Stephen Thompson is happy to lastly get the possibility to face Michel Pereira.
After Thompson misplaced back-to-back fights to Belal Muhammad and Gilbert Burns he informed BJPENN.com he wished to be matched up with Pereira subsequent. Nevertheless, he ended up going through Kevin Holland and scored a TKO win however will now face Pereira at UFC 291.
“I feel it’s nice. It’s going to be a great scrap and a great one for the followers, that’s for certain,” Thompson stated on Simply Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com. “Good thrilling battle, like my final battle. In an effort to be up for Struggle of the Yr it’s essential have a great dance companion that’s going to placed on a present. That’s what I’m trying to do come July 29.”
Initially, Stephen Thompson was purported to face Michel Pereira at UFC 289, however the battle was postponed till UFC 291. There was no purpose why and ‘Wonderboy’ says he nonetheless doesn’t know why it was moved.
“I don’t know, I simply didn’t get a contract till weeks earlier than. Then the following factor they stated they’re going to postpone it,” Stephen Thompson stated. “I wasn’t actually certain when (it could occur) on the time, however ended up getting postponed and right here we’re… It simply provides me extra time to organize for the battle and be extra ready to placed on a present.”
With Stephen Thompson considering his UFC 291 battle in opposition to Michel Pereira could possibly be the Struggle of the Yr he is aware of will probably be a back-and-forth scrap.
Thompson is aware of Pereira throws quite a lot of bizarre strikes and wouldn’t be shocked if he tried to wrestle. Nevertheless, ‘Wonderboy’ is assured when it’s all stated and performed he’ll get his hand raised.
“In our karate type, we’re used to some loopy stuff, not that loopy with backflips. However, I’m used to some wild and loopy stuff our karate guys throw…He’s powerful. I by no means search for the knockout or something,” Thompson stated. “I simply visualize my hand getting raised and making ready for the toughest battle ever. That’s what I put together for, going on the market, if it’s standing up or on the bottom, mentally I’m higher off making ready for the toughest battle than considering I’ll knock him out.”
Ought to Thompson get his hand raised at UFC 291, he believes a victory ought to get him somebody within the prime 5. As nicely, he thinks he could be a win away from a title shot.
“Hopefully we’ll battle anyone who’s ranked above me. win over Michel Pereira hopefully will get me somebody within the prime 5, and getting again to the title shot, particularly in opposition to one other striker like Leon Edwards, could be an awesome battle. The previous couple of guys he has fought he has been wrestlers so I feel he would love that as nicely,” Thompson concluded.
