Saenchai: "Two of the best strikers in the world”- Stephen Thompson sparring with Muay Thai legend Saenchai has fans pumped

UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson is one of MMA's most talented strikers, and holds a kickboxing record of 57-0.

'Wonderboy' is also one of the sport's most likeable characters, and has garnered a large following due to both his persona and his performances in the octagon.

Thompson was recently captured training with Muay Thai legend Saenchai, which caused much excitement amongst fans. Many, including Joe Rogan and world champion Muay Thai fighter Liam Harrison, regard Saenchai as the GOAT of the art of eight limbs.

Footage of the sparring session between Stephen Thompson and Saenchai was uploaded to the Thai's Instagram page. Both fighters were showcasing incredible control of their strikes, much to the delight of fans.

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Saenchai posted this:

"Thanks @wonderboymma for this sparring, i had a lot of fun."

Stephen Thompson commented on Saenchai's post, and wrote this:

"Anytime my friend had such an awesome time hanging out with you and the @yokkao team you guys are awesome."

See the fan reactions below:

"Two of the best strikers in the world, just chillin"

"Hey all you tough guys this is what light sparring looks like"

"This is how you respectfully spar someone with no ego"

"And of course the only dude on the planet who know how to spar correctly with the legend is the nicest dude on the planet"

"Legends"

"A very rare double 🐐🐐 sighting"

"I wished my sparring sessions were that playful haha"

"Men who’ve afforded don’t need to prove anything"

"Amazing how Saenchai makes everyone back up"

Screenshot of fan reactions to Thompson sparring with Saenchai

Stephen Thompson shares his future plans following Kamaru Usman callout

Stephen Thompson was scheduled to take on Michel Pereira at UFC 291 on July 30.

However, Pereira missed weight by three pounds, and 'Wonderboy' opted not to continue with the fight given his opponent's situation. Thompson had previously lost to an opponent who had missed weight, when he fought Darren Till at UFC Liverpool in 2018, which he stated influenced his decision not to fight Pereira.

Stephen Thompson released a YouTube video in the aftermath of UFC 291 to discuss his future, and he hinted at a possible fight with Kamaru Usman. 'The Nigerian Nightmare' had called 'Wonderboy' out during a prior interview, and Thompson responded by saying this:

"Kamaru Usman calls me out... let's freaking go! I mean, I was willing to fight the [Jack Della Maddalenas], the Ian Garrys, the Shavkats, but then you've got the No.1 contender, the former UFC champ calling me out... Let's make this fight happen."

Watch the video below from 2:30:

About the author

Liam is a MMA and Boxing writer at Sportskeeda. His journey into MMA journalism began with a high school diploma in 2017, but his passion for writing led him to diverse experiences, including internships in research and writing roles and accounting work.

Liam's fascination with MMA was sparked by Conor McGregor, with Dustin Poirier's bout against Dan Hooker in 2020 sealing his love for the sport. Poirier remains Liam's favorite fighter, whom he admires for his attitude, fighting style, and persona both inside and outside the cage. He is an advocate for the removal of the 12-6 elbow rule in MMA.

Liam strives to report precise and relevant information by cross-checking his work, reaching out to relevant sources for comments, and adhering to Sportskeeda's guidelines. His work has been recognized on popular MMA platforms, with his article headlines featuring in YouTube recaps and appearing onscreen during an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience.

Outside of work, Liam enjoys playing cricket, practising Brazilian jiu-jitsu, cooking, music, and reading.

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Edited by Taimoor Malik