UFC TUF 21 Finale: 5 Fights for Stephen Thompson

Stephen Thompson created a highlight-reel moment when he finished Jake Ellenberger with a spinning hook kick. The 32-year-old fighter is on a five-fight win streak that has gone mostly unnoticed to this point. Even those he still remains outside of the UFC’s Top 15 rankings, this victory will surely increase his recognition in the welterweight division. With that in mind, these are five suggestions for Thompson’s next opponents that add value and excitement at the same time.

Gunnar Nelson

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Gunnar Nelson is a dangerous grappler.

Gunnar Nelson is a very decorated grappler that is still learning how to acclimate his game to mixed martial arts. The 26-year old rebounded well from his first career defeat with a first-round submission win over Brandon Thatch at UFC 189. He would need to embrace those grappling skills if he was to defeat Thompson in the cage.

The advantage in striking would go to Thompson, as Nelson still looks uncomfortable in long striking exchanges. If he can get the fight to the floor, his grappling skills would flourish. Getting the fight there would be difficult as Thompson is currently training with both Chris Weidman and Georges St. Pierre, two well-known wrestlers. However, this would be the best path to victory for the No. 15-ranked welterweight.

Kelvin Gastelum

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Kelvin Gastelum needs to return to welterweight.

Kelvin Gastelum’s weight is the main question in creating this fight. The former Ultimate Fighter champion is currently competing as a middleweight due to multiple instances of missing the welterweight limit. If he can convince the UFC matchmakers to give him an opportunity to move back down, placing him against Thompson is the right move for both men.

Gastelum is another individual who uses wrestling to control his fights, but has shown a willingness to exchange in the pocket. That is a dangerous position to stay for too long against Thompson. If Thompson can continue to improve his takedown defense to keep this fight on the feet, he would have his best shot at victory.

Erick Silva

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Erick Silva is a violent and aggressive striker.

Erick Silva is perhaps one of the most aggressive competitors across the UFC’s roster. He rushes forward in a way that causes concern for both he and his opponent. Sometimes it plays out well for him, other times he runs into fighters that can finish him either way. That wouldn’t be the smartest strategy to use against Thompson, but that wouldn’t stop Silva from being an exciting matchup.

Silva is very technical in every area of his MMA game. While he is known for his violent Thai boxing style, he’s equally dangerous if the fight hits the ground. Against Thompson it would be interesting to see how willing he is to engage on the feet. Doing so would put him in harm’s way, but he’s shown the ability to land shots with power when needed. Thompson has struggled against aggressive fighters in the past and Silva fits that exact mold.

Rick Story

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Rick Story has been on a run in the UFC.

Rick Story is sitting in the No. 10 slot among all welterweights. After smoothing out a few bumps in his career, the Washington native is gaining some momentum at just the right time in the division. He’s set to face Erick Silva at UFC Fight Night 74 in Canada. If Story can earn a victory over the Brazilian, he would be an interesting opponent for Thompson to face next.

Story is a grinding wrestler that is just as aggressive as Jake Ellenberger. However, his striking is not as basic as Ellenberger’s. Story’s shown the ability to land with the power to disrupt the flow that his opponent brings to the cage. If he can figure out Thompson’s diverse technique to land some shots of his own while mixing in wrestling, he may be a tough challenge for Wonderboy at this point in his UFC run.

Thiago Alves

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Thiago Alves is not done as a dangerous opponent for anyone.

Thiago Alves may not be the same competitor that challenged Georges St. Pierre for the welterweight title back in 2009, but he’s still a valuable name in the division. He’s ranked No. 11 in the division and a win over him would surely vault Thompson onto the list. At 31 years old, Alves has taken a lot of damage but would still be a tough test for Thompson in the Octagon.

Thompson would not be the first dynamic striker that Alves has faced. He battled Martin Kampmann back in 2012 and was controlling most of that bout before taking a bad shot for a double-leg takedown. He recently knocked out Jordan Mein who is another fighter that is well-versed on his feet. Still, neither of these men brings the quality of exchanges that Thompson brings to the cage and he would pose a series of problems for Alves on the feet.