UFC 209 Countdown: Tyron Woodley vs Stephen Thompson 2

>> Mike: For the very first time in the 23-year history
of The Ultimate Fighting Championship.
The Octagon is inside the world's most famous arena.
>> Narrator: On November 12th, 2016,
the UFC made its long-awaited debut
in New York City.
>> Mike: What a night we have in store.
Great fights because this is where the UFC belongs.
>> Woodley: UFC 205 was just a crazy card.
You had four champions, three title fights.
>> The whole vibe around everything was just crazy.
>> It's...time!
>> Joe: It's an honor and privilege to be here tonight
for the greatest card ever assembled
in combat sports history.
>> Mike: This crowd is loving it.
So many epic fights inside this building.
You are going to add this one to it.
>> Madonna: I love it.
Girl power.
>> Woodley: Who got my back? >> I got your back!
>> Woodley: How you feel? >> Like a champ!
>> Team on three! One-two-three!
>> Team Woodley!
>> Woman: Three-two-one and we are walking.
>> Mike: Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson,
the challenger.
Winner of seven straight fights.
Looking to leave as the new champion.
>> Come on, Wonderboy!
>> Joe: What Tyron Woodley brings to the table
that makes him so terrifying is his ability
to close the distance is second to none.
His knockout power and I believe Duke Roufus
is one of the very best striking coaches in the world
and he's done a tremendous job in working with Tyron.
>> Alright, alright, alright!
>> Let's go, T-Wood, let's go!
>> Referee: I want you to obey my commands at all times,
I want to protect yourself at all times.
This is for the title.
Shake hands, good luck to both of you.
>> Buffer: For the UFC welterweight championship
of the world!
>> Joe: Woodley is just trying to figure out the distance,
look for his opportunities and see if
he can figure out how to get close enough to land a bomb.
>> Woodley: Nothing he did surprised me.
>> Joe: Tyron in complete control here on top.
>> Mike: Exactly what he wanted.
>> If anything, I was a little bit surprised on how
I had the pure power advantage; especially in the clinch,
especially on the ground.
>> Joe: Wonderboy is battered.
>> Referee: Alright, let's go. Round two, come on!
>> Mike: Every round starts on the feet.
>> Step out!
>> Joe: Wonderboy starting to find his rhythm
and Tyron Woodley is starting to slow down.
>> He's moving slower and slower but he does that have one shot.
He's desperate, do you understand?
So be on your "A" game.
>> Mike: Championship rounds.
>> Come on, Tyron.
>> Mike: Woodley has a ton of respect for Thompson.
You can see it.
>> Joe: I mean he has to.
This guy is so slippery.
>> Feint it and crack it right back.
When he goes his right, you go your right.
>> Joe: Oh!
>> Mike: Here comes "The Chosen One."
Oh, my goodness!
>> Joe: Wonderboy is in big trouble here.
>> Get up, baby!
>> Joe: Woodley's got a choke!
He's got a deep guillotine.
This is so tight and so deep!
Look at Tyron squeezing and squeezing.
Incredible!
How is he surviving here?
>> Thompson: Yeah, man, that punch hurt me.
The next thing you know, in a deep guillotine chokehold
and I'm sitting there thinking the whole time,
"All these people came to watch me fight,
I'm not tapping."
>> Wonderboy!
Wonderboy!
[crowd chanting "Wonderboy!"]
Joe: Wonderboy's head is free. What a round!
What a fight!
Thompson: I finished on top and I helped him up
off the canvas after that.
I was ready for round five.
>> Mike: This building hosted two of the three
Ali-Frazier fights
and man they are going to talk about Woodley
and Thompson for a long, long time.
>> I figured him out and I felt that in the fifth round.
>> All you got!
>> Roufus: Off the jab--good!
Keep going! Keep going!
>> Woodley: They always say don't leave it to the judges
and I tried not to.
>> Narrator: But after five rounds of back and forth action,
the bout was just too close to call
for the three Octagon-side judges.
>> Buffer: This contest has been judged a majority draw!
>> Narrator: With no clear winner,
an immediate rematch seemed most likely.
But Woodley who remained a champion following the draw,
had other plans.
>> Woodley: There are still a lot of guys
I haven't fought yet.
