Stephen Thompson: Robbie Lawler Has Basic Striking
No. 1-ranked UFC welterweight Stephen Thompson has done everything in his power to receive a UFC title shot in his next fight.
Enjoying a seven-fight win streak, “Wonderboy” has burst onto the packed UFC 170-pound title scene by defeating two of its top contenders in 2016. He first starched former champion Johny Hendricks in a massive first-round upset back in February, and he put a stamp on his title readiness by outlasting former title contender Rory MacDonald in a one-sided decision at June 18’s UFC Fight Night 89 from Ottawa.
With welterweight champion Robbie Lawler scheduled to face Tyron Woodley in the main event of July 30’s UFC 201, there’s simply nothing left for “Wonderboy” but to wait and hope he gets the next shot at gold.
Speaking during a recent interview with Submission Radio, it appears that actually may be a good thing, as Thompson apparently sustained some relatively serious injuries in the win over MacDonald:
“I ended up hurting my left foot and my right foot. My shins are a little bruised up too, but I thought I ended up breaking my left foot kicking his elbow – I think it was in the second round – just totally crushed my foot on his elbow. And so we got x-rays yesterday – actually, it started feeling a whole lot better. So I actually did class, did a little bit of moving around, a little bit of shadow-boxing.”
The foot injuries weren’t the worst of his problems, however, as Thompson described a thumb injury that may unfortunately require surgery from a torn ligament:
“The worst injury, I believe, is my right thumb. I ended up tearing a ligament in it and doctors were talking about maybe having to do some surgery on it. I’m keeping my fingers crossed though, hopefully that doesn’t happen. Yeah man, so far right now, the worst injury is my right thumb. And hopefully after that, if I do have to have surgery, it will be a quick recovery.”
If his thumb is indeed healed up soon, Thompson understandably believes that the UFC should have little choice but to give him the next title shot based on his recent body of work. If and when they do, Thompson is eying the UFC’s New York debut at UFC 205 in November as the place to finally fight for a UFC title. Thompson then guaranteed a war in his fight for the belt:
“I’m on a seven-fight winning-streak, which is the most in the division. So I beat the best guys in the division. I beat the number two guy, the number one guy, finished Jake Ellenberger in the first round, Johny Hendricks in the first round. I think they have to give it to me.
“I think everybody is waiting to see how everything is going for the Tyron and Robbie Lawler fight coming up. I’m really anxious to see that as well. So I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on that. And yeah man, I’m trying to get that title shot in November in New York in Madison Square Garden. I think that’s the place to do it.
“I’ve done what the fans and what the UFC expected of me. I went out there and finished some guys in the first round, went five rounds, unanimous decision against Rory MacDonald the number one contender. Give me that title shot, guys. I guarantee you it’ll be a war and an exciting fight.”
As for whom he prefers to fight for the title, “Wonderboy” hasn’t been shy about voicing his opinion that he’d rather fight Lawler than Woodley. That sentiment is based on Lawler’s hard-nosed, all-out style, which “Wonderboy” has a lot of respect for.
Watching the recent title defenses of “Ruthless,” Thompson praised the brutalizing champion for his heart and toughness, but also noted that the champ has a basic striking game that he believes he could ultimately pick apart if Lawler stood in front of him:
“I would love to fight Lawler. Just because he’s been the champion longer and faced a lot of tough guys. For me to beat Lawler, when nobody else has at the top of the game, would be awesome.
“I believe that Robbie Lawler, he’s the toughest as they come. I mean, he’s got basic striking but he’s got tons of heart. He’s very tough, as you’ve seen in the past. His fights with Carlos Condit, Rory MacDonald have all been really, really tough, and he just came out there [in] the fourth and fifth round and came back stronger. He’s just that kind of guy. But he is a guy that will stand there and try and bang it out with you, so I think it would be a good matchup for me. Just the fact that he is the type of guy to stand there. I’ll be able to use my stand-up, my movement, my angles to try and pick him apart.”
