Stephen Thompson Turned Down Shavkat Rakhmonov Fight First Time | The MMA Hour
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- Опубліковано 26 вер 2023
- Stephen Thompson discusses his recent pay issues with the UFC, his upcoming fight against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 296, why he turned down the fight the first time, his thoughts on Ian Machado Garry, when he might call it quits, his time away from the Octagon, Edwards vs. Covington, how his fight will play out against Rakhmonov, and more.
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I love that he's letting his dad tell him when he's done. That's really honorable
😂
Honourable 😑
@@ulyssesshubeilat both are correct you weirdo
Wonderboy at 50 year old: I'm on a 10 fight knockout loss streak, can I quit? they call me Wonderold now
Wonderdad: no, we're not quitters
@@ulyssesshubeilatlmao
Respect to Wonderboy for agreeing to fight Shavkat. I think this is the perfect position to be in because no one at all expects him to come out with a win, but IF he does, he immediately moves up everyone's list and potentially gets put into title contention.
UFC knew its better to make striker fight for wonderboy but after he pulled out(rightfully so)they got mad at him just like how they get mad at their fighters over the smallest things, as usual and went back to feeding him to Grapplers again, the match makers over there are braindead when it comes to making fights outside of top 5 and for their veterans(example: Tony vs Cringe Scouser, Nate vs Khamzat, etc)
I expect him to win.... " no one at all"
I'd like to see your research into that analysis
Under dog szn baby💪
@@Ar1AnX1x I agree with everything aside from them being brain dead. They know exactly what they're doing. It's for two reasons, one to propel a hot prospect and two for money. They also would hate for someone like Tony or Wonderboy to get hands on the belt since they like the champs leaving after going through their time, then losing and using their name to make big fights and propel others to the top by adding them to their resumes.
@@Ar1AnX1xdude he holds a spot in the top 5 this fight has to happen nobody else wants to fight shavkhat
Need more people in the world like this guy. Hell of a good dude
I think people forget that Shavkat gets hit a lot and Wonderboy is a striking master. I think this fight will be closer than people think.
But wonderboy sucks in ground
If shavkat doesn't get it to the ground he will lose
Odds stacked against wonderboy like crazy. Shavkat is no slouch on the feet and a king on the ground. Tough shot for wonderboy.
@@raider_of_peace tbh he himself has said that he's not the young fighter that he was, we've not seen how wonderboy is gonna fight for a long time his only recent wins are to Vicente Luque, Geoff Neal and Kevin Holland
Guys like Stephen are so good for the sport. He is always friendly and never talks trash. always respectful and always in a good mood. I think the interviewer had a little nasty edge trying but Stephen stayed the perfect interviewed. This is perfect for the sport instead of the trash takers.
I agree with you but if everyone was like him the sport would be boring. Trash talk is entertaining. Sportsmanship is great too.
Yeah but you can’t have good guys without the bad guys.
look at Mr Perfect over here
Hes truly a wonderuncle
Styles make fights. Can shavkhat overcome the distance striking? Can wonderboy stay on the feet long enough to score points? It's not an impossible feat for wonderboy if you think about it
I was thinking the same thing. Shavkat took a ton of strikes to the head from Geoff Neal. I honestly thing that's the worse thing about Shavkat. He needs to work on his head movement, defense, take less shots to the head. He's undefeated but when you make it to the top the big dogs will expose your weaknesses and capitalize on mistakes. I'm excited about this fight. I've wanted to see Shavkat fight someone at the top for a while and he's finally here. I wanna see both guys win. I don't want to see either guys lose. 😂
Wonderboy's the much better striker & i feel like he's gonna light Shavkat up on the feet... what worries me is the clinch & grappling exchanges, Shavkat can sinch up a choke or submission with the quickness & it's a wrap for WB.
@@ThatMexicanMMADudeWB is 40 going on 41 😂😂😂
@@orthodoxboxing9159😂😂😂 and still schooling these young bucks, stop the nonsense you know even the greatest strikers can’t stand with Wonderboy or they’ll get lit up like Christmas trees.
