Veteran UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson doesn’t feel his age, something he’ll look to prove when he returns to the cage.
Thompson, a former two-time title challenger at 170 pounds, turned 41 this year. Nevertheless, he still occupies a spot inside the division’s top 10, which he’ll hope to defend in Salt Lake City early next month.
At UFC 307 on October 5, “Wonderboy” will feature on the deep card opposite the rising Joaquin Buckley. Following four straight wins since dropping to welterweight, “New Mansa” is looking to climb into contention at the expense of Thompson.
But despite the high-ranked Shavkat Rakhmonov achieving that feat against him last time out, the striking specialist plans on turning Buckley away from the top 10 to show that he’s got plenty left in the tank.
Stephen Thompson: ‘I Feel Like I’m 25!’
During a recent interview with InsideFighting, Thompson looked ahead to his second assignment of 2024 as he looks to return to winning ways and reignite his hopes of a late-career title shot.
“Wonderboy” explained his willingness to give rising names in the division the chance to climb against him and branded his clash with Buckley a “test” for where he is at in his career.
Pre-fight, Thompson still feels in his prime years.
“I’m still one of the top guys who gives those guys who are coming up a chance. There’s a lot of guys at the top, especially in the welterweight division, that are trying to hold on to their spot as long as they can,” Thompson said. “But I was given the opportunity when I was coming up. … I want to give that back to these guys that are up-and-coming who want to try and take that spot.
“For me, it’s my test. It’s my test to see if I’ve still got it against these young bucks,” Thompson continued. “Everybody’s looking at me as the old guy. I’m 41, I’ll be 42 in February, but I feel like I’m 25. I’m just as fast and I’m getting better. I don’t mind stepping out and giving these guys that are up-and-coming the chance to prove themselves.”
Whether or not the feelings of a 25-year-old will translate in the Octagon on Oct. 5 remains to be seen.
Looking to ensure it doesn’t is a Buckley who has had a stellar year thus far, knocking out Vicente Luque and outpointing Nursulton Ruziboev to established himself at #11 in the welterweight pecking order.
