Gabriel Bonfim scored the biggest win of his career in the UFC Nashville co-main event and will most likely find himself in the welterweight rankings. It doesn’t come without controversy, however, as plenty of people felt his opponent, longtime UFC veteran and former welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson should have been given the judges’ decision.
Thompson looked to keep his distance in the early part of the fight, aware of Bonfim’s wrestling while looking to land his traditional striking. Bonfim scored a pair of takedowns halfway through the first, however, locking up a tight choke attempt on Thompson, but the veteran escaped.
After a bit of a striking battle in the early portion of the second round, Bonfim got to Thompson’s back again and scored another takedown — though it was brief before Thompson returned to the feet. Thompson got to break out of Bonfim’s clinch a minute later and started to find his groove.
Bonfim would check a kick from Thompson, resulting in a really nasty gash. Thompson did land a head kick, however, stumbling Bonfim and stopping a takedown before the end of the round.
Bonfim looked to pressure Thompson in the third round, bringing him to the fence during the first minute. Thompson fought out of it and continued to throw with the cut leg. Thompson landed another strong head kick; however, Bonfim scored a pair of takedowns and used his grappling to control the action — or lack of it as the fight was in its concluding stages.
Gabriel Bonfim Scores Narrow, Controversial Decision Over Stephen Thompson
I don't agree with Bonfim winning. Wonderboy should've won the 2nd and 3rd rounds.
Absolute bollocks! Wonderboy won that fight, shin split open, leaking blood, landed more effective and heavy strikes, bonfim did nothing with the takedowns. That's a Stephen Thompson W all day 😤 #UFCNashvillepic.twitter.com/2waFWFQLBm
Bonfim, a 2022 alumnus of Dana White’s Contender Series, is now 5-1 in the Octagon, including a three-fight win streak now, defeating Ange Loosa and Khaos Williams as well over the last year.
Thompson has now lost three straight and five of his last six.
UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!
In the main event, heavyweights Derrick Lewis and Tallison Teixeira clashed. While in the co-main event, Stephen Thompson faced off with Gabriel Bonfim in a welterweight matchup.
UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card
Derrick Lewis def. Tallison Teixeira via TKO: R1, 0.35
Gabriel Bonfim def. Stephen Thompson via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
Steve Garcia def. Calvin Kattar via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
Morgan Charriere def. Nate Landwehr via TKO: R3, 0.27
Vitor Petrino def. Austen Lane via submission: R1, 4.16
Tuco Tokkos def. Junior Tafa via submission: R2, 4.25
Preliminary Card
Chris Curtis def. Max Griffin via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
Jake Matthews def. Chidi Njokuani via submission: R1, 1.09
Eduarda Moura def. Lauren Murphy via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Valter Walker def. Kennedy Nzechukwu via submission: R1, 0.54
Mike Davis def. Mitch Ramirez via TKO: R2, 4.08
Fatima Kline def. Melissa Martinez via TKO: R3, 2.36
UFC legend Stephen Thompson has given his thoughts on being called a gatekeeper in the welterweight division.
This weekend, Stephen Thompson will return to the cage when he goes head to head with Gabriel Bonfim. It serves as yet another example of the 42-year-old veteran giving an opportunity to a younger guy as he attempts to prove that he still has what it takes to compete at the elite level.
Regardless of whether or not you think he should still be competing in the UFC, there’s no denying that Stephen Thompson is one of the easiest fighters to like in the entire sport. He carries himself with grace and dignity, and he always goes in there with the intention of putting on a show.
In a recent interview, Stephen Thompson opened up on how it feels to be in the position of testing just how good these younger guys really are.
Stephen Thompson gets honest
“I’m kind of like the go-to guy when it comes in the welterweight division… I’m notorious for giving these guys a shot, right? I did it with Vicente Luque, Geoff Neal, Kevin Holland. You know, I’m just the guy to allow these guys to come up and test themselves.”