Georges wants to come back once again.
If Conor McGregor wants to fight me,
I think all you guys are going to want to see that fight.
It's going to suck for Wonderboy and Maia because
those guys are going to feel like they deserve the shot,
but maybe they can fight each other in the meantime.
[Man on radio]: If you had one choice,
what's your number one fight?
>> Woodley: The match I would want would be
Georges St-Pierre.
That's a no-brainer.
>> May. 180. We agree.
>> I agree. I'm in.
>> Woodley: I was surprised Michael Bisping
wanted to fight me and I said,
"You know what, it would be a good fight.
He's a big name, why not?
Let's get it on."
>> Thompson: He's calling out Georges St-Pierre,
Conor McGregor--even go up a weight class to fight
Michael Bisping.
So I'm like, "Wait a second.
How can you be happy with a draw?"
>> Narrator: But for the championship fight that ended
with no winner,
it only made sense to run it back.
Tyron Woodley's second fight as welterweight king would be
a rematch with Thompson at UFC 209,
to clearly determine who the best welterweight
in the world is.
>> Karyn Bryant: Why did you talk about all these other
people other than the man you just had a draw with?
>> Woodley: The super fights opened up,
so many opportunities to fight some big fights.
Fighting him in the future was going to happen.
Did it have to happen right now?
Maybe not.
>> I felt like you know since it was a draw,
we have to make that break.
You defend that title a few times,
you know--earn it.
>> Do you feel he's entitled?
>> He thinks I'm entitled that I begged for this fight.
I was given the contract, that was it.
I signed it, didn't ask for it.
Didn't renegotiate.
That's all I did, signed it.
I didn't beg for it.
>> That's not what happened.
You know you felt like you deserved a rematch.
You felt like you deserved to be the champion.
>> You know what, we are going to be running it back anyway.
>> You are going to run it back so...
>> We will be running it back.
>> Thank you, guys.
>> Thompson: He knows we have unfinished business,
so he can say what he wants.
We are going to step out there,
we are going to do it out again.
>> Narrator: The first fight between Woodley and Thompson
was a bit of a throwback
and a fight fan's dream.
A masterful karate stylist.
>> Joe: This is what has always made
Stephen Thompson so special.
>> Mike: That is a big knockout for "The Chosen One!"
>> Narrator: Versus a wrestler
with crushing knockout power.
>> Joe: Oh, my goodness, unbelievable!
>> Narrator: The clash of styles gives them valuable
experience to the pair of welterweight greats.
>> Buffer: Wonderboy Thompson!
>> Narrator: Experience they will bring into training camp
for the rematch.
Now that Thompson has felt Woodley in the Octagon,
he can better identify the areas where he must improve.
>> You know, the only thing that really surprised me
was how strong that guy was.
He's a strong cat, especially in the clinch positions.
>> Trainer: Let's go, skip it out crossing the arms.
Knees up, toes up. Knees up, toes up.
Drive it! Drive it! Drive it!
>> So, we've gone back and talked to my coaches.
We are going to be walking around heavier now.
>> Narrator: For this camp, Stephen Thompson is working
with strength and conditioning coach,
Josh Reynolds for the first time in order to gain
the edge in the rematch.
>> Josh: Hips a little deeper, hips a little deeper.
Get them back, come on.
There we go.
Come on! Come out! Come out of the hole!
Come on!
>> Last fight was close,
hopefully we can get him
that little bit to push it over the edge for the victory
for us this time.
>> Josh: Seven. Come on, finish it. Finish it!
There you go.
Nice, nice, nice.
Look for more in every rep.
Every rep, look for more. Let's go.
Come on, kick it! Kick it! Let's go!
Squeeze those shoulder blades.
Nothing but a thing.
Let's go. Russian twist.
>> Woodley: I think this time he's going to be more
aggressive with the takedown,
because he saw in the first round it worked for him.
But this time he's going to be fighting a stronger
Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson.
>> Josh: Uh-oh, we are getting serious now.
We are pushing the pace hard.
Fast feet. Fast feet. Fast feet.
With his effort, with his intensity,
he's definitely going to see the results.
[grunting]
>> Woodley: Sometimes you got to be careful what you ask for.
