As a fighter who has competed for UFC welterweight gold on two events, Stephen Thompson would perceive present top-ranked divisional fighters being upset that Islam Makhachev is transferring up.
Thompson, who competes within the co-main occasion of UFC Nashville this Saturday towards Gabriel Bonfim, was requested about Makhachev vacating the light-weight title to pursue a chance to face new welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena for a second divisional title later this yr.
“Nicely, primary, if I used to be within the top-five, I might be very upset that this man who simply received the title is already someone from a unique division,” Thompson instructed MMA Preventing. “If it was me who, if I’m within the top-five, extra deserving than this man arising, like I’ve been ready right here.
The place’s the Shavkat Rakhmonov’s, the place’s the Ian [Machado] Garry’s, [Kamaru] Usman, who’s been within the combine, is again within the combine, if you’ll, after beating [Joaquin] Buckley. Like these guys, I believe, are extra deserving of it as a result of they’ve been there. If it was me, I might need JDM to love struggle a minimum of yet one more time, or two extra instances earlier than someone from a unique weight class.”
Makhachev defended his title 4 instances earlier than making the choice to win a second title. In his most up-to-date look, MMA Preventing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter defeated Renato Moicano on a day’s discover at UFC 311 by way of first-round submission. Moicano stepped in for Arman Tsarukyan who suffered an harm on the day earlier than the January pay-per-view occasion.
In Thompson’s eyes, Makhachev presents some issues to Della Maddalena, however the identical might be mentioned the opposite means round.
“Now, I believe it’s struggle,” Thompson defined. “I believe it’s a really robust struggle for Islam Makhachev arising. [Della Maddalena’s] a much bigger man, a man with nice takedown protection, and a man who simply gained the title from someone similar to himself in Belal Muhammad. Cardio for days, sturdy grappling background.
“I do consider that Islam has a greater hanging than than Belal does, so I believe that may be attention-grabbing, however I believe it’s a really robust struggle for Islam, for certain.”
