Karate Kid: Why 'Wonderboy' will beat Woodley for the 170-pound title at UFC 209

The last time Stephen Thompson failed to pick up a W, he rebounded with a seven-fight win streak.

Now over three months removed from his five-round majority draw with welterweight champion Tyron Woodley at UFC 205, "Wonderboy" will look to make good on another chance to claim the 170-pound strap when he and Woodley run it back in the main event of UFC 209 on Saturday.

While the champ clearly accounted for the bulk of their first dance's damage, Thompson was in no way outclassed, and won't need more than a few tweaks to seal the triumph in the rematch.

When in doubt, sprawl

In their first go-around, Woodley found an opening for a takedown within the first few minutes, and after the champ had closed out Round 1 in top position, Wonderboy resorted to a conservative, boxing-heavy game plan, fearing Woodley might decipher the timing of his kicks and put him on his hind parts all over again.

The 34-year-old has worked tirelessly on his takedown defense with All-American wrestler (and brother in-law) Chris Weidman since being outworked by Matt Brown nearly five years ago, and he'll need to flex his newly honed chops should Woodley choose to ride his wrestling on Saturday.

Being the world-class kickboxer that he is, it's paramount Thompson keep his base from Woodley's clutches for the fight to remain upright, so expect to him to frustrate the champ early with some well-timed sprawls.

Don't fix what isn't broken

After duking it out for 25 solid minutes, Woodley may have a greater sample size to work with than most, but the challenger's karate-based style remains a tough nut to crack.

Working from a sideways, hands-down stance, Thompson's edge is his unpredictability, and luckily for him, no American Top Team or Roufusport member can mimic his style in Woodley's sparring sessions. Look for Wonderboy to keep him guessing by switching stances and throwing everything short of the kitchen sink his way. Lord knows he has the arsenal.

A key to the challenger's success is his lead leg, which is equally as lethal as its counterpart when he chooses to deploy it. If Thompson is confident in his sprawl, he shouldn't shy away from throwing a steady stream of techniques with his lead limb to keep Woodley at bay and make him second-guess his takedown attempts.

The more he keeps the champ from anticipating what's coming, the easier the finish will come.

Stifle the showstopper

As for the misery he endured in the fourth round of the November tilt, Thompson can take comfort in having learned what Josh Koscheck and Robbie Lawler did on much harsher terms: Woodley owns an anvil of a right hand.

If there's anything Thompson can take away from the storm he had to fight through in Round 4, it's that the champ has made a crutch of his dynamite-laced fist. While Woodley's confidence in his mitts is certainly justified, he repeatedly uncorked his overhand right without much in the way of a setup.

Knowing the champ's power hand is perpetually locked and loaded a la Dan Henderson, Thompson will have to be as fleet of foot as he is unpredictable and keep his consciousness intact by circling away from Woodley's right side. His crisp movement will minimize the damage and allow him to comfortably settle into a groove, after which Woodley's reign will be on borrowed time.

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