I'm going to go out there and I'm going to beat
Wonderboy down so bad, he's going to wish he never
stepped into the Octagon.
He survived the last fight.
He didn't hurt me, he didn't have any glimmering moment
where the referee wanted to step in and stop the fight.
I had many of those moments and I promise you,
if I get him hurt this time,
he won't make it out the Octagon.
[crowd chanting "Wonderboy!"]
>> Buffer: Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson!
>> Jon Anik: The hype is real,
ladies and gentlemen!
>> Brian Stann: Wow!
>> Joe: Oh, that's a wrap.
That's it.
>> Narrator: Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson
displays an array of striking techniques,
developed through a lifetime
of highly specialized karate training.
>> Joe: That is the Stephen Thompson that we
saw in his kickboxing career.
>> Narrator: But when he challenged Tyron Woodley
for the welterweight title last November,
the champion was well-prepared to stifle
Thompson's striking onslaught.
>> I've submerged myself into his background.
I went and trained with the best sport karate
and point fighters and Taekwondo guys to learn their mindset.
>> Narrator: The St. Louis, Missouri native is back
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
where he spent training camp for UFC 205
under renowned coach, Duke Roufus;
a world championship kickboxer who offered Woodley
the best understanding of Thompson's abilities.
>> Duke: A lot of guys don't fight the sport karate
traditional martial arts style.
At times people don't respect Stephen Thompson's pedigree.
A lot of opponents, you look back and say,
"Oh, I'm just going to do this and my thing will beat him."
They have been embarrassed by him,
very good fighters.
>> As cold as it is, it feels good to be back.
>> I think Tyron did an incredible job of dedicating
himself with guys like Sage Northcutt.
>> Narrator: Northcutt, a UFC lightweight,
played a pivotal role in preparing the champ for his
first bout with Wonderboy and is back to help once again.
>> Duke: Just a young, tough kid who brings it.
Good. There you go.
>> Narrator: And heading into the rematch at UFC 209,
the team looks to expand upon its first performance
and offer more problems for Wonderboy.
>> Duke: No one thought that he had a snowball's chance in hell.
He actually touched up Stephen more than anyone
had ever touched him up.
Just like he's slippery, you got to be slippery too.
Yep.
>> Woodley: I think I surprised him on how prepared I was.
I made him pay very badly when he threw a leg kick.
>> Joe: There's the kick.
Woodley catches it.
Big moment for Woodley.
On top.
Huge.
>> Woodley: It really discouraged him to throw
any more after that.
>> Duke: Nice, way to use it.
That was beautiful.
>> Woodley: This training camp we are going to expound
upon that which is a dangerous,
dangerous thing for Wonderboy.
I don't know if you were just trying to be nice and not try
to scratch my face up, but you got to really
aggressively palm my chin, smush my face,
push my neck away.
Make--anytime you can get me like this,
you should be able to get away.
>> Alright, cool.
I will give you that.
Thanks, champ.
>> You got it.
Let's get some food in this piece.
>> Sage: That's right.
>> Woodley: You know the good thing about having Sage
around for training camp is obviously the training aspect
he's going to give me a good luck.
But when you have a younger kid that's giving you that
accountability--like when I don't want to run he's like,
"Mr. Woodley, let's go run."
We start running and like,
"Don't you want to pick it up a little bit?
Don't you want to run to the next stop sign?"
I'm like, "No, I don't want to run at all."
It's just keeping that young, hungry fighter around you
I think reminds you constantly.
So it's dope to have ol' Super Sage around.
>> Sage: Thanks, champ.
Hey, you really going to season the chicken?
>> Yeah.
>> For real?
>> You scared about that?
>> I'm a little scared.
I don't know what it's going to be like.
>> Woodley: Don't get too upset when I throw it on
the other side too, right?
>> You are doing both sides?
>> Woodley: Yeah. >> Sage: Serious?
>> Woodley: Both of them.
Pretty good? >> Dang, that's good.
Boom.
>> I knew it was going to be good,
that wasn't in question.
>> That's really good.
>> Move Countdown!
It's time to eat!
>> Ray Thompson: You going to rack them
or you want me to rack them? >> Stephen: You rack them.
