Wonderboy Thompson vs. Michel Pereira in The Works For UFC 289

Wonderboy Thompson vs. Michel Pereira in The Works For UFC 289

Liam Lindsay|
April 04, 2023|
0

A must-see matchup between Stephen Thompson and Michel Pereira has just been announced for UFC 289 on June 10th, at a currently unconfirmed location, per MMA Sucka.

This fight takes place in the Welterweight (170 lbs) division.

Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson holds a professional record of 17-6-1 (12-6-1 UFC) and is ranked #7 at Welterweight. He holds notable wins over Kevin Holland, Jorge Masvidal, and Vicente Luque.

Michel "Demolidor" Pereira has a professional record of 28-11 (6-2 UFC) and is ranked #15 at Welterweight. He has credible wins over Santiago Ponzinibbio, Andre Fialho, and Niko Price.

Official odds: Stephen Thompson -140, Michel Pereira +120, per BestFightOdds.com as of April 4, 6PM EST.

Stephen Thompson is coming off one of his best career performances. He faced Kevin Holland on the final fight night of 2022 in Orlando, Florida. After a slow start, "Wonderboy" picked up the pace and delivered one of the most dominant rounds in UFC history in the fourth. After the round ended, he secured the TKO stoppage as Holland could not continue. Before this, Thompson has suffered two losses in a row to Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad, but now he will be looking to build another winning streak at the ripe age of forty years old.

Stephen Thompson out-striking Kevin Holland in their main event Fight of the Year contender bout. Credits to: Nathan Ray Seebeck - USA TODAY Sports.
Stephen Thompson out-striking Kevin Holland in their main event Fight of the Year contender bout. Credits to: Nathan Ray Seebeck - USA TODAY Sports.

Michel Pereira is riding a tremendous five-fight winning streak, remaining undefeated since 2020. After starting his UFC career with a 3-3 record, "Demolidor" has worked his way into the rankings for the first time in his career. His last bout was a Fight of the Night winner against Santiago Ponzinibbio. The two went back and forth across the contest, displaying their elite striking, and Pereira got the nod. Now, securing another ranking opponent, he'll be looking to use his wild and entertaining striking to gain his biggest career win.

Michel Pereira and Santiago Ponzinibbio during their three-round war. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.
Michel Pereira and Santiago Ponzinibbio during their three-round war. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.

This bout is guaranteed fireworks and is an excellent addition to the UFC 289 card. Who do you have winning this bout? As a member of the Verdict Community let us know your prediction in the comments below.

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