As far as Stephen Thompson is concerned, unless he hears from somebody otherwise, he’s preparing to face UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley at UFC 205.
Thompson pushed his MMA record to 13-1 overall and 8-1 inside the Octagon when he topped one-time title challenger Rory MacDonald earlier this year. Prior to that win, “Wonderboy” finished former champion Johny Hendricks.
“I have heard that it is going to happen; I’ve heard some weeks here and there that it could be a possibility,” Thompson said (thanks to MMAjunkie for the quotes). “Just don’t know when. I’m training right now as if I’m facing Tyron Woodley in November on the Madison Square Garden card. So I’m preparing as if I’m going to fight then.”
Woodley won the belt when he stopped Robbie Lawler recently. With Thompson working the booth for FOX Sports 1 that night, Woodley called out several other “money” fights instead of one with the top contender for his first title defense.
“I think he’s just coming up with excuses why not to face me,” Thompson said. “I know he wants that money fight, but what champion who really has had the belt around their waist for 30 seconds says, ‘Hey, give me a money fight’? I was kind of laughing in my head. I was all smiles but in my head. I was like, ‘Really?’
