Stephen Thompson

    Darren Till vs. Stephen Thompson Announced for England Card, Feb. 24

    Peter Knox 08/11/2017

    UFC President Dana White has announced Darren Till’s next opponent, Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson. The news broke on Twitter via Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times; Dana White says he’s moving his UFC card from Orlando, moving it to England so popular Darren Till can fight @WonderboyMMA — Lance Pugmire (@pugboxing) November 8, 2017 The date is Feb. 24 for Till-Wonderboy. — Lance Pugmire (@pugboxing) November 8, 2017 The event, UFC on Fox 28 was originally scheduled to be held in the Amway Centre in Orlando Florida but has now been moved to England, the venue and city have yet to be confirmed. Until now no fights had been announced for the card so the move has been to specifically accommodate the main event. With that in mind I think it would be a massive miss on part of the UFC not to hold this event in Till’s hometown of Liverpool. However, the Echo Arena in Liverpool is currently scheduled to host Cage Warriors 90 on that night in an event that will see Till’s fellow Liverpudlian and lightweight standout, Paddy Pimblett fight. Darren Till is fresh off a round 1 TKO victory over Donald Cerrone in Gdansk Poland last month. There was a lot of buzz to see the Scouser face Mike ‘Platinum’ Perry, who was cage side for the event, after the two had a back and forth during Till’s post-fight interview. However, I don’t think the fans who wanted to see that fight will disappointed in the slightest that it isn’t happening. Thompson is just four days removed from an impressive unanimous decision win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 217 and a win over the fast-rising Till could see him right back in title contention. A kempo karate expert, Wonderboy is somewhat of a throwback to the early days of the UFC when it was specialist vs. specialist, displaying some of the most disciplined and deadly striking in the sport. Till is no slouch as a striker either, a master in Muay Thai and a perfect 44-0 record as a kickboxer (33 KOs), and that is what makes this contest so tantalising. Together, the two men have been responsible for 17 KOs in professional MMA competition and 73 KOs in professional kickboxing. This one is sure to be a high level striking competition that could be over in the blink of an eye for either man. Till has previously hinted at this fight taking place; Just gonna put it out there, but imagine the chess game of striking me and wonderboy would have? 🤔#HighLevelStriking 🦍 — D (@darrentill2) October 24, 2017 One other thing to celebrate is the UFC will be coming to England two months in a row, with this card in February and the promotion coming back to London for a 10th time in March. Tickets for the latter are set to go on general sale Feb. 2nd.

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    Stephen Thompson Open To GSP Fight

    Peter Knox 10/06/2017

    Now that the GSP vs Bisping fight looks unlikely due to delays with GSP recovering from an eye injury, it looks more likely that GSP may return to contend the 170 pound crown. Thompson who is recovering from knee seems open to the idea of fighting GSP if he recovers the title he vacated back at UFC 167 , Thompson now seems open to fight his old training partner if there is UFC gold on the line. Via Submission Radio: “You know, I’m 34 years old, and I don’t think I have the time to wait,” Thompson said. “You know, let’s say he does get that title. Question is, is he going to hold onto it? Is he going to move somewhere else? I don’t know. But my goal, and it’s something he knows, it’s always been to have that title, to win that title belt. So he is a very good friend of mine, and if that ever does happen, that’s something that I would have to talk to him about. Call him and say, ‘Listen, this is, you know, this is my goal. This is what’s happening. Do we want to do this or not?’ Blah blah blah. And mainly I think it would just kind of be up to him. I mean, he knows what my goals are. I don’t think he would be like, ‘You know what, to be honest, I don’t know.’ Before my last Tyron fight he told me, ‘I have no interest fighting you. I’ve known you for a long time. You’re a good friend of mine. I have no interest in fighting you.’ And I was like, ‘All right, sweet.’ But then he was going up to 185 to fight Bisping. Now that I didn’t win, I’m still there and still it could be possible for me to get that title shot and fight for it again. But if he’s the champion, you know, that’s my goal, man. So it may happen.”    

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    Gunnar Nelson struggled to get a fight for UFC London

    Mick Kane 28/03/2017

    Gunnar Nelson, who defeated Alan Jouban at the recent UFC London event, revealed that he struggled to get anyone to take a fight with him. “This is what happened really. Obviously, I was announced late on the London card because it took a long time for me to get an opponent,” Nelson told FOX Sports. “Also, the card was supposed to be full, we were trying to get on it and they said it was full. Then they came back and said ‘you want to be co-main?’ and we were like hell yeah. So they went through all these guys and I guess no one was willing to fight. I don’t know what was going on. Some said they were injured. Some were out indefinitely. “It was about five guys I believe they said that wouldn’t take the fight. All top 10 guys. Then they said this guy Alan Jouban, he wants the fight and I’m like let’s go. Props for him stepping up.” Jouban certainly stepped up however was soon to realise why so many opponents decided to give the fight a miss, after being knocked down then submitted by a choke. “I guess I don’t know if it’s the fighters themselves or the managers, but I believe ultimately the fighter will decide. It is frustrating,” Nelson said. “I had a good victory in my last one and I was hoping to get a top 10 [opponent] this time, but I guess it’s not bad. I got a fight. I basically wanted to step in there and fight and Alan stepped up. In this case, I’m fighting somebody and I have everything to lose and he had everything to win. I was supposed to win this fight on paper. “I guess I’m showing that I’ll do that. I expect those guys to do the same. That’s how it is. You can’t always fight guys who are higher ranked.” Nelson’s coach John Kavanagh was vocal in his wish for Nelson’s next opponent, naming Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson as who he would like to see the Icelandic star take on next. Nelson would like either Thompson or Robbie Lawler next. However will take on any of the top guys. “I would love to fight “Wonderboy.” That’s a fight people seem to want to see,” Nelson said. “That’s the fight that’s most hyped up right now. A fight with him, a good win over “Wonderboy” would be huge for my career. I would love that but as I said, I would fight any of them. “Robbie Lawler is a big one as well. Any of them guys. To be honest, I understand that I could fight Robbie or “Wonderboy” and it would skip some steps to get that money and the gold and I like that idea. But ultimately, I believe I will fight all those guys. In what order is not the most important thing to me.”  

