Rivalries: Stephen Thompson

Stephen Thompson can probably hear his internal clock ticking.

The 38-year-old karateka will put his modest two-fight winning streak on the line when he faces Gilbert Burns in the UFC 264 co-headliner this Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Thompson has checked off most of the boxes on his combat sports bucket list, with the exception of winning an Ultimate Fighting Championship title. “Wonderboy” already saw two golden opportunities pass him by, and no one can be certain whether or not he might someday receive a third. The Simpsonville, South Carolina, native last competed at UFC Fight Night 183, where he took a unanimous decision from Geoff Neal in their Dec. 19 main event.

As Thompson makes final preparations for his showdown with Burns, a look at a few of the rivalries that have helped shape his career.

Matt Brown

“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 7 alum grounded and neutralized the previously unbeaten Thompson as he captured a unanimous decision on the UFC 145 undercard on April 21, 2012 at Philips Arena in Atlanta. All three cageside judges saw it for Brown: 30-27, 29-27 and 30-27. Thompson (6-1, 1-1 UFC) had his moments, but they were too few and far between. Brown struck for takedowns in all three rounds and opened multiple lacerations on the South Carolinian’s face with short elbows from the top. In the third round, he swept Thompson’s legs, sliced through his guard and ultimately moved to the mounted crucifix position. Brown then transitioned to a topside triangle and battered his counterpart with punches. Thompson survived until the end, but his face bore the marks of a clear defeat, his first as a professional.

Rory MacDonald

Thompson cemented himself as the No. 1 contender for the Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title with a five-round unanimous decision over MacDonald in the UFC Fight Night 89 main event on June 18, 2016 at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, Ontario. “Wonderboy” drew 50-45, 50-45 and 48-47 marks from the judges. In his first appearance since his technical knockout loss to then-welterweight champion Robbie Lawler a little less than a year earlier, MacDonald never seemed comfortable; and Thompson took advantage of the unexpected passivity. “Wonderboy” doubled MacDonald’s output in terms of total strikes landed, 124-62, and nearly did the same in the significant strikes landed department, 110-61. Thompson threw and landed more strikes in all five rounds while also denying MacDonald’s only two takedown attempts.

Tyron Woodley

Less than four months after they fought to a draw in their first encounter, Woodley retained his undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title with a majority decision over Thompson in the UFC 209 headliner on March 4, 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Two of the three cageside judges—Derek Cleary and Chris Lee—struck 48-47 scorecards for Woodley, while a third ruled it a 47-47 draw. The five-round rematch was marked by extended periods of inactivity, with champion and contender circling one another to a chorus of boos from those in attendance. Woodley was responsible for the two most significant bursts of offense in the fight. He executed a takedown in the second round, trapped Thompson’s arm behind his back and went to work with his ground-and-pound; and late in Round 5, Woodley sent an off-balance “Wonderboy” careening into the cage with a straight right and then met him with an overhand right that had him back on the canvas with referee John McCarthy hovering above. Thompson controlled the spaces in between—he staggered Woodley with a left hook in the third round and connected with a wheel kick in the fourth—with tactical strikes but failed to make enough of an impact to necessitate a changing of the guard at 170 pounds.

Jorge Masvidal

Darting punch combinations and a variety of kicks carried Thompson to a unanimous decision over the American Top Team mainstay in a UFC 217 welterweight showcase on Nov. 4, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York. All three cageside judges scored it for Thompson: 30-26, 30-27 and 30-27. Outside of leg kicks and the occasional left hook, Masvidal was outmatched in the standup exchanges. Thompson picked apart the Miami native while circling on the outside. He knocked down an off-balance Masvidal twice, first with a side kick to the chest and later with a sneaky right hand. Thompson shut down a few takedown attempts, denying the future BMF champion’s bid to change the direction of the fight.