The man known as ‘Wonderboy’ will continue to do his job for as long as the UFC allows, and for as long as his body continues to hold up. Hopefully, he’s able to go in there on Saturday and – at the very least – show the best version of himself.
Stephen Thompson is interested in a potential matchup with fellow UFC veteran Donald Cerrone, who recently announced his plans to return for two more fights after re-entering the drug-testing pool.
Thompson, a longtime UFC welterweight contender, sees Cerrone as a logical opponent. “Wonderboy” has consistently faced elite competition throughout his career but is currently on a tough stretch. He has lost four of his last five fights, including consecutive stoppage defeats to Shavkat Rakhmonov and Joaquin Buckley.
“I’m thinking April, May time, I think would be cool just because I’m a huge fan of Cerrone, and he comes from that old-school era that I kind of came from almost 13, 14 years ago,” Thompson said on the OverDogs Podcast. “So, it’s cool that he wants to jump back out there.
“I thought it would be awesome if he doesn’t want to cut the weight to 155 maybe to make that fight at 170. I thought it would be really cool to have two veterans like that step back out there and face off against each other, but nothing booked yet. But that’s what I’m kind of shooting for, that April, May time.”
Despite his recent setbacks, the former two-time UFC welterweight title challenger remains confident in his ability to compete at a high level against any opponent. A fight with Cerrone — who last competed in July 2022 before retiring — would be a high-profile veteran showdown that could generate significant fan interest.
With Thompson targeting a return in April or May, whether the UFC will book this potential clash of fan-favorite strikers remains to be seen.
Anthony Pettis achieved a lot in his career and despite becoming a UFC champion, for many fans, what made him immortal was the iconic showtime kick that he produced in the WEC against Benson Henderson.
Many years down the line in his career, towards the end of his UFC tenure, “Showtime” would produce another instant classic moment for his highlight reel that is sure to be shown in UFC compilations for many years to come.
In 2019, he went up to welterweight to face off with Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson in a fun match-up that looked to be a difficult fight for him to win. Thompson had a lot of success in the fight until, in the second round, he was knocked out for the first time in his MMA career.
Pettis stopped the elite kickboxer in stunning fashion, landing a superman punch right as the second round came to an end to flip the script on it’s head. In a recent interview with Demetrious Johnson on the MightyCast, he reflected on this fight.
Pettis said it was his call to fight Thompson and his confidence in the match-up came from the coaches that he has worked with throughout his career. His head coach, Duke Roufus and his brother Rick are both pioneering strikers who would be able to pass their own experiences competing at the highest level on to their fighter.
“Showtime” revealed how this clash of traditional striking styles and the knowledge he gained from his coaches led to him stopping “Wonderboy” in emphatic fashion.
“I’m like, I think I could beat him, karate vs taekwondo, I knew his range, I knew how to beat him because of Duke. That was one of those camps where I gave it all to Duke, like he knew how to beat him because of what happened to Rick Rufus. It was like the story was writing again, the karate guy, he’s like, ‘We have to, every time he kicks, low kick the same leg.’ I’m like, ‘For real? It’s that easy?’ It was that easy bro. Obviously I got punched in the face and s*** but once I started eating him up, when his stance goes from wide base to smaller cuz you’re beating those legs up, that’s when you can punch him but when he’s wide, he’s so far.”
Stephen Thompson and Joaquin Buckley fought in the UFC 307 prelims and after two competitive rounds, “Wonderboy” was knocked out in the third. This was just the second KO/TKO loss of his career.
Interestingly, Buckley took out Thompson with a leaping overhand right preceded by a literal jump. Five years ago, Anthony Pettis launched himself with the help of the cage and knocked out the Karate specialist with a similar bouncing superman punch.
