Stephen Thompson feels the UFC wouldn’t have any scarcity of NMF title challengers if the promotion introduces a friendly-focused championship.
Thompson is without doubt one of the most adorned kickboxers to ever compete within the UFC Octagon. Regardless of a latest loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov, he stays one of many high welterweight contenders, and is concentrating on a UFC comeback for later this yr.
Thompson, along with his fight sports activities achimevements, can be acknowledged as considered one of nicest athletes to ever compete in fight sports activities. He’s jokingly mentioned a ‘Nicest M******r’ title as an antithesis to Max Holloway’s BMF title.
Stephen Thompson contains Dustin Poirier, Robert Whittaker in NMF debate
In a latest interview with InsideFighting, Thompson was requested who a super NMF title opponent can be and named a couple of UFC stars.
“There’s a bunch of good guys on the market,” Thompson stated. “Vicente Luque deserves it, Robert Whittaker for certain at 185. Heavyweight? Tom Aspinall’s a pleasant man, I consider. He deserves an NMF belt as effectively…
“I’m considering Max Holloway at this level, Dustin Poirier, I can go on and on. There’s a whole lot of top-notch gents within the UFC at each weight class.”
Thompson and Vicente Luque’s pre-fight promo included talks of an NMF belt, a nod to Luque’s respectful demeanor. Thompson defeated Luque by unanimous resolution at UFC 244, only a few fights earlier than Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz’s inaugural BMF title struggle.
Whereas Thompson is a respectful character outdoors of the Octagon, he’s confirmed to be a tough puzzle inside. He’s earned wins over the likes of Geoff Neal, Rory MacDonald, and Johny Hendricks throughout his UFC tenure.
If an NMF title is ever launched by the UFC brass, Thompson will nearly actually be thought-about as one of many inaugural title challengers. Based on Thompson, there can be no scarcity of potential opponents for the hypothetical belt.