Issue 142
June 2016
Leading UFC welterweight striker Stephen Thompson puts on a kicking masterclass in Korea
As the home of taekwondo, Korea loves its traditional martial arts, so there are few better fighters to take on a tour of the nation’s capital than Stephen Thompson. The South Carolina sensation has electrified the Octagon with a string of scintillating knockouts and was the straightforward selection to stun Seoul’s Sentinel IFC gym with a display of old-school striking. His perfect round, back and spinning hook kicks are the result of a lifetime of martial arts practice and – along with his pinpoint punches – have propelled him to within one fight of a 170lb title shot. His scheduled showdown with Rory MacDonald in June is set to decide whether ‘Wonderboy’ can stake his claim as the next great welterweight.
Date: February 2016
Location: Seoul, South Korea
