Good analogy, as would Shogun vs Machida be. But your right, Thompson certainly has some tricky and explosive offensive techniques that are going to be tough to defend and could end the fight. But the way I see it, he's a 1 trick pony, what's he going to do when he has to really fight........ ?
One of the things that sets Machida/Cung apart from the typical Karate/TKD fighter is that they both are good wrestlers and clinch fighters, and both of them are well versed on the mat. This gives them the opportunity to really use their stand up, in-out style more effectively, as neither of them are easily outmatched when they do end up clinched up or on the mat. They don't have to be nearly as hesitant.
As for Thompson being faster than Brown, sure he is, by a long shot. But a fighter like Thompson relies on distance to control the fight. Brown doesn't need to be fast or explosive, he just needs to do what he has done consistently in his fights and apply constant and steady pressure, keep coming forward . Machida and Cung were both much faster than Shogun/Wand. Neither Wand or Shogun (at this point) are considered explosive or have great TD's..... They just kept coming forward and took away the space, they kept pressure......... look how that worked out. Matt Brown IMO does the same thing to Thompson.