A high-stakes potential welterweight title-eliminator between most recent title challenger, Gilbert ‘Durinho’ Burns and two-time championship challenger, Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson is currently in the works to feature at UFC 264 on July 10th. — with a location or venue for the event yet to be determined by the promotion.
Hoping to possibly earn his second challenge to the 170-pound throne, Sanford MMA trainee, Burns dropped a third-round knockout defeat to former teammate, reigning gold holder, Kamaru Usman at UFC 258 in February — snapping his four-fight undefeated run at welterweight.
The winner of two on the trot, Simpsonville karate practitioner, Thompson headlined UFC Vegas 17 last December on short notice, taking a one-sided unanimous decision win over Dana White’s Contender Series alum, Geoff Neal. News of the targeted matchup was first reported by ESPN MMA reporter, Brett Okamoto, per promotional president, Dana White.
Shooting through the welterweight ranks on route to a title challenge against Usman back in February, Burns managed to score four consecutive victories over Alexey Kunchenko, fellow grappling standout, Gunnar Nelson, former welterweight and middleweight title chaser, Demian Maia, as well as a May unanimous decision shutout over former undisputed champion, Tyron Woodley.
Thompson, a two-time challenger to Woodley’s throne at UFC 205 and UFC 209, has rebounded from his first professional knockout loss in mixed martial arts back at UFC Fight Night Nashville against PFL feature, Anthony Pettis, — securing a pair of one-sided decision wins over recent big-winner, Vicente Luque, and the aforenoted, Neal.
Agreeing to make his seventeenth promotional walk, the 38-year-old South Carolina fan favorite has managed to secure notable UFC wins over the likes of Robert Whittaker, Patrick Cote, Jake Ellenberger, Johny Hendricks, Rory MacDonald, and incoming UFC 261 title challenger, Jorge Masvidal.
