Stephen Thompson: 'I'd rather fight and take a risk' than wait for title shot

Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson knows nothing is guaranteed in the fight game.

A first-round TKO of former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks in February was expected to propel him to a title shot against Robbie Lawler, but the offer never arrived.

Instead, Thompson's next fight will be against fellow contender Rory MacDonald. The two fighters are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the 170-pound division respectively.

Thompson already owns an impressive six-fight win streak, and a loss to MacDonald would severely hinder his title hopes.

"Yeah, it is a risk. I wanted the title shot after the last fight. I felt I deserved it and could make it a great fight. I was really hoping for that," Thompson told FOX Sports' Elias Cepeda. "So this fight is a risk, but the way I look at it is that every fight in the top five is a risk. Yes, Rory is probably the most well-rounded guy in that top five, before the champion. He's got great boxing, amazing jiu-jitsu. This is a very hard fight. But I also didn't want to sit around and wait for a fight.

"You look at Tyron Woodley - he's the only guy in front of me and he's been waiting for that title shot. I don't even know when he's going to fight, again. I don't know if he is playing hardball, if the UFC is playing hardball, but I didn't want to deal with that."

Woodley has campaigned for a title shot ever since a presumptive No. 1 contender's bout between he and Hendricks fell through last October after Hendricks was hospitalized due to weight-cutting complications. Coming off back-to-back wins, Woodley hasn't competed in over a year.

The 33-year-old Thompson is in his athletic prime and the fear of lost time is greater than any opponent.

"I'd rather fight and take a risk than have to wait around and go back and forth like (Woodley) has had to," Thompson said. "I'm looking forward to proving, again, to everyone that I'm ready for a title fight. More than that, though, I think this is about proving something else to myself.

"Rory is a great fighter and a really good guy. I trained up at TriStar with them, mostly Georges (St-Pierre), and so they know me. But I've improved so much since then."

Thompson and MacDonald are set to meet in the main event of UFC Fight Night 89 on June 18 in Ottawa, Ontario.