Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson is eyeing a long-awaited showdown with Leon Edwards, and he believes the time is right to make it happen. With his upcoming bout against Joaquin Buckley on the horizon, Thompson has his sights set on a future clash with Edwards, a fighter he’s been eager to face for years.
Thompson, who is currently ranked #8 in the UFC welterweight division, will step into the octagon against Buckley at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City on October 5. Buckley, known for one of the most spectacular knockouts in UFC history back in 2020, presents a formidable challenge for Thompson. However, “Wonderboy” is focused not just on this fight, but on a potential title run as well.
At 41, Thompson knows he’s in the latter stages of his career, but that hasn’t diminished his ambition. After coming close to the title in two previous attempts against Tyron Woodley, Thompson is determined to make another push for the welterweight crown. He believes Edwards, a striking specialist, would be an ideal opponent if he can get past Buckley.
“It really depends on what everybody else has [going on] above me,” Thompson explained in a recent interview with talkSPORT MMA. He added, “The welterweight division, especially at the top, is filled with a slew of just high-level grapplers, which is good.”
Thompson pointed out that Edwards, who recently lost his title, is not primarily known for his grappling:
“Leon Edwards has just lost the title, he’s not normally known as a grappler, he’s more known as a striker,” Thompson said. This, he believes, makes Edwards the perfect fight for him, especially now that Edwards is no longer the champion.
Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson Sets Sights on UFC Champ Leon Edwards for Next Fight
Thompson has been trying to secure a fight with Edwards for years, and he feels that now might be the best time:
“That’s one of the fights that I’ve been trying to get for years and hopefully we can make that happen now that he’s not the champion,” he said. He acknowledged that Edwards might be in line for another title shot but expressed doubt that it would happen immediately:
“He may get another title shot, but I don’t think Belal Muhammad will give him that. So, maybe, we can make that fight happen for the fans,” Thompson suggested.
The potential matchup between Thompson and Edwards would be a striking fan’s dream. Thompson is a lifelong kickboxer with a history of thrilling knockouts and entertaining fights. He’s hoping that a win over Buckley will position him for a fight with someone ranked higher than him, and Edwards is at the top of his list:
“I beat Joaquin Buckley, he’s ranked below me, I’m still looking for the title and still trying to improve. Hopefully, we can find a good fight with somebody who is ranked above me,” Thompson said.
Reflecting on Edwards’ recent loss to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in Manchester, Thompson expressed some disappointment. Although he acknowledged Muhammad’s impressive endurance and strategy, Thompson felt that Edwards didn’t perform at his best:
“To be honest with you, I don’t think it was the Leon Edwards of old,” Thompson remarked. He speculated that Edwards might have been affected by the unusual fight schedule, noting, “I think maybe he just had an off day. I know he said maybe it had something to do with his sleep schedule, with it being so late for the fight.”
Thompson Talks Belal Muhammad vs. Leon Edwards
Thompson also praised Muhammad’s conditioning, which allowed him to maintain a high pace throughout the fight:
“Belal Muhammad did not tire like a normal athlete. This guy has got a gas tank for days, he was just as fresh in the fifth as he was in the first round,” Thompson observed. He admitted to feeling frustrated watching Edwards, one of the division’s best strikers, struggle against Muhammad’s grappling:
“It was kind of frustrating to me, especially when you have one of the best strikers in the welterweight division, you want to see him go out there and do his thing,” Thompson said.
Credit Where It’s Due
Despite his disappointment, Thompson gave credit to Muhammad for executing a smart game plan:
“Belal is a smart fighter, he knew that he had it in the bag if he was able to take him and tire him out, and that’s what happened. From then on, it made him look like the better striker because Leon Edwards was fatigued,” Thompson admitted.
As Edwards looks to rebound from his loss, Thompson might be the perfect opponent for his comeback depending on show his upcoming fight with Buckley unfolds.
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Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images and Embed from Getty Images