>> Ray: You going to let dad rack them?
>> Stephen: You are breaking, you don't rack.
You know what I mean?
>> Narrator: Woodley's challenger,
Stephen Thompson has been able to afford a lavish lifestyle
through his success in fighting.
>> That was mucho better.
Get it. Come on.
>> Ray: Look at you.
>> Narrator: But growing up, things were much different.
>> Ray: Oh, who's your daddy?
I had two kids and a wife and a mortgage and got laid off.
Broke as a convict
and there was a period in our lives
where my wife would go to the grocery store
and buy a ten pound sack of potatoes.
You can buy a ten pound sack of potatoes for like two bucks.
That's what we ate for a week.
She fed everybody.
>> Stephen: You know growing up as a kid,
we didn't think anything of it, you know?
We just thought you know--we just ate potatoes all the time.
I remember sometimes we would have like camp nights and not
knowing at the time that they didn't have enough money
to pay the power bill, so we would all sleep on the floor
and have candles up and stuff everywhere.
So they always made it fun and made it where we didn't
have to worry about anything, you know?
Come on, six ball.
>> Ray: Through hard work and sticking to our goals,
we've become fairly successful.
We have our own school, own martial arts school.
Right at 750 active students.
Not doing too bad.
At least we are no longer living in a one bedroom apartment.
>> Stephen: And he misses.
Oh!
You the man.
You the man!
>> Narrator: Upstate Karate has been part of
Simpsonville, South Carolina's community
for nearly three decades.
And its most notable student remains a devoted instructor,
despite his remarkable accomplishments outside the gym.
>> I love teaching martial arts.
I know what the martial arts has done for me.
You can smile, it's okay to smile.
You are allowed to smile.
Don't hold it back.
Don't hold it back.
[Laughing] There it is.
We got Michael.
We got Ella.
We got my man, Will.
Lilly.
Kayden, James and the Giant Peach.
>> I'm not tall.
>> When I say bow, you got to bow and say, "Respect, sir."
Bow!
>> Respect, sir!
>> Stephen: Keep moving!
He's moving. He's moving faster.
He's got his hands up.
The hair is prepped and feathered, looking good.
Freeze!
And you got to freeze in that fighting stance.
Can you all do that?
[Kids in unison]: Yes, sir!
>> Stephen: I want you all moving fast. Everybody.
Move it around!
Everybody say, "Pick it up."
[Kids in unison]: Pick it up!
>> And freeze!
Who's got the karate face.
Let me see them.
Keeps my mind clear. Keeps me down to Earth.
Keeps me humble and I love doing it.
Everybody--left side step!
Jab!
Back in line.
Back in line!
Ready--high block.
And jab!
Back in line!
My line is killing it!
>> Narrator: But don't take his modest sensibility for weakness.
When it's time to step inside the UFC's Octagon,
Wonderboy doesn't have the slightest doubt
regarding his abilities.
>> Ray: Lead leg, lead leg only.
Go!
>> You know I think I can beat any welterweight out there.
>> Ray: Nice and speedy on the foot.
There we go.
>> Stephen: I want to be remembered as one of
the greatest fighters who ever stepped into the Octagon.
>> Narrator: At UFC 209 in Las Vegas,
Thompson will represent everyone he has shared
this journey with,
when he challenges Tyron Woodley
for the Welterweight belt a second time.
>> Ray: Bring that belt home to our little hometown of
Simpsonville, South Carolina.
We are going to have everybody in town at our front door.
I can't imagine what is going to happen.
Lots and lots of kicks.
Nice and snappy.
>> It's going to be fireworks.
>> Narrator: For UFC 209
headliner and welterweight champion,
Tyron Woodley,
supporting a family often
means spending training camp away from the comforts
of his home in St. Louis, Missouri.
>> Sometimes to get mentally prepared for a fight,
I need to take myself out of that comfort zone.
I need to miss my family.
When I'm out here, I got one thing to focus on--training
and that's why I'm the world champion.
What's up, T.J.?
What's up, man? How was practice?
What's up, Bobo?
What's up, Dealio?
>> Daddy, you are going to knock him out.
When he kicks, go for the leg.
>> So I should take--grab his leg or kick his leg?
