'Wonderboy' open to fighting Maia-Condit winner

Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson is a top contender in the UFC welterweight division and he'll defend that spot if he has to.

With reigning 170-pound champion Tyron Woodley looking past the official rankings for marquee matches with the likes of Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz, that's left some challengers in the cold. Two of those contenders - Demian Maia and Carlos Condit - battle this Saturday at UFC on FOX 21 in Vancouver.

Speaking at a fan Q&A on Friday, Thompson let it be known that he'd rather face the winner of that contest than wait around for Woodley.

"That's one of the reasons why I'm here. I want to get up close and personal with the fights going on tomorrow, the main event, because those are potential (opponents), and I would throw down with any one of them," said Thompson.

Thompson, Maia, and Condit are ranked No. 2, 3, and 4 respectively in the UFC's official rankings, so it might sound counterproductive for all three to fight each other, as a loss would hurt the likelihood of any of them receiving a title shot in the future.

Beyond the respect that Wonderboy has for his peers, he simply doesn't see any other options that make sense for him.

"I've thought about that. Condit has been at the top of the game since before I was in the UFC," said Thompson. "Demian Maia has been in the game longer than I have as well, so I mean if it doesn't happen, who else do I fight?"