Dana White has claimed that UFC veteran Stephen Thompson has turned down the opportunity to fight Ian Machado Garry. The young Irish welterweight called out Thompson after his scintillating, one-sided victory over Neil Magny at UFC 292, on Saturday night.
Stephen Thompson Turns Down Fight With Ian Garry
Machado Garry put on a striking clinic in the antepenultimate fight of the UFC’s main event card, in Boston. When speaking to Joe Rogan, after the fight, the now 13-0 welterweight contender referenced his striking abilities and wanting to be the best at it. But he added that to be the best he’d have to beat the best. The world’s top striker, in the eyes of him and many others, is ‘Wonderboy’.
The prospect of a matchup like this pricked up the ears of MMA fans across the world.
But, unfortunately for fans of technical kickboxing, it appears as if this bout will not be happening. UFC President White was asked about it in his post-event press conference, at UFC 292. He said: “Wonderboy’ (Stephen Thompson) turned down the fight [with Ian Machado Garry] tonight.”
Quotes taken from Low Kick MMA
But it’s not all bad news for fans of the 25-year-old. White said that he wants Garry to be competing at the famous Madison Square Garden, in New York, in his next fight. Then, if he is successful there, Irish MMA fans will be rewarded for their years of patience as the plan for the welterweight, after that, is to get him fighting back home in Dublin, according to White. It would be the first UFC event in the country since ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor dismantled Diego Brandao in 2014.
Stephen Thompson’s Career Trajectory
Since his fight with Michel Pereira was cancelled, due to Pereira missing weight, at the UFC’s last numbered event, the future of one of the most entertaining fighters in the sport’s history has been up in the air. He currently sits at number seven in the company’s welterweight rankings; Machado Garry will be much closer to, if not in, the top 10 in the division once the rankings get updated.
At the age of 40, and with only one guy above him, in the rankings, asking for him next, this could be his last chance to put together a run for the belt. The potential fight with the Irishman could’ve given him the chance to cement his place in that title hunt, but it also might’ve been a risky move for him.
Who do you think ‘Wonderboy’ fights next? Should it have been Machado Garry? Let us know in the comments below.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
