If Donald Cerrone wants a dance accomplice, Stephen Thompson is more than pleased to oblige.
“Cowboy” not too long ago returned to the UFC’s drug-testing pool in anticipation of a comeback, with the 41-year-old having retired in 2022. No bout has formally been introduced for Cerrone, however Thompson, 42, has beforehand talked about his curiosity within the bout.
On the Overdogs Podcast, “Wonderboy” continued to marketing campaign for the Cerrone matchup.
“My final battle I ended up injuring my elbow,” Thompson mentioned. “I’m probably not certain if it was from the elbows that I hit him with, however I acquired bursitis actually dangerous in my proper elbow, so a number of swelling. You already know, that fluid sack in there swelled up actual large and it was tremendous delicate, I don’t know if it was a bone bruise or what. I ended up taking a while off, ensuring that’s proper, and naturally, getting knocked out doesn’t assist, so I’ve acquired to ensure that the whole lot up right here is prime earlier than I step again on the market. … So perhaps I’m considering April-Might time, I feel can be cool simply because I’m an enormous fan of Cerrone and he comes from that old-fashioned period that I form of got here from virtually 13-14 years in the past, so it’s cool that he desires to leap again on the market.
“I assumed it will be superior if he doesn’t wish to reduce the burden to 155, perhaps to make that battle at 170, I assumed it will be actually cool to have two veterans like that step again on the market and face off in opposition to one another. However nothing booked but, however that’s what I’m form of taking pictures for, that April-Might time.”
A battle with Cerrone could possibly be precisely what Thompson must get again on the successful observe as he’s presently mired in a 1-4 stoop, with consecutive losses to up-and-coming welterweight contenders Joaquin Buckley and Shavkat Rakhmonov. The kickboxing and karate specialist twice challenged for UFC gold, however has seen inconsistent outcomes since.
Ought to he and Cerrone be booked for the octagon, Thompson is ready for Cerrone—proprietor of 17 submission victories—to combine the martial arts.
“He beat some actually good guys on the bottom,” Thompson mentioned. “His grappling is on level.”
As for why he’s but to hold up the gloves himself, Thompson credit score his group with serving to him to handle his well being and preparation. Although his in-cage appearances have turn out to be much less frequent (Thompson has fought simply annually the previous three years), he nonetheless feels near his prime when he makes the stroll to the octagon.
“It’s good to have someone like a supervisor or coach or that father determine or that particular person in that small circle that you need to need to say, ‘Dude, you must chill. You could relax right now,’” Thompson mentioned. “You would go over method, there’s at all times one thing you are able to do, however you’ll be able to’t push it onerous on a regular basis, you must give your physique time to heal up and I feel that’s why I’m nonetheless 42 on this recreation.
“I didn’t win my final battle and even the one after that, however we’re nonetheless on the grind, we’re not giving up. I feel I acquired it. I really feel simply as quick as I did 10 years in the past, really feel simply pretty much as good, similar to using a motorbike, however I do spend extra time on ensuring that the physique is feeling proper. With therapeutic massage remedy, the restoration, the ice tub, perhaps taking the time without work the place I’m not grinding that arduous. Possibly I’m working simply method and simply flowing, giving the physique ample time to heal up, and I feel that’s essential.”
