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Wednesday, Mar 17, 2021

Stephen Thompson is “Leaning” Towards Jorge Masvidal in Kamaru Usman Rematch

Jorge Masvidal (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Jorge Masvidal came up short in his first fight with Kamaru Usman. But, it looks like Stephen Thompson believes that won’t be the case at UFC 261.

Recently the UFC announced that Masvidal will face the welterweight champion for a second time, on April 24th. After Usman stopped Gilbert Burns last month at UFC 258, he called for a rematch with Masvidal.

The two fought at UFC 251 last July, but Masvidal took the fight on just days’ notice, after Burns withdrew due to COVID-19. Usman won the fight via unanimous decision.

Recently Thompson spoke with Submission Radio, and while discussing the upcoming rematch, he said this (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“If you go back and watch the last fight that these guys had, Jorge Masvidal was doing fairly well stuffing the takedowns, keeping the fight standing until he started to get tired late fourth and fifth round, he started to get taken down,” Thompson said. “So, I think with a full training camp, I do believe that Jorge Masvidal will put up a harder and better fight. …

“I’m leaning a little towards Jorge Masvidal for this one.”

The highlight reel striker and contender, also said this.

“I think it’s just because I really want to see him win the fight,” Thompson said. “And, you know, I’m kind of biased a little bit, obviously. I kind of gave you my thoughts on that. But I do believe that it can go either way. Like, before, I had Usman winning. Like, he was definitely gonna win. What was it, a two-week training camp, or short notice for Jorge Masvidal? So, I knew Usman had it, because that guy is always in shape, man.

“But now that (Masvidal’s) got a training camp, and on top of that, he’s faced him before, so he knows what he’s gonna bring to the table. I don’t know, man, it’s hard to kind of put him out. Like, he does some crazy stuff. Like, everybody knew that Ben Askren was gonna beat him, right? And then you saw what he did in the first round. I mean, he pulls stuff out like that out of his hat on the (regular), and you don’t know what’s gonna happen, and it’s scary facing a guy like that.”

Thompson, meanwhile, is coming off wins over Vicente Luque and Geoff Neal.

posted by FCF Staff @ 11:09 am
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