“I am going to be champion” – Stephen Thompson shares why he can defeat Kamaru Usman

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4 years ago

Stephen Thompson reacts during his welterweight bout against Jorge Masvidal during the UFC 217 event at Madison Square Garden on November 4, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson believes he has the necessary skillsets to beat Kamaru Usman

Usman has been a real nightmare to his fellow welterweight fighters. No one has ever come close to defeating the Nigerian in his UFC career.

His recent title defense against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261, exemplified how equally good he can be in striking, just like he is in wrestling. He knocked out Masvidal in just two rounds, with a vicious right hand.

Kamaru Usman’s right hand that knocked out Masvidal

Masvidal would later go on to say that he never knew Usman had that hidden in him and that he never felt that power during his first fight against Usman at UFC 251.

Usman has almost cleaned out all the top-ranked welterweights, barring the ‘Karate Master’, Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson.

The number 5 ranked welterweight known for his diverse fighting style, has never fought the welterweight champion.

Speaking about this in an interview with TMZ Sports, Thompson divulged that he had the skillsets and style to beat someone like Usman, before going on to explain why he felt so.

Thompson said:

“He hasn’t. That’s the thing. The style, the movement, the angle change, and the switching sides. To not just punch, but kick at the same time. Kick is just as fast as I do punching. It is very difficult to prepare for it. That’s why I am confident I can beat Kamaru Usman, and 2021 I’m going to be the champion.”

Stephen Thompson takes on Gilbert Burns at UFC 264

Just two major fights have been confirmed for UFC 264. The first one being the trilogy bout between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier which will serve as the main event. The second one will be Stephen Thompson taking on Gilbert Burns in the co-main event.

The fight will pretty much be a dress rehearsal for Wonderboy vs Usman, since Burns’ fighting style is pretty much similar to Usman’s.

Thompson will be hoping to see off the Brazilian, since it is the key to unlocking the Usman fight.

Wonderboy is coming off a unanimous decision victory against Geoff Neal in the last UFC event of 2020. Burns on the other hand is coming off a knockout defeat against Usman himself, at UFC 258.