Stephen Thompson: Tyron Woodley Knows I'll Take That Belt Away
Stephen Thompson: Tyron Woodley Knows I'll Take That Belt Away
Stephen Thompson isn't backing down from what he believes he deserves. Hear his critical thoughts on Tyron Woodley and more.
Stephen Thompson isn't backing down from what he believes he deserves.
The surging welterweight striker has been in full attack mode since his on-air collision with Tyron Woodley following the newly minted champion's triumphant turn at UFC 201. Thompson was co-hosting the event's post-fight show on Fox Sports 1, and shortly after the program's interview with Woodley began, he issued a challenge for the new welterweight champion.
Woodley promptly declined the challenge, and Thompson's mind began to spin.
"It's kind of hypocritical of him because he was in the same place I'm in right now," Thompson said. "He was campaigning for a title shot and saying he deserved the title shot and that's exactly where I'm at. Woodley was talking about how much he deserves it, but then when he gets the title he's not trying to give the rightful guy the chance.
"It's like….dude, come on. You were trying to make the case for your shot and I was actually ranked higher than you. A lot of people said you got the title fight and you didn't deserve it, but I think you did, so come on and pay it back. Give the right guy the chance to go out there and fight for the title."
With Thompson sitting as the clear No. 1 contender, a matchup between the two later this year seemed to be a foregone conclusion, but the current champion doesn't appear to be down with that plan.
"After Woodley won that last fight he immediately said 'no' to my challenge," Thompson added. "Didn't even give it a thought. Are you kidding me? I worked so hard to get where I'm at only to be told no...or possibly be told no? You are in the best seat. You want to fight the best, which is why we are in this game, and now you're talking about how you are in this game for the money? Come on, man.
"I think he wants to hold onto that belt as long as he can and he knows I'll take it from him."
Woodley immediately brushed off Thompson's request and chose to lay out his roadmap to fighting bigger names such as Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz. And while Thompson was thrown off in the initial aftermath, that confusion has turned into anger, which has only fueled his motivation to get his hands on Woodley.
"It's almost as if he's trying to ride on other people's coattails to get a money fight," Thompson said. "Defend the belt a couple of times and get your name out there. Let them know you deserve that money fight by successfully defending the belt.
"He's talking about Georges St-Pierre," he added. "Georges needs to go fight Anderson Silva if he wants a money fight, not Tyron Woodley. Tyron has to earn the right to fight Georges. If I were in that situation, I would want to defend that belt a few times before I stepped out there and went after a fight like that. I'm not just saying that because I'm in this situation. It's just the right thing to do."
Thompson is currently riding a seven-fight winning streak that has carried him to the top of the division. He's defeated a collection of former title challengers and contenders alike, with his two most recent victories cementing his place in the welterweight title picture.
Thompson earned a first-round destruction over former champion Johny Hendricks at UFC Fight Night 82 back in February, then outworked perennial contender Rory MacDonald in their main-event tilt three months later in Ottawa. Wins over elite competition, matched with his current surge through the division, appeared to have Thompson poised to challenge for the 170-pound crown in his next outing.
And while that may appear to be the case to a certain degree, Woodley's indifference to the matchup could cause some serious problems where Thompson's ambition is concerned.
"At the beginning I wasn't quite sure, but now I believe Tyron really doesn't want this fight because he wants to hold onto the belt for as long as he can," Thompson said. "I don't see him getting those 'money fights' because he's a guy who rides on other people's names, and I can definitely see him trying to give the title fight to someone who doesn't deserve it.
"I was kind of laughing in my mind because I didn't think there was any way the UFC would let him do that. But when you look at things like Michael Bisping vs. Dan Henderson--who is ranked No. 13 in the division--it becomes clear this situation could possibly happen. That's crazy to me and I'm a little angry about it. I'm not trying to get too emotional, but it's definitely irritating."
In the end, Thompson know he'll need to accept the reality, like it or not. But that doesn't mean he's backing down from his stance.