The former UFC welterweight title challenger was doing great until he wasn’t, though. Here’s what he said after the crushing KO loss at UFC 307…
Stephen Thompson Looks Back At First KO Loss To Anthony Pettis As Joaquin Buckley Used A Similar Technique At UFC 307
Not much to say other than I sincerely appreciate all of the love and support I felt from the fans tonight and always 🙏🏻❤️ the love you’ve shown me really fills my heart. The roar of the crowd as I walked out to the cage and my name was announced is something I’ll cherish… pic.twitter.com/nNg5XoLL53
“Wonderboy” took to Twitter recently to discuss his second UFC loss in a row. He admitted to not remembering how he got to the hotel and was humble in defeat as usual.
The veteran simply wanted to thank the fans for their continued support. Salt Lake City is known for its energetic crowd which, contrary to many other venues, shows up even before the main card begins. UFC 307 was no different, and Thompson seemed delighted with the fans cheering during his walkout.
The American fighter also pointed out that both KO losses in his career resulted from overhand rights. While Pettis used the Octagon to gain momentum, Buckley backed up “Wonderboy” against the cage to land the knockout punch.
“Just got back to the hotel, although we don’t know how I got here. But again, I get knocked out by an overhand. Once by Pettis, either on the cage or off the cage. Either way, it is what it is. I want to say thank you to all of my fans. You guys really showed out for me as I walked out there. You guys have shown me so much support over the years and I really do appreciate it.”
Based on the scorecards revealed later, it seems like the third round would’ve decided the outcome of the fight. Derek Cleary had it 19-19 going into the third while Sal D’Amato and Stephen Faragher had it 20-18 for Buckley and Thompson, respectively.
Joaquin Buckley earned his biggest win to date at UFC 307 as he stopped Stephen Thompson in dramatic fashion in the third round.
“New Mansa” extended his winning streak in the welterweight division to five after becoming the second man to finish “Wonderboy” with strikes in the UFC.
After many in the community had Buckley down two rounds following a vintage performance from Thompson — only one judge agreed, with the others having it 19-19 and 20-18 Buckley entering the final frame — the 30-year-old threw everything he had into a big leaping right hand that landed clean against the fence, ending the fight instantly.
In his post-fight interview, Buckley called to face former champion Kamaru Usman, who has been out of action since his late-notice fight with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 last October.
Buckley Stops Thompson In Display Of Explosive Power At UFC 307
Buckley was able to turn the tide of the fight with one big shot. Now, he will likely compete in a big matchup toward the top of the ladder next time out amid his win streak at 170 pounds.
Check out the highlight reel finish below, as Buckley teed up the main card in Salt Lake City perfectly.
Stephen Thompson Says Alex Pereira’s Aggression Could Be A Problem For Him At UFC 307
In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Stephen Thompson spoke about Pereira’s unique approach to striking in MMA.
“Wonderboy” will also be in action on Saturday night in Salt Lake City where you’re sure to see his wide range of kickboxing weapons on display against Joaquin Buckley.
Rather than the evasive and dynamic style of Thompson, Pereira’s kickboxing approach is far more aggressive and on the front-foot.
He doesn’t move around all that much and will usually stand right in front of his opponents.
The champion is so powerful and confident in his ability to land his own shots that he doesn’t tend to move out of the way of his opponents’, when they launch something back his way.
As it did in his MMA rematch with Israel Adesanya, Thompson questioned whether this could be dangerous for him against an opponent like Rountree.
“It [the aggression] did not work for him when he fought Izzy, you know. That’s kind of the same thing that he got caught in was in that brawl and he was taking shots but he wasn’t evading any, he was still in the face trying to throw and he got clipped and he went down. I mean he relies a lot on his toughness, he’s a very durable fighter for a guy to be fighting so much but yeah man, that’s dangerous. If you get there with another striker, especially Khalil Rountree, Khalil Rountree is a powerful guy.”
The unorthodox style of Dricus Du Plessis has prompted a lot of discussion during his rise up the middleweight ladder.
He was criticized for being far too sloppy from a technique standpoint, but despite that, continued to rack up wins en route to becoming UFC champion.
