So, maybe this Stephen Thompson vs. Jorge Masvidal idea has legs after all

This past week UFC welterweight contenders Stephen Thompson and Jorge Masvidal stood on stage together and discussed a possible bout – together. It appears they’re still committed to the matchup.

Thompson (13-2-1 MMA, 8-2-1 UFC) and Masvidal (32-12 MMA, 9-5 UFC) recently were part of a UFC fan Q&A that preceded UFC Fight Night 111 in Singapore. There, they both pushed for the matchup

Thopmson is No. 2 in the latest TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings, and Masvidal is No. 9. Both are coming off losses. Thompson recently suffered a narrow majority-decision defeat to champ Tyron Woodley in March (they fought to a draw in the bout prior); Masvidal most recently suffered a split-decision defeat to No. 5 Demian Maia.

Soon after the Q&A – and soon after No. 5-ranked lightweight and ex-champ Rafael dos Anjos (26-9 MMA, 15-7 UFC) made a successful move to welterweight with a decision victory over Tarec Saffiedine (16-7 MMA, 2-4 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 111 – No. 2-ranked lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov (24-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) tweeted that Masvidal should fight RDA.

Masvidal, though, suggested a bout with Thompson is still his plan (via Twitter):

“(It’s not official) yet, but we want it,” Thompson said during Friday’s Q&A. “We definitely want it, to get together and get out there in the octagon and face off. Obviously, you saw him in his last fight, which I thought he won against Demian Maia. (Masvidal is) a very good striker, and I think it’s going to be fireworks.”

With Maia expected to be champ Woodley’s next opponent, Thompson vs. Masvidal could be a solid title-eliminator – or at least provide some further clarity in the welterweight title picture.

Masvidal, though, said he simply likes the challenge of facing a striker like Thompson.

“He does things that nobody really in the division does,” Masvidal said. “The karate that he brings and the high level that he brings, it’s only him that does that. I would have to get in special sparring partners, I’d have to get guys that could mimic that, and I’d have to prepare for it.

“It’s going to happen, man. Hopefully.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.