EXCLUSIVE | Stephen Thompson “If Woodley is focused on other things, then that will be his downfall”

UFC welterweight sensation Stephen Thompson will return to the octagon on March 4 when he rematches current division title holder Tyron Woodley in the main event of UFC 209 in Las Vegas.

Thompson and Woodley first met at this past November’s UFC 205 event in New York, and after five-rounds of war their championship contest was ruled a majority draw by the judges in attendance.

Prior to his highly anticipated rematch with “T-Wood”, “Wonderboy” sat down with BJPENN.com’s Chris Taylor on today’s episode of Rapid Fire where he discussed a number of different topics.

Taylor asked Thompson how he felt about Tyron Woodley’s recent comments where he stated that he was “by far the worst treated champion in UFC history“. Here is what Thompson had to say on the matter.

“I don’t think so at all. The guy hasn’t been champion long enough I don’t think. Not for him to say that at least. I mean he won the title. He hasn’t really defended it yet. That’s why we are going round two. So I just don’t see where he has been treated badly. You know that is just my opinion. I don’t see the negotiations he goes through with the UFC. But I think he is treated like every other champion. Well, of course not like Conor McGregor,” he said laughing “But nobody else is treated that way (like Conor) you know what I mean.”

UFC President Dana White recently stated that Tyron Woodley was “a bit of a drama queen” for making race-related comments. Taylor asked “Wonderboy” if he felt that White’s comments were warranted.

“You know he has obviously said some things in the past. You know that he wants this and wants that. I don’t know. I just don’t see where he is coming from with how he is treated bad. I know the whole race thing came up but my job is not to sit here and talk about that part. You know I am just focused on the fight to be honest with you. I know I have to step foot in the octagon with that guy (Tyron Woodley). If he is focused on other things, then that is going to be his downfall. I just hope that he is focused on the fight and not everything else that goes along with it you know? Because I want to fight the best Tyron Woodley. That is why I am in the game. To fight the best of the best. So yea I just hope his mind is focused on the fight and not all these other things surrounding it.”

Taylor also asked “Wonderboy” how he felt about Tyron Woodley recently proclaiming that he was “the greatest welterweight of all-time“. Thompson replied to that question with the following statement.

“I think Georges St-Pierre is definitely the greatest of all-time. Of course me and Tyron are out there to make our mark. To be that person. So with that said, I think to be in this game you have to have that mindset that you are the greatest welterweight on the planet. If you don’t think that you’re not going to be the champion. Woodley is a champion for a reason and it is because he has that mindset. When you look at other champions in the past, they have all had that same mindset. You know, you are the best. So that is just something that you have to say to yourself and then go out there and prove it, and Georges St-Pierre has done just that.”

February 21/2017