Stephen Thompson is down to fight Kamaru Usman next.
Thompson (17-6-1 MMA, 12-6-1 UFC) was asked his thoughts on Usman expressing interest in facing him, and he’s all for it.
“Wonderboy” was expected to face Michel Pereira this past Saturday at UFC 291, but the bout was scrapped after Pereira missed weight, and Thompson opted not to fight him. Thompson is yet to be paid his show money despite doing his part of making weight.
“I did hear that because my phone got blown up with what he was saying,” Thompson told TMZ. “Everybody on social media was like, ‘Man, he said this, he said this, he said this.’ I was hoping something positive will come out of last weekend and to hear that news – he has always been somebody, him, those guys in the top three who I’ve never faced before.
“Kamaru Usman has always been a guy that I just never had the opportunity to face off against. For him to say he was willing to fight, and it makes sense at this point, is awesome. I’m all for it, to be honest with you. I am all for it.”
Thompson said that since fighting Tyron Woodley for the welterweight title in 2017, Gilbert Burns is the only opponent he’s faced that was ranked above him. So to get the opportunity to fight former champion Usman (20-3 MMA, 15-2 UFC) would be perfect for him, and he’d love it to take place at UFC 295 on Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden.
“To be able to have a shot at the No. 1 seed, are you kidding me? And a good athlete, a good person in Kamaru Usman, I’m all for it,” Thompson said. “I love battling those type of guys. The guys with professionalism, those guys that are good people inside and outside of the octagon. We’ve hung out a few times and we’ve always been very cordial, but that would be awesome. MSG or whenever he wants to do it. I’m looking at MSG right now.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.