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    UFC 209 – Live Results

    Peter Knox 05/03/2017

    The UFC returns to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, for UFC 209, headlined by the welterweight title fight between Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley. Main card (BT Sport, 3 am GMT) Tyron Woodley def. Stephen Thompson via majority decision (48-47, 47-47, 48-47)  (Tyron Woodley retains welterweight championship) David Teymur def.. Lando Vannata via unanimous decision (30-27 x3) Daniel Kelly def. Rashad Evans via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Cynthia Calvillo def. Amanda Cooper via submission (rear naked choke), 3:19, round 1 Alistair Overeem def. Mark Hunt via KO (knee), 1:44, round 3 Prelims (UFC Fight Pass/ BT Sport, 12 am GMT) Marcin Tybura def. Luis Henrique via TKO (punches), 3:46, round 3 Darren Elkins def. Mirsad Bektic via TKO (punches), 3:19, round 3 Iuri Alcantara def. Luke Sanders via submission (kneebar), 3:13, round 2 Mark Godbeer def. Daniel Spitz via unanimous decision (30-27 x3) Tyson Pedro def. Paul Craig  via TKO (elbows), 4:10, round 1 Albert Morales def. Andre Soukhamthath via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

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    Watch UFC 209 Weigh Ins Live/Results

    Peter Knox 03/03/2017

    The full UFC 209 weigh-in results included: MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET) Champ Tyron Woodley (170) vs. Stephen Thompson (169) – for welterweight title Tony Ferguson (154.5) vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov* Rashad Evans (185) vs. Daniel Kelly (186) David Teymur (156) vs. Lando Vannata (156) Mark Hunt (265) vs. Alistair Overeem (256) PRELIMINARY CARD (FS1, 8 p.m. ET) Luis Henrique (248.5) vs. Marcin Tybura (251.5) Mirsad Bektic (145) vs. Darren Elkins (145.5) Iuri Alcantara (135.5) vs. Luke Sanders (135) Mark Godbeer (241.5) vs. Daniel Spitz (240) PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 6:30 p.m. ET) Paul Craig (204) vs. Tyson Pedro (205) Cynthia Calvillo (115.5) vs. Amanda Cooper (116) Albert Morales (135.5) vs. Andre Soukhamthath (136) * Nurmagomedov was hospitalized Thursday night, and though he was released, doctors did not clear him to fight. He did not attempt to make weight, and the interim lightweight title fight with Ferguson was canceled. Watch stream below

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    UFC 209 Countdown video

    Mick Kane 27/02/2017

    It’s UFC 209 fight week. With some great fights to look forward to, as well as some British fighters on the card, it’s set up to be a great show. We have the UFC Countdown video to get you in the mood. What fight you looking forward to most?

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    UFC 209 media conference call

    Mick Kane 24/02/2017

    With the much anticipated UFC 209 fast approaching listen to the UFC media conference call. With two potentially great co main events in Tyrone Woodley – Stephen Thompson 2 and Khabib Nurmagomedov – Tony Ferguson taking place the PR machine will be getting ramped up. Listen as the 4 headliners discuss their upcoming fights. UFC 209 takes place on March 4th in the T-Mobile arena in Las Vegas and also features Scottish Hit Squad duo Paul Craig and Mark Godbeer.

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    Georges St-Pierre signs new deal to return to the UFC

    Peter Knox 17/02/2017

    Georges St-Pierre is back in the UFC. UFC president Dana White confirmed the news on Friday via the L.A. Times. “It could be the winner between Tyron Woodley and Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, or it could be Michael Bisping,” White said. GSP’s last bout came in late 2013, when he beat Johny Hendricks at UFC 167 to extend his winning streak to 12 fights. “I have no idea when he’s going to fight right now,” White said. “We don’t have anything booked and literally haven’t talked to anybody about it.”

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    Tyron Woodley wants to fight GSP, Diaz And Bisping

    Peter Knox 02/02/2017

    Tyron Woodley called for fights against names such as Georges St-Pierre, Nick Diaz and more recently Michael Bisping. “Legacy is really important to me,” Woodley told FOX Sports. “It’s more important than dollars to me. So with that said, I try to find the fights that would solidify my legacy. Beating (Michael) Bisping, winning two belts in two divisions, maybe starting a rivalry and controversy with a fighter and then also knocking off legends like Nick (Diaz) and GSP. “Those sort of things solidify me and also yeah it puts me in the position to maximize myself as far as being awarded the highest purses. So I’m just trying to kill two birds with one stone.” “I’d like to take a crack at being the best welterweight that’s ever fought,” Woodley said. “A lot of people don’t understand my reasoning behind wanting to fight big fights and big names. “Knocking off these big names in fights really solidifies me as the best welterweight that’s ever done it. Fighting Georges St-Pierre really puts the exclamation point at the end of it. It sounds like (GSP) is serious about coming back and I don’t think it should be a question of anybody fighting him before me.” Woodley is set to meet Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson at UFC 209 in March.

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