@@djtheory313facts 💯
Wonderboy and his family are FIRST CLASS human beings. God bless them.
Shavkat is a very dangerous fight for anyone... If Wonderboy wins this he should be next for the title shot.
At this point, outside of Leon, Shavkat is the one to beat. Of course, you beat Leon, you get the belt; but if you beat the 29 year-old 17-0 with 100% finishes, who could striking approaching elite level and who has elite grappling/submission skills.... you should get the title fight next. WB is making the right decision, for his "last run".
@@kiabtoomlauj6249 100% Shavkat might be more dangerous than Leon is... :)
@@merlinoner lmao, what yall smoking?
Sooner or later he gonna get chocked.
With one or two more fights against Top 5, yes.
But right now, Shavkat's striking and lack of head moments COULD allow Leon to beat him. Leon is not a 5'10" - 5'11" slow, plodding guy who's going to use some unknown super pressure or superman cardio to outlast his opponent. The champ is the fastest and most agile guy at 170.
Standing at 6'2" and pure muscles at 190lb, he has one-punch, one-kick KO skills.
Just because Leon doesn't swing for the fence often, it doesn't mean the giant 6'2" elite striker doesn't have KO skills or power.
People who keep saying Leon is a "decision guy" and Usman is a KO artist... need to google up their stats: both Leon and Usman each has 10 sudden-fight-ending wins: Usman is with 9 KOs and one Sub, whereas Leon is with 7 KOs and 3 Subs.....
Both of those categories are SUDDEN-FIGHT-ENDING wins (the reason why a TKO is grouped with KO is that if a referee doesn't stop a TKO situation, he believes it could soon, like a few more seconds, become a KO).... @@merlinoner
I love watching Stephen fight! Always a class act! I’ll be so pumped if he wins this fight!
WHEN HE WINS 🏆
@@jamesmcaffielol calm down bud he has a big mountain to climb 🧗
@@angelconde1478 Yep. Huge challenge for Wonderboy.
Good vibes only Stephen......
Hand dude his first loss my guy.........
You are the model for the youth as an athlete and sportsman.
One x
Always a pleasure to listen to Wonderboy he's really one of nicest guys in MMA, and a beast at the same time, respect !
This man is one of a kind
How the hell is the UFC holding back pay for the Wonderboy??? This guy is one of my favorite fighters and represents the sport so well. Honestly, for me he is the closet fighter to a real life Superman in the UFC. Much respect Wonderboy, you are awesome and at 40 you look every bit 30!
Ufc treats steroid cheats like jones and izzy really well but not nice guys like wb
Look at the title of the video. Dude is a complainer who avoids tough fights. Did you watch his 2nd title fight? He’s been given plenty of opportunities but looks out for himself, nothing wrong with that, but don’t forget this is a business.
@@kaleb5006 get outside soon, it will do you a world of good.
@@kaleb5006so you think he should of fought a guy 3lbs over?
@@vickramsukram6761 yes. If he wants to get paid 💀 you know he would’ve gotten 30% of opponents purse? Wonderboy also turned down a replacement fight with Garry at ufc 291 when pereira missed weight 🙌 like I said dude is 40 turns down hard fights and has right to do so.
Ill be super happy if wonderboy wins, gets a title shot and retires as champion. He is such a positive, good vibes, kindhearted person. Love to see good people receive the goals in life they deserve.
WB even if he got a title shot, is highly unlikely to win it. Leon is a difficult match-up for him, Colby would be salivating over an easy title defence.
Love Wonderboy! Hope everything falls into place for him to make this last run for the belt a memorable one. Looking forward to this fight with the Nomad! Going to be an incredible sticking match!!
hard to ever bet against Shavkat. He is a cyborg. But if he keeps it standing, I dont think anyone has gotten the best of Stephen.
After seeing this interview and Dana last press conference the ufc is definitely going for usman vs bellal
Oh 100%
@ 7:39 Stephen Thompson makes a great point that undefeated fighters are not fighting each other but rather making a name off of beating Legends on their way out. Shavkat Rachmaninoff vs. khamzat chimaev should have been fight of the year and given to the fans for our dedication. Dana White always says anybody can be made in the UFC. Which is the problem with boxing because it's very difficult to get the fights that fans truly deserve and ask for.
