Stephen Thompson’s Disappointment Over UFC 307 Prelims Placement

Stephen Thompson was looking forward to a five-round battle against Joaquin Buckley at UFC 307 and was sure that experience would make a difference in this aspect. Thompson was one of the first fighters to sign with UFC as he only came second to Stipe Miocic, and was convinced that his karate skills would produce an entertaining fight. While Buckley’s previous opponents preferred to take him to the ground, attention is turned to a stand-up fight in this welterweight match.

With Main Card Dreams and Prelims Reality

Too bad for Stephen Thompson who could have expected to shine in the main card; his fight is scheduled to be on the prelims of UFC 307. While Joaquin Buckley considers it his final shot at being able to dictate how the fight will go before the fans, Stephen Thompson bemoaned the setting of the fight. Still in the Bodog Canada YouTube channel interview, he realized that fans were expecting the fight but felt the move that saw him be relegated to the prelims after 10 years was bad.

Stephen Thompson Debriefing on Previously Played Matches

Stephen Thompson added that the format of this battle guarantees an interesting combat, and cited Buckley’s propensity for getting involved in striking combinations. He compared this, with fighters such as Belal Muhammad, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Gilbert Burns, who employed grappling to dictate against him which usually resulted in less exciting bouts. Stephen Thompson described his previous fight against Kevin Holland as an exciting toe-to-toe fight in which the fighters stood and exchanged strikes, which was entertaining, and that’s what fans enjoyed from the fight. He said that

A little weird at this point, knowing what kind of a fight this is going to be. You’d figure that they’d want to have all eyes on it. Now I’m not sure if it was because, you know, the last time I was supposed to fight in Salt Lake City my opponent didn’t make weight. But, Joaquin Buckely is notorious for making weight so I know he’s going to be a professional and we’re going to go out there and have fun but yeah, it was a little disappointing like what’s going on.

He pondered over the possibility that the last time he was on the prelims was against Chris Clements on September 22, 2013, meaning that it has been over 11 years since he was on the same stage.

A Commitment to Thrill Fans

However, Stephen Thompson is focused on providing entertainment to the audience by having a shoot-out scene with Buckley. He suggested there are other fights on the main card that could have been changed for his fight, extending significant importance and promising exhilarating bouts he expects at UFC 307.

“It’s wild. I don’t know why they put that on the card. I mean, there’s some fights on the main card that I think should be on the prelims but you know, it is what it is.”

he stated, of giving fans a great fight to watch between two fighters who are passionate about what they do. To popularize the event, both Stephen Thompson and Buckley will make sure they push as hard as to prove that they deserve to be on the card to guarantee a good fight.