Stephen Thompson explains why he will win rematch with Tyron Woodley

At UFC 205, the UFC’s inaugural event at the Madison Square Garden back in November, streaking welterweight contender Stephen Thompson stepped into the Octagon to fight recently-crowned welterweight champion Tyron ‘The Chosen One Woodley’ in a highly anticipated showdown for the welterweight strap.

The fight was an extremely back-and-forth one, with Tyron Woodley nearly finishing Stephen Thompson in the fourth round after landing a massive right hand. Ultimately however, when the judges scorecards were read, the fight was scored a majority draw, with Woodley retaining the welterweight championship.

Now, two months later, the pair have been officially booked for a rematch at UFC 209 on March 4th. Ahead of the scrap, Thompson spoke to MMAJunkie to explain why he will emerge from the rematch with the welterweight strap:

“There’s going to be no doubt in everybody’s mind who the winner of that fight is going to be, and that’s going to be me,”

“He wants to fight everybody else but me is what it seems like,” Thompson said. “We did fight to a draw last time, which, in my eyes, we might as well have not even fought at all. It almost seems like he’s happy with a draw, and he’s OK with it. In my eyes, as a champion, I wouldn’t be happy with that.”

“I know what it feels like to be out there with him, and going back and watching that last fight, I didn’t throw everything I know I can throw,” he said. “I was a little hesitant, didn’t do a lot of switching sides, didn’t throw the kicks that I normally throw. Tyron Woodley hasn’t seen the best Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson.”

“I know I can hit him, and I can hit him with some power. I’ve got his number, man. Next time we step out there, I can just go out there and do my thing.”

on January 11th, 2017.