Isaac Thomson
Featherweight
9-2 (4 KO/TKOs, 1 Submission)
23-years-old
Five-foot-eleven, 72.5″ reach
Training out of Team Alpha Male
Thomson started in kickboxing and Muay Thai, going 8-0 and winning national titles in both, along with earning a black belt in karate. Before turning pro, he moved to the U.S. to sharpen his game with Team Alpha Male. His pro debut came when he was only 18. He lost his third pro fight, but to a future CS alum. His other loss against Shaheen Santana, I thought Thomson should’ve got the decision. The fight he’s coming off of there was some controversy that he should’ve lost that fight. After a re-watch, I believe Thomson won rounds one and three off damage, so it was the correct scorecards.
Thomson is such a seasoned fighter for his young age. He puts a lot of work into his striking. Doing a lot of the little things right, like creating traps, using feints, managing distance, and using angles. Thomson is gonna set the pace with the jab and kicks on the outside. He likes to use the teep and utilize low calf kicks. He’ll focus on attacking down low to get his opponent reaching before going up top. Thomson advances in cutting angles and switching stances, giving who he’s fighting different looks.
Thomson is the goods on the feet. Where he lacks in power, he makes up for it in everything else. He’s throwing in combinations and mixing up the patterns. He’s both accurate and diverse in his output. Maybe, he’ll find himself in fights, being beaten on damage. Easier said than done because he is doing so much, and his footwork is hard for opponents to gauge.
Being what his background in striking, Thomson is gonna continue to get his takedown defense tested. Overall, I think he’s answered those questions on a positive note. He can be taken down, but doesn’t accept the bottom position. The Aussie does fight underhooks and wrist as he will hit switches to out position his opponent. Thomson has some underrated wrestling skills himself. He does a fine job of utilizing trips in the clinch to get takedowns.
Thomson is a competent grappler who’s only gonna get better over time. His first submission came earlier this year, showing that his time at Team Alpha Male has been working out. Even before that, Thomson has had good responses to grappling exchange. He scrambles well and can jump on the back to win position time. The reason for the lack of submission success is because of the willingness to inflict damage. Thomson is completely fine sitting in guard or side control to posture up and land effective ground and pound, mainly elbows.
Thomson to me is already so good and still so young that his potential is crazy high. With how I see it, I see him as a top 15 featherweight in the future. With maybe some tough lessons learned along the way, he’s gonna grow within the promotion and become a mainstay for years to come.
Coming in on short notice against Joanderson Brito is a tough ask, but not one he can’t answer. Brito is a wrecking ball, and the power and explosive difference between the two is evident. The biggest difference is the level of competition as Brito has fought and beaten much better guys. I give Thomson advantages in more areas than Brito. The better striker, better cardio, better defensively, and all the better technical aspects in MMA. I have Thomson by decision for the upset.