Would Thompson benefit from a move up to MW?

[Oscar Madison]

Truth.

He's past his prime. I think we have to accept that guys are going to slide further downhill as they age in their performances. It doesn't get better from here for him unless they give him old man matchups. His days as a top contender are slipping away. The only question is how far and how fast he will keep slipping.

And how much damage he takes on the way out.

 

[welcometohavoc]

Are you kidding?

He's getting hella overpowered by LW-sized guys in Burns and Belal. Imagine him against some MW hulk like Vettori or Cannonier.

tbf, there really isn't anyone with the grappling of Burns or Belal at MW. They might be stronger, but they're not as good

 

[cooks1]

I'm feeling like he would. He could be the fastest striker in the division minus maybe Adesanya, might have a little more power in his punches, and the top of the division isn't filled with wrestlers like WW always has been. We can use Whittaker as a good example of how a move from WW to MW can benefit a good striker.

Even though WB is getting older, he doesn't have a lot of wear and tear like a lot of fighters his age. I think it's the best option for him. That or retirement.

Opinions?

No. His karate style is built on speed and precision. That does not age well.

 

[Azrael40]

No it's too late. He's 38 years old. He doesn't have the energy, endurance, explosiveness or speed that gave him his killer edge when he was young. Watch WB fights when he was on the Chuck Norris combat show. He's amazing and knocking out everyone he fights easy. Early UFC WB was still in his physical prime and he destroyed everyone. He had some serious injuries late in his career and he's never been the same since. The middle weights would physically push him around and it would be ever worse than the 170 pounders. He's faced two very strong wrestlers in a row and those guys are going to dominate him. Give him some aged strikers who are not in the top 10 and let him show off his cool striking.

 

[Deleted member 512089]

He'd fit more in a 165 division is there was one

 

[mkt]

No. His wrestling is his detriment. Especially at almost 40 years old.

Yep, just like Machida. The karate stance + good reflexes help your TDD (unless you're Anthony Pettis), but it doesn't work so well in your later years...especially against bigger fighters.

 

[Benoitthegr8]

He would hella benefit from TRT, or better yet a time machine.

 

[Coolkid666]

No.

 

[mkt]

No. His karate style is built on speed and precision. That does not age well.

That's sadly true. The only older fighters I recall who moved to a heavier division and won a title were Couture (who couldn't beat Chuck at LHW) and Cormier (who couldn't beat Jones). But they were both wrestlers who fought more favorable opponents. And their success didn't last long at HW.

 

[Satan's Daddy.]

I have no idea what should be next for him cause any striker can learn a little bit of grappling or just use grappling they know from back in the day as kids and still beat the current wonderboy.

 

[Gigaton Punch]

The difference between Whittaker and Wonderboy is that Whittaker is an actual great well rounded fighter while Wonderboy is severely one dimensional and cannot grapple.
He's not gonna magically learn how to defend take downs and grapple fighting up a weight class that has better grapplers lol
Not to mention he's getting old now too

 

[Xoleth]

He is a small WW and you want to move him at MW, vs guys like Costa & Vettori?
Wow!

Too old to try a cut at LW, where he would do well, because not so many wrestlers there.
Too small for MW.

 

[Deleted member 405583]

No. His karate style is built on speed and precision. That does not age well.

Came to say this

 

[jsbx45]

So he can get mauled by BIGGER wrestlers? He might be done anyways.

 

[ki11ian]

He has had a very nice career and seems to be a really nice guy. Hate to see him hurt in there so my suggestion would be to hang’em up.

 

[Sad Dad]

I like wonderboy but Brunson and the Italian toxic avenger would demolish him. WB is getting old, not as strong or fast as he used to be unfortunately. He had a decent run though!

 

[Benji Snap]

Why did he accept the fight in the tiny cage against Muhammad?

Poor career move.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

No. It's time for WB to talk retirement.

Imagine how boring Adesanya vs Wonderboy would be

Honestly.

 

[MCS]

He'll lose against the best wrestlers at both weights, but MW has less of them, and he's a skill-based distance striker, probably remains dangerous a weight class up. He wouldn't need to cut weight at near 40. And there are some fun stand-up fights, like a Whittaker rematch, Adesanya if he gets there, Costa, Cannonier, Strickland, Hall.

 

[Dorkman]

At this point he needs to be considering what comes after the career. As he can't count on ever having upward trajectory in the sport again. A move to MW will not change that. The clock is just striking for him. He should consider himself fairly lucky he's at least not taking bad KO losses in these losses.