UFC 143, Las Vegas Nevada. Undefeated kickboxing prodigy Stephen Thompson come into UFC 143 behind a lot of hype and backed it up by knocking out Dan Stittgen with an incredible high kick. Thompson started training karate at age 3 and racked up a 57-0 kickboxing record before moving to MMA where he's 6-0.
Here's how Brent Brookhouse detailed the one round fight at the Bloody Elbow UFC 143 Live Blog:
Thompson with a beautiful two punch combo with a head kick at the end and Stittggen is out. That was beautiful. He faked a leg kick and then whipped the kick to the face and Stittggen was out cold. Stephen Thompson wins by KO (head kick), 4:13 of round 1.
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Thompson landed a beautiful front leg roundhouse kick to the head -- brilliantly faking low then firing way way high, all the way over Stittgen's left shoulder. Coming on the heels of a 1-2 punching combination, he had Stittgen completely pre-occupied with other attacks and oblivious to the doom coming over the top.
We'll be Judo Chopping this ASAP. Stay tuned for more analysis of Thompson's unique karate style at Bloody Elbow.