UFC welterweight Stephen Thompson is looking to leapfrog Colby Covington as No. 1 contender with an impressive showing against Gilbert Burns.
Thompson (16-4-1 MMA, 11-4-1 UFC) meets fellow former title challenger Burns in the co-main event of UFC 264 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Although UFC president Dana White has reiterated that Covington is next in line for champion Kamaru Usman, their fight is yet to be made official. So “Wonderboy” is hoping to get the champ’s attention Saturday with a statement win over Burns.
“I’m glad that Gilbert Burns took this fight because a lot of guys in the top five that are ranked above me aren’t willing to fight,” Thompson told UFC Arabia. “I’m just glad and blessed that Gilbert Burns is taking this fight. I know it’s gonna be a tough one. Of course, I fought one of his best friends, Vicente Luque, about a year-and-a-half ago, Geoff Neal recently in December. Both up-and-coming guys, and Geoff Neal was undefeated, so it’s good to get a top-ranked guy, somebody ranked above me to shoot me hopefully towards that title once again.”
Burns (19-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) is coming off a title-fight loss to Usman at UFC 258 this past February. “Durinho,” who rocked Usman early before he was finished in Round 3, was brought to tears after the loss, but “Wonderboy” thinks that experience will make him even more dangerous.
“The best Gilbert Burns ever, I know he wants that back,” Thompson said. “He was devastated after that loss, so I know he wants it back. I know he’s training extra, extra hard to get back at that title contention for sure, so I am prepared for the best Gilbert Burns. The most motivated, dedicated, a guy that’s on point with his striking and his wrestling, and that’s what I wanted. I want to test myself against these guys. At this point, I’m 38 years old, I’ve been fighting for a very long time. Obviously the title is always there, but what matters to me most is continuing to improve myself.
“Continuing to improve everywhere, and I think in doing that and that is your main focus, the title will come. A lot of guys focus on just the title, and they’re not willing to put in the work that it takes to get there. But I’ve trained with so many high-level guys, champions that I’ve trained with, that I see their mindset, and it’s changed me a lot. It really has. A different look on the fight game, the win or loss. I don’t look at the loss as a loss, I look at it as a learning experience and something I can get better at. I do believe that a good win over him, though, should set me up nicely for a title shot.”
Since Usman already has knocked off numerous top contenders and has only rematches on his radar, Thompson thinks he has a good case for a title shot should he beat Burns.
“If I go out there with a good win, I hope he takes it,” Thompson said. “I’m like the only guy that he hasn’t faced yet in the top five. He’s faced Leon Edwards early in his career. He’s fought Colby Covington. He’s fought Gilbert Burns. The only guy is me. Like, come on, man, let’s make this happen. Of course I’m not looking past Gilbert. I got a tough guy in front of me this Saturday, so I’ve got to be prepared.”
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