Because these guys are gonna fight each other eventually if they’re the best in the division, they’ll never have the chance to fight someone like Stephen Thompson again.
I'm so excited for this fight specifically! Lots of potential there! And this card overall is A+
Insane how a billion dollar company is refusing to pay one of his fighters
they simply don't care. Fighters are disposable
Signed a contract to fight and he didn't fight. I see your point but a contract is a contract
@@DrLaurelWeaver his opponent pulled out. Is it in contract that you have to fight anyone that UFC offers you if your opponent pulls out bc of injury?
@@DrLaurelWeaverhe did everything the contract asked, his opponent failed and the UFC punished him for his opponent’s unprofessionalism.
@@adamw7411 no, the contract explicitly says that if his opponent misses weight then he will get a portion of his purse. Nowhere does it give him the option to not fight and get paid.
Ariel always has the interviews we want
Except Logan, easy pass.
And need
I really like Wonderboy.
Humble, never gripes and a great fighter.
I agree about BJ Penn hanging in there too long.
Anderson Silva was another one.
Boxing must be different. Nobody remembers Ali fighting Trevor Berbick at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Center in the Bahamas in 1981. Or Sugar Ray fighting Terry Norris. They are still remembered as great fighters.
Man belongs in the HOF one day
Love him or Love Him (you know what I did there), Wonderboy is always a pleasure to listen to, has been a gentleman throughout his entire career and hope we see him get another crack at the title. I so badly wish this man retire with some gold around his waist and go up in the hall of fame as legend that he already is.... but being a realist we know guys (and girls) that the elites incl. his next opponent Shavkat won't make it easy for him.
Insya Allah And Still undefeated ☝ 👑 Shavkat Rakhmonov
So classy . God bless him
Wonderboy, please take it easy on Laura's BF Shavkat. He's a good boy too🙏🙏🙏
He should turn down Shavkat, this isnt gonna go well for wonderboy
Retirement fight for wonderboy! Nice to know ya bruh! Shavkat gonna wreck him.
Would’ve been so much more hyped for usman vs wonderboy. I feel like the ufc took that one away from us. Usman and wonderboy have been in the division for so long and have never fought. I would’ve loved to see it. I still remember when usman was talking it up with Stephen before wonderboy vs Tyron.
would have been snooze fest
Usman would take him down and hold him there for 3 rounds for unanimous decision win what is hype about that
The nice guy who can fight like hell
I am so glad the gastelum fight didn't workout because I thought Shavkat deserved a way better ranked opponent. I get wonder boy turning down the fight at first but at this point it be a miracle if someone his age won the belt. I'm glad he finally stepped up and it blows my mind this is the first fight of the night when it could literally the one before the championship.
Great dude
if wonderboy win, he deserves a title shot next
100%
Never gonna happen. Rewatch woodley vs wonderboy 2. One of the worst fights in history 🥱🤡
No, he doesn't! Belal does. He beat him and just beat Burns who beat Wonderboy as well.
@@ApexPunisherXYou are forgetting he is a veteran and been in the top ten almost his whole career. Jared C. recently beat Sean Strickland and Sean got a tittle shot before him. It's not just about rankings, it's also about dedication to the sport, putting in work as long as he has being 40 now... He does deserve title shot of he beats Shavkat. I don't disagree that belal should get the shot before him, but wonderboys next fight after a win vs Shavkat should be a title shot.
True Martial Artist along w GSP
14:35 I honestly feel like he was talking about Tony Ferguson I know he said you see guys but my mind immediately reverted to El Cucuy
Hey Ariel. Sorry about the hockey. How the Knicks looking this year?
Coolest dude in the UFC hands down. Waddup Wonderboy 💥👋🏽👋🏽
I will be rooting for you Thompson!
🙏🏻 get that W!
i love wonderboy but i was sure he was gonna duck shavkat as much as he can . He said he wanted to fight for a title and i dont think shavkat is best route to the title but huge respect.