Du Plessis recently commented on this himself, by responding to a breakdown of some of the striking techniques that he uses.
“Stillknocks” made fun of the analysis, claiming that he doesn’t think about or plan any of the things that the video suggested but just does what comes to mind in the moment – which has proven to be very effective for him.
“Wonderboy” Explains Why Du Plessis Is Effective On Auto-Pilot Despite Questionable Technique
In a recent interview with Submission Radio, one of the greatest strikers in UFC history, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, gave his thoughts on Du Plessis’ style.
He believes that Du Plessis’ lack of finesse or “good technique” is what makes him a difficult opponent to strike with because he’s hard to read.
Thompson says that the middleweight champion’s mindset when it comes to making adjustments in the fight is a part of that, because he’s fighting on instinct for the most part.
“It’s so weird, I can see how people would have a lot of difficulty fighting him because he does a lot of pulling techniques, he does spinning techniques and it’s like with no real good technique and I understand where he’s coming from when people are like breaking down his fights. He’s out there not thinking about it but it’s all in the training how he’s developing all of this, even though he’s not thinking about it, what he’s doing is working because it’s years of preparation, doing all the sparring and things like that. So you’re not thinking about it but at the same time, your body is doing it without you even knowing it.”
Eleventh-ranked welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley is usually not too far away from getting into a beef with a fellow fighter.
However, this looked to be a difficult task for his next fight, considering the ‘nice guy’ public perception of Stephen Thompson.
“Wonderboy” is widely regarded to be one of the kindest fighters on the roster and has rarely been seen to lose his cool, even in the midst of a fist-fight.
Buckley isn’t convinced by this representation of Thompson, though, and believes that the welterweight stalwart isn’t who people think he is.
Joaquin Buckley Says Stephen Thompson Isn’t Who Fans Think He Is
Ahead of their meeting at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City, Buckley spoke about his previous interactions with Thompson.
The two men crossed paths at International Fight Week early this year, where “New Mansa” believes that he saw a different side to the striking specialist.
In an interview with Inside Fighting, he spoke about how in his opinion, Thompson is a different person when he knows that people are watching.
“Nothing crazy, yet again, I’m just trying to push him to make the fight happen but I really feel like, you know, at the end of the day, with me and ‘Wonderboy’, it is what it is. I try to be myself no matter where I go but I feel like, for me, it’s just that ‘Wonderboy’ is the type of individual that yet again, when you got him on camera, he’s smiling in your face, he’s saying nice things but at the end of the day, it’s the fight biz’ so you know, however he made me feel that day, I don’t think it was the nice guy that everybody mentions.”
Stephen Thompson was hoping to take on Joaquin Buckley in a five-rounder at UFC 307. He is the second-oldest member of the UFC roster behind Stipe Miocic but was expecting to have the edge in cardio against Buckley, who is 30.
The veteran is known for his Karate-inspired stance and crisp striking that often produces exciting matches. Many predict that Buckley won’t try to grapple with “Wonderboy” to a decision unlike past opponents, generating a ton of hype for the welterweight matchup.
However, Thompson’s wish for a five-rounder has become a far-fetched dream because his fight has been demoted to the UFC 307 prelims. While the rising prospect expects this to be his last free fight for the fans, Thompson is rather disappointed…
Stephen Thompson Believes His UFC 307 Bout Against Joaquin Buckley Could Have Replaced Other Fights On The Main Card
Thompson recently appeared in an interview on the Bodog Canada YouTube channel to discuss his upcoming bout and other UFC-related matters. He believes that his next fight should be a banger because Buckley’s been keen to stand and trade with him.
The likes of Belal Muhammad, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Gilbert Burns used their superior grappling to dominate “Wonderboy” which helped them gain ranks but didn’t please the fans. On the other hand, Kevin Holland and Thompson delivered an instant classic as the former didn’t take the fight to the ground despite getting pieced up on the feet.
