Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson understands that almost all of his opponents aren’t going to need to stand and commerce with him on the ft
So he wasn’t shocked when Shavkat Rakhmonov promised to outstrike him of their struggle this previous December however in the end ended up getting a takedown and securing a rear-naked choke submission late within the second spherical. Thompson doesn’t fault Rakhmonov for taking the trail of least resistance — that’s really good technique — however he didn’t love the reason from the undefeated welterweight about why that occurred.
“It’s humorous when guys are like ‘I’m going to go on the market [and knock him out]’,” Thompson informed MMA Combating. “I imply even Shavkat was ‘I’m going to go on the market and I’m going to beat him putting. He can’t strike with me’ after which he ended up turning right into a grappler on the market. After all, his excuse was ‘I had a damage ankle’ however that dude was operating on the treadmill the day earlier than simply effective.
“It’s humorous when guys are on the market, throughout social media, they need to get you considering one factor — and clearly it’s form of good — they need to get you considering one factor after which they go do the opposite.”
Following his win, Rakhmonov revealed that he suffered via a severe ankle damage that just about made him pull out of the struggle however he determined to maneuver ahead with the bout as scheduled.
Thompson by no means likes shedding however he has no downside conceding that Rakhmonov was the higher man that night time. His frustration comes from Rakhmonov attempting to clarify away his change in technique after vowing to point out that he was the higher striker.
“I’m going to be sincere with you — sure [it’s frustrating],” Thompson stated. “Simply the very fact as a result of like come on man, you’re not fooling anyone. Everyone knows that was your recreation plan the entire time.”
In actual fact, Thompson says he had a dialog with Rakhmonov’s head coach Henri Hooft following the struggle the place he addressed the sport plan used to beat him.
The explanation the interplay stands out so vividly in his thoughts is Thompson remembers a really comparable interplay after he confronted Gilbert Burns again in 2021.
“It was humorous as a result of afterwards the identical coach as Gilbert Burns, and after the Gilbert Burns struggle, the coach got here up and was like ‘I’m sorry the struggle was boring however that’s the one approach to beat you,’” Thompson recounted. “He stated the identical factor after the Shavkat [fight].
“So I knew that’s what they have been planning on. He was not planning to strike with me. He wished to hem me up, get me to the ground and submit me, which he did that very effectively. That’s a part of the sport. I’ve acquired to be prepared for that. However particularly after the struggle, they’re saying that. You possibly can say that in the course of the struggle to get me considering one factor however after the struggle, you’re saying ‘I used to be going to strike with the man however I damage my ankle.’ Nah, dude. It acquired me a bit bit. Only a few issues frustrate me — that acquired me a bit bit. Simply admit it. Come on.”
So far as his upcoming struggle in opposition to Joaquin Buckley goes at UFC 307, Thompson doesn’t anticipate the previous middleweight to return out and commerce with him on the ft it doesn’t matter what he says.
Very similar to most of his appearances within the UFC, Thompson is getting ready for Buckley to shoot for takedowns and it’s as much as him to cease it.
“I believe he’s going to shoot,” Thompson stated. “I believe he’s going to wrestle. You noticed what he did with the tall Russian [Nursulton Ruziboev] that made 170. After all he was 6-foot-5 so the butt cheeks are proper there, proper at his degree so it was straightforward for him to take him down.
“I’m a really troublesome man to take down. I actually am. I satisfaction myself on that. I actually make my opponents work to get me down. After they do, they tire themselves out.”
