A MATCH-UP WITH Conor McGregor would make for “a good fight”, but ultimately the Irish star just isn’t big enough to take on the leading contenders in the UFC’s welterweight division.
That’s according to Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, who fought to a draw against reigning UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley at UFC 205 at Madison Square earlier this month.
In the fight that followed the meeting of Woodley and Thompson on the New York card, Conor McGregor eased to victory over Eddie Alvarez to add the UFC’s lightweight [155 pounds] belt to the featherweight [145 pounds] strap he clinched last December at the expense of Jose Aldo.
McGregor may now be set to take some time off as he prepares for fatherhood and some business negotiations with the UFC, but an opportunity to move up to welterweight [170 pounds] and challenge for a third belt is something he has admitted to being keen on.
UFC president Dana White has already confirmed that a rematch between Woodley and Thompson is likely to be next for the welterweight title. Thompson is eager for that to happen as soon as February, and he told Submission Radio that he’s not worried about the possibility of being overtaken by the UFC’s biggest star in the pecking order.
“I think the UFC knows that I deserve that title shot and I deserve that rematch. I think that Conor McGregor’s got to defend the 145 [pounds] and the 155 title, and I just think he’s too small for the 170 division. He’s walking around right at 170, maybe a little bit less. I don’t think it would be a good division for him to step up to.”
McGregor weighed in comfortably at 168 pounds for his two welterweight fights against Nate Diaz earlier this year. However, fighters generally cut substantial amounts of weight — as McGregor does at 145 pounds — in order to creep in under the limit, before refuelling and piling the weight back on again before the fight.
Incidentally, Thompson felt that he was also a little light when he entered the octagon for his clash with Woodley: “I was walking around at 182 [pounds] about two weeks before the fight.
“When I stepped in the octagon, I was weighing about 178, which is way too light, especially when you’re fighting somebody like Tyron Woodley who’s probably stepping back in there at 195 or 200.
“So we’re going to be walking around at a heavier weight, 195, staying around there. That way you see a bigger, stronger Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson.”
The day before UFC 205, McGregor and Woodley were involved in a couple of minor altercations which appeared to lay the foundations for a future fight between the pair. Woodley didn’t hesitate to express his interest in that in the post-event press conference, and Thompson believes that instigating those incidents was a clever move on McGregor’s part in order to put himself in contention.
“I think it’s very smart, very intelligent for him,” Thompson admitted. “He’s already out there talking trash to Tyron and doing his thing, doing what Conor McGregor does. Just think about it — a few years ago he was living in his car, he had no money. Now he’s a multi-millionaire. Hats off to that guy. I’m happy for that guy.
“A lot of people look down on people who are successful, but Conor McGregor is successful because he runs his mouth and he knows how to put on a show. Look at his press conferences. Come on. People show up to see him just act nuts. Hats off to that guy; he’s a very intelligent, very smart guy.”
In spite of his belief that McGregor doesn’t belong in the welterweight division, Thompson would welcome a clash with the Dubliner at 170 pounds.
He said: “I think it would be a good fight, no matter what. He’s one of the best fighters out there and that’s what we’re out to do. We’re out to fight the best fighters in whatever division, whoever steps up. We’ll take on any challenges and I think that’s what fighters do.
“If you’re a champion or not, you should take on all challenges and I think it would be a good fight. I think the fans would tune in to see who would win.”
