Thompson relishes main event spotlight on UFC card

When the heavyweight title fight that was scheduled to headline an Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-view event at the MGM Grand Garden tonight fell apart last week to leave the card in jeopardy, Stephen Thompson's camp immediately let UFC officials know they were interested in filling the main event spot.

Thompson's wish was granted. His welterweight bout against former champion Johny Hendricks will serve as the main event of a card that now will air on Fox Sports 1.

Thompson knows it's a huge opportunity.

"We wanted this," Thompson said. "We stepped up and said, 'Hey, listen, we want that main event. We want five rounds with Johny Hendricks,' and I think it has the potential to be the fight of the night. I think it will be a good show, and it really doesn't matter to me whether it's on pay per view or Fox Sports 1. I just want to go out and let the fans and the UFC know that I'm ready for that next level of competition."

His recent performances have supported that claim.

Thompson, one of the most dynamic strikers in the organization, has won five straight since the only loss of his career to Matt Brown in 2012.

The winning streak has vaulted Thompson into the top 10 in the UFC's official welterweight rankings, but he knows a win in a high-profile fight over a former champion could be a springboard to even bigger things.

"I know this could launch me forward tremendously, possibly even to a title fight," he said. "That's what I want, and that's what I'm focused on. But as a fighter, it just has to be another fight, and that's what I have to focus on. I can't let the hype and that stuff get to me Sometimes it can get to people too much and it can wear them out. Coming in and doing all the media and all that can bother you.

"For me, I know it's big. But my focus is Johny Hendricks."

That means preparing for one of the most accomplished collegiate wrestlers to make the transition to mixed martial arts. Takedown defense proved to be Thompson's downfall in the loss to Brown.

While he has worked on the issue extensively, particularly while training with former middleweight champion Chris Weidman, Thompson knows his strengths. He said he hopes Hendricks, who has developed as a power puncher throughout his UFC career, decides to test his striking instead of relying on his wrestling.

"I hope it's the guy who's gonna try to knock me out," Thompson said. "I want to keep it standing. I know I'm a better striker than Johny Hendricks. I'm not saying he can't catch you. He's caught many people in the cage. I can't take that away from him at all. I've got to be on point when I step in there. He's got that one-hitter quitter knockout power.

"But I think the way I move, I manage my distance, I think he's going to have a very hard time and it will play out in my favor."

Hendricks disputes that he would be at a disadvantage on the feet against Thompson, despite his impressive kick-boxing credentials.

"Why does everybody doubt my striking? Really?" Hendricks said incredulously. "(Martin) Kampmann was going to beat me in the striking world. Carlos Condit was going to beat me in the striking world. Who else? Josh Koscheck is going to outstrike me and outwrestle me. Georges St. Pierre was going to out-jab me. Everybody doubts my striking, but I've got the best striking coaches out there, and I like to prove people wrong.

"You see the stories that I can't win in the striking world. He's better this, he's better that. Forget that. I've got OK striking as well. He might have to be a little worried about that."

Hendricks is 8-2 in his past 10 fights with three knockouts against a series of skilled strikers. But it doesn't change that he was a two-time NCAA champion wrestler at Oklahoma State who finished fifth and second in his other two seasons.

Should he decide to rely on what should be a huge advantage and tries to make it a wrestling match, Thompson insists he'll be ready.

"I've been working really hard," the 32-year-old South Carolinian said. "I brought some really good guys into simulate him, but, of course, you can never truly simulate anybody. You do the best you can with what you got. I got an Olympian from Canada, Matt Miller, who's the same size, same build. We've really been focused on the takedown defense, and I think we're prepared. Of course, having (185-pound) Chris Weidman on your legs on the regular gives you the confidence that you can handle these 170-pounders.

"But obviously, I think standing will benefit me, and my wrestling defense is up to par. I'm just ready."

"Wonderboy" was first introduced to Weidman when the former champion brought him into his training camp to simulate Anderson Silva before their first title fight in 2013.

Thompson's flashy striking helped prepare Weidman well enough that he ended Silva's long reign as champion. Weidman and Silva have been assisting each other in training camps and have become good friends.

Thompson credits Weidman with setting an example that he hopes will carry him to a championship of his own.

"The grind he puts himself through and the grind he puts me through gives me all the confidence in the world for when I step out there with these 170s," Thompson said.

He will find out tonight if it prepared him to deal with another former champion in Hendricks.

The main card airs on Fox Sports 1 at 7 p.m. Four fights from the preliminary card will air on the same network at 5.

The first two fights on the card will stream live on the UFC's online platform, Fight Pass, at 4.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj