“Wonderboy” was wonderful Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, as Stephen Thompson knocked out former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks in the first round of their UFC Fight Night main event, winning his sixth straight bout and making a case for a shot at Robbie Lawler’s 170-pound crown in the process.
“I threw a lot of kicks, just trying to be awkward and make it difficult for him to shoot in on my legs,” the number eight-ranked Thompson said. “I didn’t look for the knockout, I just let it happen.”
And happen it did.
After avoiding a flying kick from Thompson, Hendricks quickly closed the distance and bulled his opponent into the fence. Thompson stayed cool and avoided a long stay in the clinch, going back to his hard to decipher kicking attack and following up with some hard punches upstairs. Hendricks’ chin was iron, but he was eating a lot of shots, and with under two minutes left, Thompson turned the heat up and went on the attack. Hendricks’ chin finally dented under a barrage of kicks and punches, and at the 3:31 mark, referee John McCarthy stepped in and halted the bout.
“Hats off, he was the better man tonight,” the classy Hendricks said.
