STEPHEN THOMPSON knows he needs a highlight-reel finish of Geoff Neal this weekend to keep himself in the welterweight title picture.

Two-time 170lb title challenger Thompson – who will lock horns with Neal early on Sunday morning in the main event of UFC Vegas 17 – still has aspirations of vying for the welterweight title, and rightly so.

'Wonderboy' is currently the No.5-ranked 170-pounder in the world and is coming off a clinical victory over one of the division's dark horses, Vicente Luque.

Although he's on the cusp of a title third title shot, Thompson is somewhat of an outsider looking in.

Welterweight king Kamaru Usman is set to defend his crown against Gilbert Burns early next year, with the winner of that fight potentially facing the victor of Leon Edward's rearranged showdown with Khamzat Chimaev.

The outspoken Colby Covington is also in the mix, as well as recent title challenger Jorge Masvidal.

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Provided Usman retains his title, which will be no easy feat against the in-form Burns, those match-ups, on paper, are a lot sexier than one against Thompson.

Thompson is aware a potential bout between himself and 'The Nigerian Nightmare' might be a hard sell to the UFC matchmakers but nonetheless plans to put himself at the forefront of their minds with an emphatic victory over the highly-touted Neal.

When asked if he needs to make a statement against Neal, Thompson told SunSport: "I think so."

Thompson, 37, has never been the type of fighter to go out all guns blazing in search of a stoppage.

But with a potential title shot, or at the very least a No.1 contenders match, in the offing, the wily and elusive veteran intends to deviate slightly from his cautious and methodical approach.

He said: "I normally don't go out there looking for the knockout. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, it doesn't. I always visualise my hand being raised.

"But that said, I think a good win over Geoff Neal, in a good fashion, will put me in the limelight again.

"Not just with the fans, but with the UFC. To give me another opponent in the top-five. Somebody ranked above me."

Although Thompson expects to have his hand raised this weekend, he's not overlooking the in-form Neal – who is currently riding a seven-fight win streak.

In fact, he's anticipating 'Handz of Steel' to give him a tough night at the office.

He said: "Geoff Neal, he's got very good boxing. And something in me just feels like at some point he's going to try and use wrestling. He's a strong, physically strong, welterweight.

"I think he's going to try and use his strength to try and pin me up against the fence to use his dirty boxing there."

Thompson has elicited the help of his brother-in-law, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, and Karl Reed to prepare him for the possibility of gruelling grappling encounters on the cage.

And those hard-fought rounds at the new Upstate Karate facility have furthered his belief that he'll derail the Neal steam train.

He said: "At some point in time, I feel like he's going to try and use his wrestling. So, to be honest with you, wherever the fight goes, I'm going to be ready for it.

"But at the end of the day, I see my hand raised at the end of this fight."

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