A fan favorite for sure ,
1 of my favorite fighters when my cousin knocked him out I was happy af but was like damn man lol
Wonderboy is in the top 5 greatest MMA strikers of all time
Number 1 or 2 bro.
Izzy or wonderboy in my opinion technically.
Try play chess with Wonderboy and you will lose without a haymaker landing.
Wonder boy just confirmed belal is fighting oozman
Unfortunately, for Belal, that looks like it. Because Usman isn't fighting Burns, Colby, or Leon again in the foresable future. With #6 & #7 fighting each other, Usman isn't fighting #8 to #15, although the UFC could give him young, big, and brash Ian, the #12 or so... to see of elderly Usman is worth being ranked #2.
With one win over Jorge, Colby gets his 3rd title fight, and Belal has 7 wins... but people need to rememeber, Tony won 12 straights without a title fight, and both Leon and Usman had to have 9 or 10 straight wins before they got their respective title fights, so Belal could very well be "made" to fight another top guy like Usman, before he is guaranteed his title shot...
And, to be fair, Colby had to win 8 or 9 straights, too, before he got his first title shots. It's his 2nd and 3rd that he only win once in between....
14:20. Other fighters, pay attention to what he just said. "I'm going to keep going, as long as my body will let me." This is how you get the UFC to approve a title shot. I can't believe how many fighters declare their retirement in advance, providing the UFC zero incentive to grant them a title shot.
I don't pay for fights simply because €80 is a month worth of food for me. But if i could afford it i would simply because wonderboy always leaves everything in that cage. So with an opponent like Shavkat you know it will be a banger.
That tony moment crushed all of us fans 😢
I think its the lethal grappling threat of Shavkat that Wonderboy has to overcome.
Nevertheless, I am looking forward to a great fight.
Wonder boy always has been one of my fav fighters ever
wonderboys the one fighter i believe when they say 'i dont feel old' last time out he looked 25
Amazing how undamaged/fresh Thompson's face looks considering he's spent the last few years fighting beasts like Holland, Burns, Masvidal, Till, Woodley (twice), Pettis, Luque, Neal etc Not a scratch on him!
Good luck Wonderboy
Much love WB. Honorary Canadian
He's not a beta male
in 6 minutes wonderboy thanked his team for taking care of him. None of his teamates ever tokd him who Shavkat was? For sure.
ariel is a num nut, saying shavkat is just gonna wrestle hahah has he watched any of shavkats fights?? dude is an all around fighter.
wonderboy always has such class
I'd like to see Wonderboy at 185, stop with the weight cuts
Wonderboy V Strickland for the belt would be a great matchup!
Sadly, I really enjoy both of these fighters, especially Wonderboy. As such, it’s going to really hurt when one of them loses. My money is on Shavkat though, he’s just too young, too hungry, and too skilled to allow Wonderboy to dictate the pace (which is, imo, the only way Wonderboy has a chance). Unless Wonderboy shows so new wrinkles to his game, it’s a wrap for my one of my favorite fighters of all time.
Hey man that’s what it is to compete at the highest level, MMA fans tend to be biased and not appreciate the highest level of mixed martial arts.
The consequence for missing weight should be 10% per lb. missed, plus a limit to weight gained afterward weighing in. So if you're fighting at 135, the limit is 144, some fighters gain 10 to 20 lbs after weighing in.
I reckon this is a cross roads fight for Wonderboy
If he Wins then its all good but if he loses then i think he should think of giving it up....id hate to see Wonderboy hit the losing streaks just like i hwte seeing it with Tony
It’s gonna be a good fight
Hasn't anyone noticed that Wonderboy looks like The Superman Character
how fun was wonderboy vs holland? ufc is dumb to feed him to just another wrestler.
This kid should have gotten the Usman fight and it's kinda funny how the avoided lower ranked eventually climp the rankings where they have to be fought sooner or later even though the ones that have stayed at the top are used to build their potential and future in most cases, but that's just any business and happens in life as well...
Hearing Wonderboy describe the last pounds in a weight cut sucks. They should make 170-175 add 165 weight class and 195 weight class
Shavkat Rakhmonov is a killer...good luck Wonderboy:)
Shavkat bes look out,
this is all in wonderboy.
