Stephen Thompson isn’t sure, but the former UFC welterweight title challenger thinks he’s got some backpay coming to him.
“I don’t think they’re bribing me,” Thompson said. “But it was the fact that I wanted somebody – OK, so there was the thing about Usman after that fight. Usman called me out, and I wanted that fight, but the UFC kept coming back and saying, ‘No, Usman’s not gonna fight you. He’s gonna fight somebody else.’ So there’s a lot going on.
“Then Ian Garry fights , and he calls me out obviously. And then I get a call from the UFC saying, ‘Hey, fight Ian Garry at MSG’ . I’m like, ‘No, I’m done fighting these guys that are ranked below me. Give me somebody that’s ranked above me.'” The UFC apparently obliged, and now 40-year-old Thompson , who’s No. 7 in the official rankings, gets the chance to hand No. 6 Rakhmonov his first professional defeat. It’s an opportunity that Thompson, coming off arelishes, given his title aspirations and what Rakhmonov’s 100 percent finish rate means.
“People are looking at this guy, undefeated, hundred percent finish rate. Nobody wants to fight this guy, so here I am,” Thompson said. “I’m like, you know, do I fight somebody ranked below me? Do I fight somebody ranked above me, probably one of the toughest guys in the division who nobody wants to fight? I’ll fight Shavkhat. Let’s do it. Let’s make it happen.
“I believe I go out there and I beat this guy – he should be fighting for the title after this fight with Leon and Colby . I think Shavkhat’s got it . So if I beat this guy, I’m looking at another title shot again.”
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