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Stephen Thompson cuts an imposing stance inside the cage, and anyone who has stood at range from the former kickboxing champion turned mixed martial artist knows the danger his hands and feet posses. Furthermore, the South Carolina native can turn those weapons loose at any time or distance, and do so in such a wide variety of ways it makes it hard to find any sense of comfort being close to him.On a Saturday afternoon just a stone's throw from the main thoroughfare in his native Simpsonville, Thompson appears anything but imposing. As a matter of fact, the recent UFC welterweight title challenger is rocking a full-on glow about things as he makes his way up under the canopy of Papas and Beer.Thompson looks as if he could have stepped directly off set for the remake of Top Gun, as his fresh-cut hair and aviator sunglasses put a touch of Hollywood on the backwater scene of his hometown. Furthermore, the physical grace he's learned to command in all things combat have built a lean and sturdy figure that keeps his frame limber and ready.At any point during the conversation, you feel as if "Wonderboy" wanted to live up to his nickname and bust out a jaw-crushing spinning wheel kick it could be done with the greatest of ease, and it became quickly apparent said ease is just in his nature.[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BZZZL_sAk3L/?taken-by=flocombat" hide_caption="0"]A Southern boy born and bred, Thompson's hospitality is always front and center. He's polite yet jovial, and he's willing to lead the dance in conversation. His hands move quickly when he's speaking but detours for high-fives and handshakes are common once things get rolling. Thompson loves to chop it up in the fray, but he's also not one to waste any words or space in his quest to get where he's going.And on this Saturday afternoon, time is of the essence because he has family matters to attend to. His brother-in-law, and former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, has brought his family down from New York for a baby shower, and Thompson has pressing items on his plate at the moment.Nevertheless, with the renowned striker knowing the FloCombat crew was in his neck of the woods, there was no way he wasn't going to play host for even the slightest bit of time."This is cool, man," Thompson says with a mega-watt smile. "To have you guys come here to me, which has never happened in my MMA career. Having these guys come to me and just chill out, man...that's what it's all about. That's why it's hats off to you guys. That's why I wanted to come out here and hang out for a bit."That's as stand-up a move as can be made in the deeper trenches of this fight game, and if there is anyone who embodies the stand-up get-down, it's Thompson. That's just his nature, and it's a natural set of skills that has taken him a long way in the chaos of an unforgiving sport. Yet, it was precisely that ever-shifting reality of MMA that enticed him to cross over into fighting inside the cage to begin with."I fell in love with MMA going up to Tristar to work with Georges St-Pierre, who is going to be fighting the same night on the card at UFC 217," Thompson told FloCombat in an exclusive interview. "He was my inspiration to switch from kickboxing to MMA, and that's why I fell in love with it because every time I stepped out there on the mat there was always something different in front of me. You never know what you are going to see and you have to adapt on the fly. That's why I fell in love with it."I got a lot of that in the beginning where people said a true kickboxer cannot come over to MMA and do well. I've always been a very competitive guy and someone who really wants to just prove you wrong. I tore everything in my left leg about 15 years ago, and doctors said I'd never fight again. Where am I at now? Every time I see him I'm like, 'Told you I'd be here.' I wanted to prove those guys wrong and I have."No matter what style appeals to you as a fan, there's something undeniably different about watching Thompson work once things go live under the bright lights.The former kickboxing champion turned mixed martial artist has carved out his place as the definitive striker under the UFC banner, and has done so by crafting a highlight reel of victims who have fallen victim to his mastery of range and versatile offensive attacks."Wonderboy" has proven to be capable in all areas of the game, but coming off his back-to-back fights with welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, the 34-year-old finds himself more driven than ever before. Twice Thompson squared up with Woodley and both times was forced to walk away without gold in hand, and that has the recent title challenger hungry to get back into the title run in the welterweight fold.The Upstate Karate leader will have the chance to do precisely that when he goes toe-to-toe with Jorge Masvidal at UFC 217 in New York City on Nov. 4. The fight pits two of the most efficient strikers in the 170-pound collective head-to-head, and Thompson is expecting an absolute war when the cage closes behind them in Madison Square Garden.Photo Credit: © Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports"It's just a different style and it's very difficult to get used to," Thompson said. "I love the style because it's hard to adapt to. I've been doing striking my entire life. I've fought and sparred with some very high-level MMA guys, starting with Georges St-Pierre. So I've fought a lot of MMA guys, which is good, because if you are an up-and-coming MMA guy, get out there and spar as many people as possible so when you step into that cage or Octagon you will be able to adapt to people because you know you have fought someone with that same [or] similar style."I think that's awesome because that's what I want to be known for. I want to be known for going out there and putting on a good show. [Jorge] Masvidal….they call him 'Gamebred' for a reason because he's out there and he's always game. It doesn't matter who you are or what style you bring, he's going to go out there and try to punch and kick you in the face."He's very well-rounded and very crafty on the ground, but man….it's gonna be a brawl. Watch out for that fight at UFC 217. I know there are three title fights on there, but this is going to be an amazing fight. Get me that bonus, baby."While the champion Woodley has adapted a power-striking game in recent years, Masvidal was born in the fires of the street game knuckle hustle. Letting his hands, elbows and feet loose with vicious intentions is all the South Florida native has known for the better part of three decades, and despite vastly different upbringings, it's the gospel of Thompson's life as well.Both men love nothing more than to let it all go inside the cage, and where Thompson faced a stylistic chess match with Woodley, he knows the man waiting for him at Madison Square Garden is going to be gunning directly for his throat."Tyron [Woodley] had a completely opposite style where he loves to back up, and Masvidal comes forward and tries to get in your face," Thompson said. "For me, I love it when people do that, but the thing is that he's very good at adapting as well. His clinch work is like no other in the welterweight division, so I think he's going to try to close that gap, grab the clinch, throw some knees and elbows."Everybody knows how I fight. They know I like to keep the distance, but I've been working on my in-close game a whole lot. Especially the last two Tyron fights, and man...I don't care. I'm ready to go out there Nov. 4 and put in some work. I'm ready to let everyone know I'm still here, I'm still in this welterweight title contention and I'm here to stay."Photo Credit: © Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY SportsAnd while Thompson is back to full health and feeling the buzz of a comeback trail ignited, the reality of the situation he faces is one where a turnaround will be needed to keep his championship dreams alive. The last time he exited the Octagon, he did so carrying a loss, and with a career at stellar as he's forged in combat sports, taking that 'L' isn't something he's grown accustomed to or ever will due to his internal competitive nature.That said, hitting the drawing board and getting back on track is something he's faced before, and the results which followed proved devastating to his opposition. That's the fire he's currently carrying, and the God-fearing knockout artist from upstate South Carolina has every intention of bringing Hell to the historic New York City venue at UFC 217."I've fought some very aggressive guys with similar styles. Jake Ellenberger, Johny Hendricks, Rory MacDonald...some of the best guys in the division who try to get in your face and take you down," Thompson said. "[Matt Brown] was my very first loss in my full-contact career, and you see a lot of athletes when they take that first loss either go one of two directions. They either go downhill from there or they take it as a learning experience, go back and get better, prove everybody wrong and say, 'I'm gonna kick some butt next time.' That's what I did."I keep a very small circle of really good people around me who keep me focused on what my goals are and keep me positive."First thing, baby….Jorge Masvidal just be ready for the best Wonderboy anyone has ever seen or you've ever seen come Nov. 4. At UFC 217. So be ready, baby."Don't miss breaking news, feature stories, event updates, and more. Sign up for the FloCombat mailing list today.