The number one contender for the UFC welterweight title, Stephen Thompson, is scheduled to face the current champion, Tyron Woodley, at UFC 205 in New York City on November 12, 2016. Bloody Elbow's Eddie Mercado spoke with the 13-1 Stephen Thompson about his road to the UFC title, his opponent Tyron Woodley, and the reasons why 'Wonderboy' does what he does.
Interview: Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson UFC 205
UFC superstars like Jon Jones, Mark Hunt, and Max Holloway are not exactly shy about giving up the glory to a higher power. Following your bouts, you make it a point to give thanks to your lord and savior. Can you speak to the importance of your faith in your personal life and how important it is for you to witness on a main stage MMA platform?
"That's why I do what we do. I believe that God gave us gifts to help serve Him and He gave me the gift. I'm a people person. I'm also an instructor at Upstate Karate, but I've got the gift of fight, man. After every fight, I try to give all the glory to Him. I believe He gave us, like I said, the abilities to do that. Just the way I hold myself. The way I carry myself. I just want people to see, 'hey man, there's something about that guy. What is it?' Even if it just gets them to ask questions, 'Hey, why do you act this way? Why are you such a humble and nice person?'
Wonderboy explained how changing one life made all of the difference in why he is open about his faith:
You know what, I got a lot of smack talk on social media; especially after my very first fight in the UFC. I gave all the glory to Him, but there were a few people out there asking some questions and we actually got ahold of him on Facebook and started talking and ended up changing his life. Just getting that one person, made all of the difference in why I do what I do."
After a head kick KO victory in your UFC 143 debut, you faced a savvy veteran in Matt Brown, who was able to gave you fits on the ground. Since that UFC 145 loss in 2012, you have won 7 straight and have yet to be placed on your back. What did that Matt Brown fight do to you?
"Everybody asks me, 'Hey, what's your most memorable fight?' For me, it's definitely the Matt Brown Fight. That's my favorite fight in the UFC so far. I just think it's because I showed everybody, I showed myself what I can push myself through; what I'm capable of. When most people would have gone out there and taken those shots and given up or tapped. I didn't."
"I was done 30 seconds in. I learned a lot about my weight cut. Obviously what I needed to work on; my grappling, my wrestling defense. I told myself I wasn't going to give up. This guy's not going to submit me and he's not going to knock me out. Since then, yeah, we went back and I learned so much and if it wasn't for that loss I wouldn't be where I am today."
You have been scheduled for 5 rounds, three times in your UFC career; however, your UFC Fight Night 89 match with Rory MacDonald was the first time that you actually fought for the entire 25 minutes. What did it feel like to go the distance in a 5 round fight?
"Such a high caliber of fighter, that's what I wanted, man. Of course, everybody loves that first round knockout or whatever, but I kind of wanted to test myself, as well, to see if I could go 25 minutes nonstop. And that's what I did exactly. I had to be very aware. Even though a lot of people didn't really understand what was going on in there. A lot of people said it was very boring, but very high athletes and martial artists, they loved the fight because it was very technical. It was definitely a chess match. But, just to be aware, you know, to be on point for 25 minutes, man, is tiring. But I'm glad I did it. It showed myself, it gives me more confidence going into this next fight, that I'm able to go 5 - 5 minute rounds."
After Tyron Woodley beat Robbie Lawler at UFC 201 to win the UFC welterweight title, you asked him for a shot at the belt on the New York City card. Woodley declined your offer, and suggested that you go and fight Robbie Lawler while he pursues a money fight with Nick Diaz. Did that upset you?
"Yeah, man. I was actually laughing in my head like, 'Is this guy serious? He just got the belt and he's already asking for a money fight?' From my experience, you have to earn that right, you know? The champion should take on all new comers. At least defend the belt a couple of times before asking for that money fight... I was very nervous because I figured they may give this guy to him. I worked my butt off to try and get to this point, to get this title fight, and they might not give it to me."
At the UFC 205 press conference, Tyron Woodley was booed. The champion was booed. How did that make you feel?
"Man, I was smiling. I didn't say anything, but I was smiling. Not the fact that they were booing him, but how much it affected him. He actually said, 'Man, you guys are booing me?' If you go back and look at the video, he just looks like, man, like he was sad or something. Like he kind of let that affect him. Being a champ, if they love you or they hate you, you can't let them, especially your opponent, show that it's affecting you. So right then and there I knew that it's affecting him mentally."
Why do you think that Tyron Woodley was booed at the UFC 205 presser in NYC?
"I been in New York a lot, since Chris Weidman's first fight with Anderson Silva. I kind of look at New York as a home away from home and I think the New Yorker's know that. I spend a lot of time there. So, it was really cool to see them take me in as one of their own, I believe. And, there were a lot of people upset with Tyron for saying he wasn't going to fight me. Of course, a lot of the smack talk; called me Wonder Woman. Of course I've been called everything; Wonder Wonder Woman, Wonder Bra, Wonder Bread. I've been called everything so it doesn't affect me one bit but maybe they were kind of upset about that. I'm not sure."
Let's say you slip on a banana peel and end up on your back. Second to punch protection, what is your number one priority; getting back to your feet or are you willing to play guard and look for sweeps and submissions?
"For me, I think for a lot of MMA guys, is to get up to your feet. To use maybe a submission or two to try and get the guy to turn and run, or to make him think that you're going for something so they bail and then you get up to your feet. So there are some scenarios where you may have to go to guard, play a little bit, and then try to work to get up to your feet. But that's my number one goal, get up to my feet."
Say you win the title, do you think you will pick your next challenger, leave it up to the UFC, or maybe go after one of those money fights?
"Whoever is more deserving in the division, and the UFC knows who that is. You got some guys up there. Obviously maybe giving Robbie Lawler another shot or obviously Damian Maia who is right at the top. Anyone of the guys. I'll take on all new comers. All guys who are wanting to challenge. I think that's how a champion should be."
Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson is a professional fighter but opened up about his real job:
"I fight just to fight because I love to do it. I do it for the honor and for the glory. I'm a martial artist. That's what I've been doing since I was three years old, and fighting since i was 15 and that's all I know how to do. The money is just a bonus. It's a bonus for me. I think my real job is teaching martial arts, it's what I love to do. I compete just for myself because I love doing it and for the kids back home knowing, hey, if you follow your dreams maybe you can get there. So that's why i do what I do."
Watch Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson compete against Tyron Woodley for the UFC welterweight title at UFC 205 at New York City's Madison Square Garden on November 12, 2016. Stay tuned to Bloody Elbow for all of your UFC event coverage including news, results, highlights, and more!