Thompson blows Hendricks away in UFC Fight Night 82 main event

Stephen Thompson picked the perfect time for a career-best showing.

The UFC Fight Night 82 main event between Thompson and Johny Hendricks became a coming-out party for "Wonderboy," as he befuddled Hendricks from the opening bell before finishing with a picturesque series of strikes at 3:31 of the first round.

Hendricks - a former welterweight champion - was visibly flustered in the early going, especially as his attempts to close the distance were constantly foiled. At one point, the NCAA champion wrestler got a hold of Thompson, but failed to complete the takedown.

That show of resistance set the tone for the remainder of the fight, as Thompson skillfully sniped away at Hendricks. He showed impressive power even as he backed away, cracking a lunging Hendricks on the chin, and broke out a roundhouse kick that set up his opponent for the fight-ending TKO.

It marked the first time the No. 2-ranked Hendricks had been finished, so expect Thompson's standing in the organization to improve significantly following his sixth straight win inside the Octagon.