Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson finished up his open workout earlier today and spoke to the media about his title challenge vs. Tyron Woodley at UFC 205 on Saturday night. Thompson employs a karate-based, distance-management style that is unusual in the Octagon, and thus far has proven difficult to defend against. Woodley sparred with the karate-based Sage Northcutt, but Wonderboy said it wasn’t enough.
I don’t think he’s ready, to be honest with you, said Thompson, as transcribed by Mike Bohn and Abbey Subhan for MMAjunkie. Sage Northcutt is a good karate guy but we still have a lot of differences between each other’s style. It’s very difficult to figure out and adapt to once you’re out in the Octagon.
Every time I visualize this fight – I don’t like to make predictions – I will go five rounds. But every time I visualize this fight I get the belt wrapped around my waist and get my hand raised.”
For his part, Woodley struggled to rally fan support at the open workout.
“Hey one thing guys, we’re going to do a chant real quick,” said Woodley to the gathered, as transcribed by Chuck Mindenhall for MMA Fighting. “So when I say, ‘who got my back?’, I want everybody to say, ‘I got your back!’ You guys got it? Don’t make me look stupid.”
“WHO GOT MY BACK,” he belted out.
In New York fashion, the vast majority chanted in unison, “WONDERBOY!”
Woodley was undeterred.
“It’s my time,” he said to Megan Olivi. “I’m not losing to anybody. My last loss is my last loss. I didn’t come to Madison Square Garden to make history and lose my belt.”
“Just pure domination, pure violence. I just plan on annihilating everybody in this division.”
UFC 205 takes place at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, November 12th.
Main Card (PPV)
Eddie Alvarez (c) vs. Conor McGregor
Tyron Woodley (c) vs. Stephen Thompson
Joanna Jędrzejczyk (c) vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz
Chris Weidman vs. Yoel Romero
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Donald Cerrone
Miesha Tate vs. Raquel Pennington
Prelim Card (FOX Sports 1)
Frankie Edgar vs. Jeremy Stephens
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Michael Johnson
Rafael Natal vs. Tim Boetsch
Vicente Luque vs. Belal Muhammad
Prelim Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Jim Miller vs. Thiago Alves
Liz Carmouche vs. Katlyn Chookagian
