WHO: Stephen Thompson vs. Robert Whittaker
WHAT: UFC 170: Rousey vs. McMann pay-per-view (PPV) results
WHERE: Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada
WHEN: Saturday, February 22nd, 2014
Stephen Thompson vs. Robert Whittaker — Welterweight bout
Kenpo practitioner and kickboxing phenom Stephen Thompson continued to impress with a showcase performance against TUF Smashes winner Robert Whittaker. Thompson surrounded himself with a deadly perimeter of kicks, including hook, straight, low and axe kicks, to control the range and tempo right out of the gate. Whittaker’s boxing was sharp and clean when he was in range, which did not occur often enough for him to be effective with much more than a lancing jab.
Thompson’s unorthodox striking display was augmented nicely by his movement, which generally consisted of elusive circling and calculated pivots to avoid being cornered. However, Thompson’s motion consummated with a burst of forward movement and a brutal right hand that put Whittaker on roller-skates and enabled him to flurry and finish.
- Stephen Thompson defeats Robert Whittaker by TKO (punches), Round 1
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