UFC: Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson wants Jorge Masvidal rematch to show ‘I’m still here’
- ‘Wonderboy’ is keen on sending message to a UFC welterweight division he feels has ‘forgotten’ about him
- No-6 ranked Thompson thinks another fight with Masvidal is ‘the perfect’ way to remind everyone
Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson is maintaining his composure as the barbs are traded back and forth across the UFC’s welterweight division but the last thing the sixth-ranked American wants is to be left out of the conversation.
“I want to tell the welterweights and the UFC that I’m still here and I am still improving every single day,” Thompson (15-4-1) tells SCMP MMA.
Much of the focus over these past few weeks has been on Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal (35-13) and the shots the third-ranked Cuban-American has been firing at UFC boss Dana White, and basically anyone who comes within sight, as he hankers for a title shot and for a larger slice of the UFC’s riches.
But Thompson offers this gentle reminder. Masvidal is on an impressive 3-0 tear – messing up Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz, respectively. But go back four fights and there was Thompson in the cauldron of New York’s Madison Square Garden, pounding his way past “Gamebred” on to a decision that read 30-26, 30-27, 30-27 on the cage-side cards.
“I faced him two years ago [November 4, 2017] at Madison Square Garden and he’s just kind of blown up ever since,” says Thompson. “Look at him now and he’s one of the most popular guys in the UFC which is kind of inspirational to me, to be honest. I beat him in Madison Square Garden then he got three wins, two good knockouts, and now he’s at the top of the game. He’s in an entirely different position.