'Respectful' Stephen Thompson not feeling love from UFC marketing machine ... yet

Having the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) public relations machine behind you can do wonders for your career.

Just ask Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor.

And Stephen Thompson could be the next beneficiary of everything that comes with having a great promotional push. At the moment, though, "Wonderboy" says he doesn't necessarily feel the love from the organization, but says that can all change should he capture the welterweight title in the near future.

And as he stated on The MMA Hour, should other opportunities come with it, he will be open to them:

"You know, I never really thought about it. I mean, I don't feel it, you know? I don't feel the love really right now, but we will see what happens after this fight with Tyron and Lawler. And maybe once I have that belt around my waist things will be different. But until then, I'm focused on the fight game and getting my goal and that is having that title shot. Maybe after that we will think about doing some movies or something. But I have always imagined myself doing something like that, maybe after my fight career is over. I think that would be really cool. You see MMA fighters doing the movie thing. Like Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson is a star, he is killing it out there."

Thompson continued on by giving his theory as to why he hasn't been pushed as much as say the aforementioned Conor McGregor:

"It might be because I am not that Conor McGregor-type. I am a very respectful guy to my opponents no matter how they feel about me. Maybe that's what it is. Maybe I need to start talking crap or something? I don't know. But if I started doing that now, people would know that's not me."

Of course, Thompson was only joking in regards to the whole smack-talk business.

"Wonderboy" is fresh off a dominant five-round victory over former title contender Rory MacDonald at UFC Fight Night 89 (see it again here). The win marked his seventh straight inside the Octagon, and eight of nine overall since making his debut with the company in 2012.

While he hasn't been guaranteed his shot, it's safe to assume he will face the winner up the upcoming 170-pound title fight between current champion Robbie Lawler and top contender Tyron Woodley, which is set to pop off on July 30, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia (details).

Then again, this guy could have something to say about that.