Who is Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson picking to win when UFC champ Robbie Lawler fights Tyron Woodley?
By James Dielhenn
Last Updated: 29/07/16 6:07am
Can Robbie Lawler successfully defend the UFC welterweight title against Tyron Woodley? Sky Sports exclusively asked Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson, who is due to face the winner...
How can Robbie Lawler win?
Wonderboy said: He needs to use his distance, use his jab. If he can last the first round when Tyron is most dangerous, if he can stop that flurry, he has a chance to win.
He needs to keep Tyron on his toes, backing up, because Tyron has a very difficult time backing up on his heels. If Robbie can keep that aggression, I think he can finish Tyron Woodley.
Robbie has been in a few five-round wars in his past few fights so I'm interested to see how durable he is.
We all know he's tough and he can take some shots. But I'm interested to see what type of movement Robbie is going to put on Tyron. If he's going to be the aggressor, he really needs to watch out for Tyron's explosive movement coming straight in.
Is he going to use movement or is he going to be the aggressor that we've always seen?
Wonderboy on Lawler
How can Tyron Woodley win?
Wonderboy said: He needs to use his explosive ability to land that one, big punch to change Robbie's mind-set.
If Tyron hits you with that shot, it's definitely going to make Robbie a little bit wary of coming in. That will make time for Tyron to use his wrestling, either by getting Robbie up against the cage or in a clinch position to tire Robbie out.
If Tyron can tire him out, it will make it easier to shoot for the legs and put Robbie on his back. If he can get Robbie on his back, he can win that fight.
Tyron has got that one-hitter-quitter power. You get hit once with that shot, you're going down.
Wonderboy on Woodley
Wonderboy's prediction: I do think Robbie is the superior fighter. He's the guy that's been on a tear. I'm hoping Robbie is going to win - he is going to win. It's been too long that Tyron hasn't stepped in the Octagon to fight, and cage rust is a real phenomenon.
So how would you defeat Lawler?
Wonderboy said: I see him using his jab, using the mean left hand that he broke Rory MacDonald's nose with.
He does have some kicks - he mostly uses a backwards roundhouse kick but he breaks people with his willpower. He takes a lot of shots and keeps on coming, breaking people's wills and momentum.
As you saw when he fought Rory MacDonald who hit with a bunch of shots - the next thing you know, here comes Robbie back at him, and you see the life die in Rory's eyes. He's done that to all of his fighters.
I like it when fighters are like Robbie because I move differently to everybody else. He's going to have a harder time hitting me. I use my kicks more than the last few guys that he's fought. My side-kick will help keep Robbie at bay.
If Robbie finishes Tyron and doesn't get too scuffed up, I'm hoping we can do this in Madison Square Garden.