“A little weird at this point, knowing what kind of a fight this is going to be. You’d figure that they’d want to have all eyes on it. Now I’m not sure if it was because, you know, the last time I was supposed to fight in Salt Lake City my opponent didn’t make weight. But, Joaquin Buckely is notorious for making weight so I know he’s going to be a professional and we’re going to go out there and have fun but yeah, it was a little disappointing like what’s going on.”
“Wonderboy” was reminded in the interview that he last fought on the prelims on September 22, 2013, against Chris Clements. After eleven long years, he’s back to fighting on the prelims which is unsurprisingly a bummer for the veteran who never backs down to face young challengers looking to climb the welterweight rankings.
The American kickboxer, being the NMF, didn’t name names but stated that his fight could’ve been picked over some fights on the UFC 307 main card. Regardless, he and Buckley have promised to give fans a thrilling battle and prove why they deserved to be on the main card.
“It’s wild. I don’t know why they put that on the card. I mean, there’s some fights on the main card that I think should be on the prelims but you know, it is what it is.”
Veteran UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson doesn’t feel his age, something he’ll look to prove when he returns to the cage.
Thompson, a former two-time title challenger at 170 pounds, turned 41 this year. Nevertheless, he still occupies a spot inside the division’s top 10, which he’ll hope to defend in Salt Lake City early next month.
At UFC 307 on October 5, “Wonderboy” will feature on the deep card opposite the rising Joaquin Buckley. Following four straight wins since dropping to welterweight, “New Mansa” is looking to climb into contention at the expense of Thompson.
But despite the high-ranked Shavkat Rakhmonov achieving that feat against him last time out, the striking specialist plans on turning Buckley away from the top 10 to show that he’s got plenty left in the tank.
Stephen Thompson: ‘I Feel Like I’m 25!’
During a recent interview with InsideFighting, Thompson looked ahead to his second assignment of 2024 as he looks to return to winning ways and reignite his hopes of a late-career title shot.
“Wonderboy” explained his willingness to give rising names in the division the chance to climb against him and branded his clash with Buckley a “test” for where he is at in his career.
Pre-fight, Thompson still feels in his prime years.
“I’m still one of the top guys who gives those guys who are coming up a chance. There’s a lot of guys at the top, especially in the welterweight division, that are trying to hold on to their spot as long as they can,” Thompson said. “But I was given the opportunity when I was coming up. … I want to give that back to these guys that are up-and-coming who want to try and take that spot.
“For me, it’s my test. It’s my test to see if I’ve still got it against these young bucks,” Thompson continued. “Everybody’s looking at me as the old guy. I’m 41, I’ll be 42 in February, but I feel like I’m 25. I’m just as fast and I’m getting better. I don’t mind stepping out and giving these guys that are up-and-coming the chance to prove themselves.”
Whether or not the feelings of a 25-year-old will translate in the Octagon on Oct. 5 remains to be seen.
Looking to ensure it doesn’t is a Buckley who has had a stellar year thus far, knocking out Vicente Luque and outpointing Nursulton Ruziboev to established himself at #11 in the welterweight pecking order.
Excited to get this one announced 🔥 So much love to everyone for your support 🫶🏼Time to get locked in 🤜🏼🫷🏼 #UFC307pic.twitter.com/CWIGmR0aaD
At 41-years-old, Stephen Thompson knows that he is much closer to the end of his run in mixed martial arts than the start of it.
Whilst he has been more than happy to take on the new blood at the top of the welterweight division, like his next clash against Joaquin Buckley at UFC 307, there are still some big fights for “Wonderboy” before he walks away.
Two names stand out the most at 170-pounds due to their striking pedigree which would allow Thompson to do what he does best, rather than spending his final fights defending takedowns.
Both opponents are fights that many would like to see Thompson step into but he only agrees with one of the two options.
