Stephen Thompson is set to make his long-awaited return to the Octagon at the UFC year-end pay-per-view. Thompson will face Shavkat Rakhmonov in a highly anticipated welterweight matchup. Read more about Thompson’s comeback fight and his goal to prove his grappling improvement.
| Stephen Thompson’s Comeback Fight |
After a year of absence, UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson is gearing up for his highly anticipated return to the Octagon. Thompson will be competing at the promotion’s year-end pay-per-view event, which is set to take place on December 16 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Thompson’s opponent for this comeback fight is none other than the highly touted Shavkat Rakhmonov. Rakhmonov has been making waves in the MMA world with his impressive grappling skills, which poses an interesting challenge for Thompson, who has previously struggled against grappling-heavy opponents.
Thompson’s Decision to Face Rakhmonov
In a recent interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Thompson discussed his decision to accept the fight against Rakhmonov instead of opting for a striking battle with Ian Machado Garry, who had been calling him out. Thompson explained that in order to reach the top of the welterweight division and become the best MMA fighter he can be, he needs to prove that he can handle fighters like Rakhmonov.
Thompson’s Goal for the Fight
Thompson sees this fight as a crucial opportunity to showcase his improvement in grappling and prove that he can overcome opponents who excel in that aspect of the sport. He acknowledged that his losses to Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad, where he struggled against takedowns and ground control, forced him to reevaluate his approach and work on his weaknesses.
Thompson’s Late-Career Run
Despite the hype surrounding Rakhmonov and the speculation that this fight is a punishment for Thompson’s decision to turn down a fight against Michel Pereira, Thompson sees this matchup as a chance to make a late-career run towards the welterweight gold. He believes that a victory over Rakhmonov will solidify his position as a top contender and put him on the path to face fighters like Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman.
In conclusion, Thompson’s comeback fight against Rakhmonov at the UFC year-end pay-per-view promises to be an exciting clash of styles. Thompson aims to prove his grappling improvement and show that he can handle fighters like Rakhmonov. This fight marks a crucial moment in Thompson’s career as he looks to make a late-career run towards the welterweight championship.
Stephen Thompson’s Comeback Fight
After a year of absence, UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson is gearing up for his highly anticipated return to the Octagon. Thompson will be competing at the promotion’s year-end pay-per-view event, which is set to take place on December 16 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Thompson’s opponent for this comeback fight is none other than the highly touted Shavkat Rakhmonov. Rakhmonov has been making waves in the MMA world with his impressive grappling skills, which poses an interesting challenge for Thompson, who has previously struggled against grappling-heavy opponents.
Thompson’s Decision to Face Rakhmonov
In a recent interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Thompson discussed his decision to accept the fight against Rakhmonov instead of opting for a striking battle with Ian Machado Garry, who had been calling him out. Thompson explained that in order to reach the top of the welterweight division and become the best MMA fighter he can be, he needs to prove that he can handle fighters like Rakhmonov.
Thompson’s Goal for the Fight
Thompson sees this fight as a crucial opportunity to showcase his improvement in grappling and prove that he can overcome opponents who excel in that aspect of the sport. He acknowledged that his losses to Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad, where he struggled against takedowns and ground control, forced him to reevaluate his approach and work on his weaknesses.
Thompson’s Late-Career Run
Despite the hype surrounding Rakhmonov and the speculation that this fight is a punishment for Thompson’s decision to turn down a fight against Michel Pereira, Thompson sees this matchup as a chance to make a late-career run towards the welterweight gold. He believes that a victory over Rakhmonov will solidify his position as a top contender and put him on the path to face fighters like Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman.
In conclusion, Thompson’s comeback fight against Rakhmonov at the UFC year-end pay-per-view promises to be an exciting clash of styles. Thompson aims to prove his grappling improvement and show that he can handle fighters like Rakhmonov. This fight marks a crucial moment in Thompson’s career as he looks to make a late-career run towards the welterweight championship.
