Salt Lake City – UFC welterweight Stephen Thompson is the self-declared NMF (Nicest Mother F*cker) of the promotion, but he faces Joaquin Buckley at UFC 307 who says it’s all just an act.
“I think he’s trying to sell the fight. Something that happened at International Fight Week which we were chatting the whole time. ‘Can I get the fight?’ like yeah my people get in touch with your people we’ll see if the fight will happen,” Thompson told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.
“I was sitting there talking with, Chris Weidman was doing some media, so it was me, my brother and Chris Weidman’s wife. Then Joaquin comes up and I didn’t really understand what he was trying to tell me about a fan was talking crap.”
Thompson (17-7-1) was confused to what Buckley was trying to say. He wasn’t sure if Buckley was accusing him of talking trash or a fan said Thompson was talking trash.
“I was just like hey man it’s all good. It’s cool. I had no idea what he was saying to be honest with you,” he said.
“He walked off and we just started chatting. I guess he thought we were talking about him or something. It kind of surprised me when I heard the interview like a month later. Like what? I don’t remember saying anything to him.”
Kevin Holland said earlier in the day that he knows Buckley won’t stand with Thompson at UFC 307. He expects Buckley to take ‘Wonderboy’ down and make it a grinding fight. Could that possibly set up an improbable submission victory by Thompson?
“Well hey it could happen baby! You never know! I might sneak one of those in,” Thompson told Cageside Press.
“We’ve been working on it non-stop. I’ve got great coaches back home. Got a great team around me to help me get to this point.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Stephen Thompson above. He takes on Joaquin Buckley at UFC 307 on Saturday night.
