We're just two weeks away from Stephen Thompson fighting for the UFC welterweight title at Madison Square Garden, but before that happens, let's take a trip down memory lane to see how "Wonderboy" rose up the ranks to earn his title shot.
The main event of the July 2015 TUF 21 Finale was between Wonderboy and Jake Ellenberger, who had just beaten Josh Koscheck at UFC 184. That win snapped a 3 fight losing skid, whereas Wonderboy had won 4 straight, including a dominant decision vs. Patrick Cote. It was a good matchup and for a one-round fight, it was definitely eventful. Ellenberger scored an early knockdown with a hard punch, but it wasn't one that was close to finishing the fight. Thompson rallied and scored the stoppage win with not one, but two spinning hook kicks. You can watch the video for yourself at the top of the page.
Here's how Tim Burke described the fight for Bloody Elbow:
Round 1 - Thompson with a leg kick and a few misses. Straight left from Thompson stunned Ellenberger. Ellenberger waded in and cracked Wonderboy with a punch that dropped him! He's up quickly though. Thompson clinched up to get his head cleared. They scrapped in the clinch as Ellenberger stopped a takedown. Thompson hit a side kick to the face. Ellenberger went for a takedown but it got reversed. Thompson worked from Jake's back with a few punches. Ellenberger up. Two straight lefts from Thompson back Jake up. Spinning hook kick dropped Ellenberger! Holy crap! Thompson is trying to pound him out but Jake is up. He's wobbly though. Another spinning hook kick puts Ellenberger down again and it's over. That was insane.
Stephen Thompson defeated Jake Ellenberger by KO (spinning hook kick), 4:29 of round 1
Here's how the BE community reacted to the finish;
Stephen Thompson fights champion Tyron Woodley for the UFC welterweight title, in the co-main event of UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor on November 12th.