octagon. Riding a seven-fight winning streak, Thompson will fight for the welterweight title on Saturday against champion Tyron Woodley in the biggest fight of his career.
“Yeah, man, this is it. This is fighting the welterweight champion, the welterweight title, and fighting the champion. I believe this is the biggest fight of my career,” he said during a recent UFC 205 conference call.
“This is definitely a step up. My last three fights were main event, and my last one was actually in my opponent's hometown. But, I treat it as every other fight. All I can do is prepare myself the best way I can, and in doing that, it gives me the confidence to step out there against anybody. That's what I'm prepared for. It just that confidence. I do it in the gym, the people that I surround myself with have helped me get to where I am and that's it. Just putting the work in in the gym and that gives me the confidence to step out there against anybody,” he added.
Five of his nine UFC appearances have ended in knockouts, but he won't be looking to log one on Saturday.
“I never go out there trying to look for the knockout. It's one of those things that you have to try and let it happen. I'm ready for five five-minute rounds and that's what I expect in going out there. I expect the best Tyron Woodley when I step out there and that's what I'm prepared for. And if it goes five fives, it goes five fives,” he said.
“A lot of people ask me, are you going to finish with a head kick or this and that and I never go out there trying to look for the knockout, man. Just if it happens it happens, if it doesn't, it doesn't. Just ready to go out there and do my thing.”
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Thompson heads into Saturday's event at Madison Square Garden as the challenger, but also as the betting lines favorite. Asked if that adds any pressure, Thompson stated that he doesn't pay attention to the odds.
“I don't sit there and really look at that kind of stuff or listen to that kind of stuff and like I said, like Tyron said, we're just focused on the fight man, and that's all I'm worried about,” he said.
“There's a lot of fighters who actually think into a lot of that stuff. ‘Oh man, I got this.' Next thing you know, they're slacking off in training, but not me. I'm ready for the best Tyron Woodley when I step out there Nov. 12 and that's what I'm prepared for. So I block all that stuff out and just focus on what I need to be doing.”
Thompson expects Woodley to try and take him down at some point during their co-main event bout and has prepared for it. It's something he expects in every one of his fihgts.
“I think that everybody I step out there with is going to want to take me down eventually. I've been working my wrestling tremendously. Chris Weidman, Olympic wrestler Matt Miller, have been coming down to help me with my camps ever since the (Patrick) Cote fight, and just improving on it every day,” said Thompson. “I felt like I came in the game fairly late in 2010, but I've made leaps and bounds with my takedown defense. But every time I step out there I expect to get taken down, but I'm ready for it and I'll pop right back up and get the fight where I want to keep it, and that's standing.”
Woodley isn't just a wrestler, though. His record is evenly split between knockouts, submissions and decisions, but five of his last six wins have been by knockout or TKO.
“He's definitely got some one-hitter quitter power, as you saw when he fought Robbie Lawler. I mean, it took one shot. Obviously, I want to stay away from that right hand, but he's not only a good striker, he's always a good wrestler,” he said.
“So when I go out there I definitely have to be on my P's and Q's, because not only could he hit you with the right hand, but he'll take you down as well. Keeping my footwork, always moving, making it difficult for him to beat on my legs, and just trying to hit and move. That's the only thing I can do, try and Muhammad Ali him. He is the champion for a reason, so I'm taking that into perspective and always being aware when I'm out there.”
