By the Numbers: Stephen Thompson vs. Vicente Luque

The ordering process for Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-views has changed: UFC 244 is only available on ESPN+ in the U.S.

After a shocking loss to Anthony Pettis at UFC Fight Night 148, Stephen Thompson is determined not to let anything like that happen again. His willpower will be put to the test as he faces a young and hungry Brazilian looking to break into the Top 10.

Watch as Thompson takes on Vicente Luque at Madison Square Garden for UFC 244. For insights into how this fight may play out, check out some of their career-defining numbers below.

UFC championship experience

Thompson has fought for the title twice, drawing with Tyron Woodley at UFC 205 and losing to him at UFC 209. On his way to earning those title shots, Thompson faced the likes of Rory MacDonald, Johny Hendricks, Robert Whittaker, Jake Ellenberger and Patrick Cote. Meanwhile, Luque has yet to experience fighting under the championship lights, but that could change soon as he has been on a tear as of late.

Active winning streak

Luque is currently on a six-fight winning streak, with victories over Mike Perry, Derrick Krantz, Bryan Barberena, Jalin Turner, Chad Laprise and Niko Price. Thompson hasn’t been as lucky, having lost his last two fights. He was decisioned by Darren Till at UFC Fight Night 130 and knocked out by Pettis at UFC Fight Night 148.

Longest winning streak

Thompson may be having problems stringing victories together of late, but that doesn’t mean that he’s not capable of it. In fact, his longest winning run topped out at seven, and if you see his list of victims, you’ll understand why he is still ranked eighth despite dropping his last two fights. That seven-fight winning streak included wins over MacDonald, Hendricks, Ellenberger, Cote, Whittaker, Chris Clements and Nah-Shon Burrell. He also owns a six-fight winning streak, which he achieved in his first six professional bouts. Meanwhile, Luque’s current six-fight winning streak is also the longest in his career.

Stoppage wins

Thompson last earned a stoppage in February 2016, when he knocked out Hendricks in the first round. That was his eighth career finish. In all, “Wonderboy” owns seven victories by KO or TKO and one by submission. Meanwhile, Luque has been consistently destructive, having stopped five of his last six opponents. The Brazilian from Cerrado MMA holds nine wins by KO or TKO and six by submission.

Stoppage losses

Luque has lost six times in his career and only two of those didn’t last three rounds. He was submitted by Shooto Brazil veteran Carlos Alexandre Pereira and by onetime Strikeforce standout Felipe Portela, both outside of the UFC. Meanwhile, Thompson’s knockout at the hands of Pettis was the first time in his career that he had been stopped. Making his debut at welterweight, the smaller Pettis wasn’t favored to win, but he ended up knocking Thompson out with a Superman punch with a few seconds left in the second round.