Stephen Thompson Explains Why He’s Open To Fighting Ian Garry But Not Michael ‘Venom’ Page
During a recent interview with Michael Bisping on the Believe You Me Podcast, Thompson gave his thoughts on facing Garry and Page before he hangs up the gloves.
Garry, who is ranked higher than “Wonderboy” at #7, is a fight that he’s certainly up for but he can understand why the Irishman may not be so keen on it given his undefeated run.
“I think it would be great, especially Ian Garry but at this point in time, I kind of see where he’s at like he’s just looking for the gold. I don’t think he would even want to give me a chance. I’m ranked #9, he’s close to the title, I think he’s looking for that next.”
From the moment that “MVP” signed to the UFC, seeing Page and Thompson square off was a potential match-up that got fans excited because they’re both such specialist strikers.
“And MVP, I think it would be, I think the fans would love that fight but…”
After Bisping jokes that it would be nothing but both men keeping their hands down and circling one another, Thompson expanded on why he isn’t that interested in that fight even if it appears to be something that the fans want to see.
“That’s the thing, I think it would just be that. Just moving around and staring at each other the whole time. We’re both counter strikers, you know, we got that karate background, we want guys to come forward so they run into our techniques, so we can work our angles, so we can blitz but when you have another counter striker on the other side of the Octagon with you, it could possibly be one of the most boring fights ever and I think people would boo it. I think people would boo that fight, I really do man.”
Thompson also made reference to Garry’s fight against Page where he looked to press the action rather than counterstriking with “MVP”.
He gave this as his reasoning for why the Garry match-up wouldn’t have the same outcome as the one against Page.
In the co-main event of UFC 307, reigning women’s bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington puts her title on the line against former 135-pound queen Julianna Peña.
Pennington is set to make her first title defense since capturing the belt by unanimous decision against Mayra Bueno Silva at UFC 297 in January. The title was vacant at the time, following Amanda Nunes’ retirement.
Meanwhile, Peña is making her long-awaited return to the Octagon after an extended hiatus of over two years. She famously pulled off a major upset with a second-round submission victory over “The Lioness” at UFC 269, only to fall short in their rematch seven months later at UFC 277, losing by unanimous decision.
The undercard of this pay-per-view spectacle will feature an intriguing welterweight showdown between the seasoned Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and the surging Joaquin Buckley. Thompson last competed at UFC 296, where he suffered a second-round submission loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov. On the other hand, “New Mansa” is riding a wave of momentum with a four-fight win streak since dropping down to 170 pounds. His most recent victory came by decision against Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Fight Night St. Louis this past May.
Elsewhere on the card, Kevin Holland is slated to face Roman Dolidze in an intense middleweight showdown. Announced earlier this year, meanwhile, was a clash between undefeated featherweight Movsar Evloev and former bantamweight titleholder Aljamain Sterling.
With these additions to the card, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5 are as follows:
Alex Pereira (C) vs. Khalil Rountree (light heavyweight championship main event)
UFC welterweight veteran Stephen Thompson was impressed by what he saw from his former opponent Belal Muhammad on the feet this past weekend.
Muhammad emerged from enemy territory with the 170-pound championship in his possession after upsetting the odds to bring Leon Edwards’ reign to a sudden halt at the UFC 304 pay-per-view.
Headlining the event, which played out inside the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, “Remember the Name” made good on his frequent vows to dominate “Rocky” in their rematch.
Amid laughter regarding the challenger and his team’s striking confidence, Muhammad showed clear development in that area, and he even appeared to have the champ hurt in some exchanges.
Thompson Highlights Where Muhammad Had Surprising Striking Success Against Edwards
During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Stephen Thompson broke down the UFC 304 headliner between Edwards and Muhammad round by round.
As one of the division’s top strikers, a mantle he’s long shared alongside the likes of “Rocky,” the former two-time title challenger played close attention to the standup exchanges between the pair.
In that realm, Muhammad certainly went above and beyond expectation, and “Wonderboy” puts that down to three main techniques.