"I'm not sitting here pouting about it, but everybody knows I deserve the title shot," Thompson said. "I believe it's rightfully mine. I've worked really hard to get where I'm at and giving me the next opportunity is the right thing to do. No ifs, ands or buts...it's the right thing to do."
The surging welterweight striker has been in full attack mode since his on-air collision with Tyron Woodley following the newly minted champion's triumphant turn at UFC 201. Thompson was co-hosting the event's post-fight show on Fox Sports 1, and shortly after the program's interview with Woodley began, he issued a challenge for the new welterweight champion.
Woodley promptly declined the challenge, and Thompson's mind began to spin.
"It's kind of hypocritical of him because he was in the same place I'm in right now," Thompson said. "He was campaigning for a title shot and saying he deserved the title shot and that's exactly where I'm at. Woodley was talking about how much he deserves it, but then when he gets the title he's not trying to give the rightful guy the chance.
"It's like….dude, come on. You were trying to make the case for your shot and I was actually ranked higher than you. A lot of people said you got the title fight and you didn't deserve it, but I think you did, so come on and pay it back. Give the right guy the chance to go out there and fight for the title."
With Thompson sitting as the clear No. 1 contender, a matchup between the two later this year seemed to be a foregone conclusion, but the current champion doesn't appear to be down with that plan.
"After Woodley won that last fight he immediately said 'no' to my challenge," Thompson added. "Didn't even give it a thought. Are you kidding me? I worked so hard to get where I'm at only to be told no...or possibly be told no? You are in the best seat. You want to fight the best, which is why we are in this game, and now you're talking about how you are in this game for the money? Come on, man.
"I think he wants to hold onto that belt as long as he can and he knows I'll take it from him."
Woodley immediately brushed off Thompson's request and chose to lay out his roadmap to fighting bigger names such as Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz. And while Thompson was thrown off in the initial aftermath, that confusion has turned into anger, which has only fueled his motivation to get his hands on Woodley.
"It's almost as if he's trying to ride on other people's coattails to get a money fight," Thompson said. "Defend the belt a couple of times and get your name out there. Let them know you deserve that money fight by successfully defending the belt.
"He's talking about Georges St-Pierre," he added. "Georges needs to go fight Anderson Silva if he wants a money fight, not Tyron Woodley. Tyron has to earn the right to fight Georges. If I were in that situation, I would want to defend that belt a few times before I stepped out there and went after a fight like that. I'm not just saying that because I'm in this situation. It's just the right thing to do."
Thompson is currently riding a seven-fight winning streak that has carried him to the top of the division. He's defeated a collection of former title challengers and contenders alike, with his two most recent victories cementing his place in the welterweight title picture.
Thompson earned a first-round destruction over former champion Johny Hendricks at UFC Fight Night 82 back in February, then outworked perennial contender Rory MacDonald in their main-event tilt three months later in Ottawa. Wins over elite competition, matched with his current surge through the division, appeared to have Thompson poised to challenge for the 170-pound crown in his next outing.
And while that may appear to be the case to a certain degree, Woodley's indifference to the matchup could cause some serious problems where Thompson's ambition is concerned.
"At the beginning I wasn't quite sure, but now I believe Tyron really doesn't want this fight because he wants to hold onto the belt for as long as he can," Thompson said. "I don't see him getting those 'money fights' because he's a guy who rides on other people's names, and I can definitely see him trying to give the title fight to someone who doesn't deserve it.
"I was kind of laughing in my mind because I didn't think there was any way the UFC would let him do that. But when you look at things like Michael Bisping vs. Dan Henderson--who is ranked No. 13 in the division--it becomes clear this situation could possibly happen. That's crazy to me and I'm a little angry about it. I'm not trying to get too emotional, but it's definitely irritating."
In the end, Thompson know he'll need to accept the reality, like it or not. But that doesn't mean he's backing down from his stance.
"I'm not sitting here pouting about it, but everybody knows I deserve the title shot," Thompson said. "I believe it's rightfully mine. I've worked really hard to get where I'm at and giving me the next opportunity is the right thing to do. No ifs, ands or buts...it's the right thing to do."