{"id":231381,"date":"2017-04-04T08:41:18","date_gmt":"2017-04-04T15:41:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/?p=231381"},"modified":"2017-04-04T08:41:33","modified_gmt":"2017-04-04T15:41:33","slug":"stephen-thompson-discusses-the-possibility-of-fighting-in-different-weight-classes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/mma-news\/exclusive-interviews\/stephen-thompson-discusses-the-possibility-of-fighting-in-different-weight-classes\/","title":{"rendered":"Stephen Thompson discusses the possibility of fighting in different weight classes"},"content":{"rendered":"

In early March, in the main event of UFC 209<\/a>, Stephen Thompson gave up a majority decision to welterweight champion Tyron Woodley<\/a>. Given that he fought Woodley to a draw back in November, this marked his second failed attempt to steal the champ’s spot on the throne. Having failed twice to capture the title, Thompson now finds himself in a bit of a tricky spot.<\/p>\n

In the past, we’ve seen other fighters in his position move up or down a weight class in search of a fresh start<\/a>. In a recent interview with BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor<\/a>, Thompson weighed in on this possibility.<\/p>\n

“I am not a very big 170-pounder,” he said. “I walk around at about 190 maybe 185-pounds. With that said, the weight cut is always bad. Those last three pounds to get down\u00a0[to 170] takes a lot of me. It is very difficult to get down there. I can do it of course you know. But trying to go to 155 would probably kill me. Even 165 would be very difficult for me to pull off.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Thompson then continued, explaining that a move up to the 185-pound middleweight division would be possible, but probably not ideal.<\/p>\n

“185… I could put on some weight,” he said. “Add some muscle weight. But then again, with my body type, putting on more muscle, would that actually be beneficial for me? If I put on that much more muscle I think I would just get tired much faster. So it is something, where if I did move to 185, it would be a long process for me to get used to that. I would definitely have to adapt to carrying around that added weight. But I don’t know man, 170 pounds just seems like the spot for me. I’m walking around in that 185, 190 zone so it is not that bad of a cut when you see what other guys have to do. And 155, I would have to literally starve myself and lose most of my muscle just to have a chance at making that weight.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Would you be interested in seeing Stephen Thompson change weight classes? Sound off, PENN Nation!<\/p>\n

This article first appeared on\u00a0<\/i>BJPenn.com<\/i><\/span><\/a>\u00a0on 4\/4\/2017. <\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In early March, in the main event of UFC 209, Stephen Thompson gave up a majority decision to welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. Given that he fought Woodley to a draw back in November, this marked his second failed attempt to steal the champ’s spot on the throne. 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