“In the beginning, there was a few striking exchanges. This was something I also noticed in the third round. Three techniques, striking techniques, that really showcased Belal’s striking and really showed his dominance in this fight,” Thompson said. “Number one, Belal Muhammad’s jab. He was piecing him (Edwards) up with that jab! It was so fast. Leon Edwards had a hard time dealing with it, man.
“When Leon decided to jab back, it was the second technique that really frustrated Leon Edwards, and that was his check hook. Normally you don’t see that from the shorter opponent. … Every time Leon Edwards would jab, Belal Muhammad would come over the top of that jab with the check hook, landing that check left hook, which is super frustrating (to be on the receiving end of),” Thompson continued. “And the third technique was his uppercut. He was uppercutting the crap out of Leon Edwards the entire fight.”
“Remember the Name” will now look to showcase similar skills and development in that area when he returns to the Octagon, with the expectation being that he’ll defend the belt for the first time against the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov.
The last two years has brought about a sea of change in some of the UFC’s weight divisions, with new champions such as Dricus Du Plessis, Ilia Topuria and Leon Edwards ousting some established names on their way to the top.
With this influx of new title holders comes a changing of the guard. Some former champions have to get back in line and attempt to climb the mountain once more, while some other members of the ‘old guard’ may be watching their last opportunities at claiming UFC gold slip through their fingers.
Today, let’s take a look at five fan favourites who should have won UFC gold, but most likely won’t.
Dustin Poirier
Poirier fell short of the mark during his third (and likely final) attempt at winning an undisputed UFC title when he was submitted by the pound-for-pound number one Islam Makhachev in the fifth round of their encounter at UFC 302 earlier this year.
https://youtu.be/V6qcxW2dwMc?si=3NFUKh2HZTy4c09x
“The Diamond” made his UFC debut way back in January of 2011 when he faced Josh Grispi at UFC 125. After originally competing as a featherweight, a defeat to Conor McGregor in 2014 convinced Poirier to make the switch to 155lbs. He won nine of his next ten fights to earn a title shot against Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019.
Unfortunately for him, he suffered the same result as every other fighter who has ever stepped into the Octagon to face Khabib: heartbreaking defeat. Undeterred, he worked his way back into title contention, memorably picking up two consecutive wins over his old foe Conor McGregor, before again suffering a submission loss in a world title fight when he faced Charles Oliveira in December of 2021.
To add insult to injury, Poirier was knocked out in spectacular fashion by Justin Gaethje when the pair fought for the vacant BMF title in 2023.
Back in 2011, “El Cucuy” knocked out three opponents to make it to the finals of The Ultimate Fighter Season 13, where he stopped Ramsay Nijem inside the first round to earn himself a UFC contract.
The UFC booked the pair to fight on five separate occasions between 2015 and 2020, but the match up seemed to be cursed and destined never to happen. A combination of injuries to both fighters, a global pandemic, and a bizarre incident with a TV studio cable that resulted in torn knee ligaments for Ferguson meant the fight never came to fruition.
The fifth and final cancellation (due to Covid pulling the plug on UFC 249 ) cost Ferguson a shot at glory, as by that time Nurmagomedov had won the 155lb title by beating Conor McGregor.
When the event eventually did take place, Ferguson found himself standing across from a new opponent: Justin Gaethje. He was soundly beaten in what has turned out to be the first of seven consecutive losses inside the Octagon.
Gaethje, much like his former opponents Poirier and Ferguson, is another fighter who will likely look back on his career when all is said and done and think “what if?”
The former World Series of Fighting world champion arrived in the UFC in 2017 with a reputation for a wild and reckless approach to fighting. After a mixed start to career inside the Octagon, he linked up with coach Trevor Wittman and refined his game, before embarking on an impressive winning run.
The dominant victory over Tony Ferguson at the height of the pandemic in 2020 earned him a title shot against Khabib Nurmagomedov. Much like Poirier, however, he was submitted with relative ease by the Dagestani, who announced his retirement immediately afterwards.
