Former two-time welterweight title challenger, Stephen Thompson is slated to make his Octagon return in December at UFC 296 against the undefeated finishing ace, Shavkat Rakhmonov, however, revealed recently that the pairing may have materialized earlier – if he had not rejected a fight offer.
Thompson, a former two-time welterweight championship challenger under the banner of the UFC, currently holds the number seven rank in the division, having been sidelined since he landed a fourth round corner’s stoppage TKO win over Kevin Holland in the main event of UFC Fight Night Orlando last December.
Slated to return at UFC 291 back in July, Thompson confirmed he turned down a catchweight fight with Michel Pereira, after the Brazilian missed weight for their planned main card fight.