IS STEPHEN THOMPSON GETTING THE NEXT TITLE SHOT? By Patrick Wyman, MMA Senior Analyst at Bleacher Report
Few fighters have had as challenging a path to the top as Stephen Thompson.
Written off as a busted prospect following a decision loss to Matt Brown back in 2012, Thompson has since rebounded with seven consecutive victories over the cream of the division. Former top contender Rory MacDonald fell to Thompson in five rounds in Ottawa on June 18, and before that, Thompson melted former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks in just three minutes, 31 seconds.
For comparison, welterweight champion Robbie Lawler won three in a row to get his first shot at Hendricks. Hendricks won six in a row to get his crack at Georges St-Pierre, while the legendary former champion needed two, four and two wins to place himself in title fights.