Let’s go Thunderboy Whompson! Let’s go bro. Please put on a clinic and make a point. Ur good enough, ur talented enough and u deserve a run at the belt again. Let’s gooooooo
You can get to 170 easy? Steven cutting the weight is maybe more damaging than fighting, no cutting water emptying you gut fine it improves your performance.
first round. shavkat throws a left jab and wonderboy throws a questionmark kick around it. first round knockout
Wonderboy is 40 he's body is decline
Wonderboy ralks like his takedown defense is top notch.
Im sorry but Wonderboy doesn't deserve a title shot off of this fight. Why are we trying to skip this guy past other guys who have beat him. Earn your way. This is not the way to it for me.
Keep DISTANCE!
Wonderboy has gotten old. Now he is Wonderman 👨🦳
Why does he want to get wrestled to the ground and lose instead of fighting a striker like Garry?
He said UFC already had something for Usman and Dana said Belal had a fight already at the post press of DWCS so Belal vs Usman confirmed?
Yup. No brainer. Props to Belal for the hustle.
19:40
100%
you gotta respect how Colby's been able to stop this division from moving singlehandedly
I mean its genuinely impressive and if this was someone else his fans would have crucified that person
which is part of why nothing's happening with that division
Wahhhh 😢😢😢
@@corvofalcone7489 for sure, nobody can disagree with your argument
What? Colby wanted to fight back in July. You can thank Leon Edwards for holding up the division because he knows he’s gonna lose to Colby.
Wonderboy is a gem.
Actally Colby was the first guy to take usman Down tho it was only a split sec it was my 1st tim ever seeing that but surprised usman never tried to take colby down prob cuz he didnt fear colbys power but Colby def scored a lot on Usman and even had him a bit hurt at one point in their 2nd fight but oddly went for a takedown an i was like NO keep punching hes in a lil trouble! 😄 but fight 2 was great n much closer.I got edwards tho in a great fight
Colby should’ve won the 1st fight. Usman was out on his feet on two separate occasions in that fight and the crooked ref allowed him to fake both an eye poke and a low blow to have recovery time. Then when Usman was illegally punching Colby to the back of the head while Colby was shooting a takedown, the ref called it a TKO for no reason. Colby vs Usman 1 was rigged by Mark Goddard due to his self expressed hatred for Colby Covington.
Wonderboy just announced kamaru vs belal after dana saying belal has a fight and usman has a fight
That wonderboy 'pouf' - WOOF
Fight will be interesting i dont one either of them to lose
Shavkat is going to beat Thompson up pretty bad. Thompson has no wrestling at all. Bad match up for Thompson.
Thompson is a realist.
He should have fought Perreira, a win would have been a massive credit to him.
Wonderbra by spinning heel kick to the temple
Tough fight for Stephen however if he pulls off a special win he could fight for the belt next. never know, he needs a huge performance here
Wonderboy is so nice that he gets a pass from most. The Shavkat fight is way more difficult than the missed weight michel fight
Ariel, if Wonderboy wants to be a champion then he has to win against wrestlers as well. Steven doesn't have the leverage of someone like Perreira or Connor where UFC will cherry pick his contenders to set up a mega might with the Champion. He'll have to find his way through.
Wonderboy by decision 29-28, badly hurting Shavkat in rd1 and 3, even ending up in top control for a bit
I'll do 10 Hail Mary's for you
shavkat is a killa
Wonderboy will be the underdog. Awesome fight nevertheless.
RIP
Wonderboy is a great bloke
Pleae, one more title shot, and then we can say goodbye
NMF, as you get older, your training frequency should be less and more focus on recovery. You shouldnt need the sparring or mitt time like you did when you were younger
Logical consequences for missing weight by more then a pound is to say your next fight will be the weight class up
Nothing but respect to Wonderboy he's such a nice guy but but Shavkat Rakhmonov Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 is the beast who eats fighters like Wonderboy for breakfast so it's only business as Conor says 😊🇰🇿👍