Stephen Thompson Hopes An Injuries/Slide Out Gives Him Major-5 Opponent

Stephen Thompson is escalating extra discouraging by the working day from ready to be booked towards a prime-rated opponent.

It has been four decades due to the fact Stephen Thompson has challenged for the UFC welterweight championship, and he proceeds making an attempt to maneuver himself into a situation where by he can get a third crack at the title. At the moment on a two-fight winning streak, Thompson thinks that it’s time for him to battle an opponent in the major 5, where a victory could make him an additional title shot. The trouble is he has been having really the tricky time obtaining this opponent. 

Thompson had lobbied to fight Leon Edwards, but Edwards emphatically turned down this plan and was as a substitute paired versus Khamzat Chimaev. When Chimaev withdrew from the bout due to COVID-19 problems, Belal Muhammad stepped in his location. Much more recently, Thompson has termed for a struggle in opposition to Colby Covington. Covington has labeled Thompson as irrelevant, while, so that does not bode properly for Thompson’s likelihood of obtaining this fight.

Stephen Thompson Hopes Somebody Will get Wounded Or Falls Out Of Battle

At the close of his tolerance ready for a top rated-5 opponent, we have now arrived at the position exactly where the 38-12 months-aged now wonders if the only prospect he may well have at having such a hugely ranked opponent any time soon is if circumstance intervenes and anyone else’s misfortune opens up an opportunity for him to seize.

“I am a difficult opponent to get ready for. I know that a decline (to) me would absolutely negate that shot for the title subsequent, so they’re not seeking to combat me, and it reveals,” Thompson explained to Submission Radio not too long ago. “Everybody at the major 5 is just not wanting it. So I’m type of trying to keep my fingers crossed. And with any luck ,, somebody falls out or anyone will get hurt, (and) I can soar in there, you know what I’m expressing? So I’m again in the gymnasium. I’m instruction.”

These reviews aren’t always befitting another person unofficially crowned the “Nicest Motherfucker,” but it is incredibly regular with a guy who is pushing 40 and could be jogging out of time to receive one more earth title shot whilst still at the top of his recreation.

Stephen Thompson is now rated #5, so a combat in opposition to another person also rated in the leading 5 is not unreasonable. The current landscape in the welterweight major 5 has Kamaru Usman established to defend the title against #4-ranked Jorge Masvidal in a rematch #3-rated Leon Edwards perhaps (but not assuredly) being pitted against Belal Muhammad in a rematch after their no-contest earlier this month and then the rest is huge open up, including an open up schedule for Gilbert Burns (#1) and Colby Covington (#2).

In his most latest combat, Thompson lent an opportunity to a decrease-rated opponent in Geoff Neal. Now that Thompson emerged from that combat with a victory, he is now only seeking up the rankings, but his patience to be pitted towards a best-5 opponent is now at the finish of its rope.

What do you feel of Stephen Thompson’s desperation to combat a prime-5 opponent next?