>> I'm just stating the facts.
Wonderboy is getting knocked out.
>> Woodley: My sons, I feel like they are little baby prophets,
so I never take it lightly what they tell me to do,
because sometimes it's the way I finish fights.
>> Little boy: Daddy.
>> Woodley: What's up, man?
>> When are you going to be here?
>> Woodley: I don't know when I'm coming back.
It's probably going to be a while because I need
to focus on training.
Alright, dudes, love you guys.
>> Kids: Love you too.
>> It's good to see them.
They understand that their dad is out here training,
he grinding.
Lets me know what I'm doing it all for.
>> Referee: This is for the title, shake hands.
Good luck to the both of you.
>> Ray: Alright, baby.
You know what to do!
>> Narrator: Stephen Thompson's father Ray,
a decorated martial artist himself,
has been in Wonderboy's corner for his entire career.
>> Stephen: I threw a lazy kick in the first round
and he ended up catching it and I went down.
>> Can't throw any lazy kicks.
>> That's where I need to be working my angles and stuff.
>> Defend!
>> Stephen: I couldn't see a thing.
All I saw was red when I got back to the corner.
Literally.
>> Ray: Come here!
Work your one, stepping off.
You understand?
>> Narrator: The father-son duo is combining life-long training
with recent experience in the Octagon
against Tyron Woodley,
to ensure they come out of the rematch with the belt.
>> See how he gets up against the cage and backs up?
>> Give me some more, baby!
>> See, that's what he's going to do again.
>> That's what he's going to try to do. Yeah.
He's getting slower and slower but he does have
just that one shot.
He's desperate, you understand?
He gave you his best shot and he couldn't do it.
>> Right.
He caught you left side forward,
left hand down.
Smoked you right on your head.
Just like I told you to get your hand up and you didn't.
>> Stephen: I mean you really don't learn a whole lot
about somebody until you fight them you know?
Especially after that one.
It was a war.
>> Ray: What we want to make sure we do is execute
our game plan as we have been practicing.
Of course, we are not going to give away what that is.
But we got it figured out.
>> Yeah.
>> Ray: Our first fight with Tyron,
we learned a lot of things.
Tyron played a very smart game and he's going to have
to change it.
There's only one game that he can change it to--
we know what that is.
A couple of rounds of hands only.
Get started.
We are going to be way better prepared than we were last time.
Give me a shuffle, one-two baby.
Give me a good old, one-two, one-two.
>> Stephen: Every time I step out there you are going
to see something different.
I'm gonna evolve, I've always been that way.
>> Ray: Come at me.
Step off.
You are going to see a different animal than Wonderboy.
He's going to crush Tyron.
You can also take that to the body
because he's going to do this.
>> Stephen: I just didn't go out there and let my hands go
like I should,
but that's definitely going to change this go around.
[music]
♪ Just turn it on. ♪
♪ Just turn it on. ♪
>> Narrator: At UFC 209 in Las Vegas,
Stephen Thompson and Tyron Woodley
will meet once again--
and each man will do everything in his power
to ensure he comes out the victor.
>> Feeling like the champ!
>> Narrator: And the undisputed champ.
>> Joe: Big moment for Woodley on top.
>> Woodley: I don't want one moment in this fight
where he looks like he's the aggressor,
he looks like he's pushing forward on me.
>> Joe: Wonderboy starting to find his rhythm.
>> Stephen: Unlike my last fight,
I just got to go out there and do what I do.
You know, go out there and have fun.
I didn't have fun last time.
You know, I was too hesitant.
>> Joe: What a fight!
>> Woodley: He's going to have to deal with my power.
He's going to have to deal with fighting me in the pocket.
He's going to have to deal with my wrestling.
He's going to have to deal with my clinch and he's going
to have to deal with it for the entire 25 minutes.
>> Joe: This is amazing!
>> Woodley: I don't think he's going to win a round
and I will finish him this time.
>> Ray: One-two. One-two.
>> Stephen: I know what I have to do,
I just got to go out there and do it
and I know I can do it.
>> Mike: They are going to talk about Woodley
and Thompson for a long time.

UFC 209 Countdown: Tyron Woodley vs Stephen Thompson 2

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