UFC 145 Fight Card Final Predictions: Matt Brown vs. Stephen Thompson

Stephen Thompson is the real deal.

Thompson has become a crowd favorite overnight, and his fight against Matt Brown at UFC 145 tonight will be one that everyone has their eyes on.

After his debut knockout victory against Daniel Stittgen at UFC 143, the fans want to know if Thompson has what it takes to be a future champion because we already know he's more than capable of dropping everyone's jaw.

If you are unaware of his ability to do so, then you most likely missed that head kick knockout against Stittgen, and it is now your obligation to find a video clip of that magnificent work of art right now. Seriously, it was one of the more impressive debuts in UFC history.

However, Thompson didn't answer any questions in that fight. Having the kickboxing background that Thompson has, everyone knew he was a high-level striker, and that's why it was important to see what he could do off of his back.

Which brings us to his next fight against Brown tonight. If I could describe Brown in one word, I would choose the word gamer. He's a durable mixed martial artist who can take a beating and keep pressing forward.

He's a guy who's going to put the pressure on Thompson by instigating a clinch and trying to drag this fight to the ground. Brown has a high-level submission game, so Thompson will need to show a sense of urgency and get back to his feet.

Once the fight is on the feet, Thompson will have Brown, along with most of the fighters he will face, outclassed. Brown is no bum on the feet, but Thompson is a world-class striker who can knock fighters out from awkward angles.

After proving what few doubters he has wrong, Thompson will get another round finish by knockout in the prelims on FX tonight.