A victory over Michael Chandler upon his return a year later was enough to earn him another shot at glory, and he took on Charles Oliveira at UFC 274. “The Highlight” fell short of the mark once again, as “Do Bronx” submitted him in little over three minutes.
After returning to winning ways against Rafael Fiziev, Gaethje took on Dustin Poirier for the BMF title at UFC 291. The second-round head knockout remains one of the finest moments of his storied UFC career and elevated him back into the number one contender spot in the lightweight rankings.
Gaethje put that ranking on the line when he agreed to defend his BMF belt against Max Holloway at UFC 300 earlier this year, and the gamble failed miserably. Gaethje was knocked out in the final second of the five-round match up, and fellow contenders Dustin Poirier and Arman Tsarukyan leapfrogged him in the title picture at 155lbs.
Thompson transitioned into MMA in 2010 after an insanely successful kickboxing career. Between his amateur and professional careers in the kickboxing ring, “Wonderboy” amassed a record of sixty-two wins and zero defeats.
Image: Stephen Thompson IG
After an unbeaten start to his MMA career, he announced his arrival in the UFC with a first-round headkick knockout win over Dan Stittgen in 2012. Thompson won nine of his first ten fights inside the Octagon, beating some notable names such as Johnny Hendricks, Robert Whittaker and Rory McDonald before earning a title shot against then-welterweight champion Tyron Woodley.
Their five-round clash at UFC 205 finished as a majority draw, a result which meant Woodley kept the belt, but many fans felt Thompson should have won. The rematch four months later was ruled a majority decision victory for Woodley, but again many observers had felt that Thompson should have been the one getting his hand raised.
Four wins and five defeats in the years since have meant Thompson being seen as somewhat of a gatekeeper in the welterweight division, and the 41-year-old will surely look back at those two title fights and wonder what might have been.
Nick Diaz
For younger fans of MMA, Nick Diaz’s younger brother Nate will be regarded as somewhat of a superstar in the world of combat sports. For the generation of spectators old enough to remember promotions such as Elite XC, Strikeforce and Pride, 40-year-old Nick Diaz will always be known as a true “O.G.” of the sport.
In two separate stints in the UFC between 2003 and 2011, the older Diaz brother beat legends such as Robbie Lawler and BJ Penn, while also racking up impressive wins over Franks Shamrock, Paul Daley and Takanori Gomi during his sabbatical in other promotions.
In 2012, Diaz lost an interim title fight to Carlos Condit, before losing to UFC welterweight champion George St-Pierre in a title fight the following year. His fight against Anderson Silva in 2015 was retrospectively changed to a “no contest” and a five-year suspension due to a marijuana violation followed.
Stephen Thompson is not sold on Conor McGregor moving up to face Kamaru Usman.
There has been some talk lately about Conor McGregor wanting to move up to welterweight and challenge champion Kamaru Usman for the title, that talk is coming from McGregor himself.
The former dual champion at 145 and 155 pounds is looking to make another jump when he is cleared to return to the UFC. McGregor has fought at 170 pounds before and although that might not be his natural weight class, he is confident he can hang with the best.
There are some people who are doubters of McGregor and his skills, however. One man who believes that McGregor would have no shot at beating Usman is Stephen “Wonerboy” Thompson. Thompson spoke about this on his podcast.
Stephen Thompson (Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa)
“[McGregor’s] going to get demolished [by Usman]. Yeah, he’s going to be a big fight, a big payday but you’re going to get demolished,” Thompson said via Sportskeeda. “Dude, I love you Conor but you put on the weight like that and you’re fighting a dude at 170 [pounds]. I mean you got to try and put some weight on to become a real 170 [pounder]. I mean, look at Kamaru, look at the biceps and shoulders on that guy. [And] he’s got both attributes, he’s got cardio for days and he’s one of the top wrestlers in the welterweight division.”
Thompson has fought some of the best the UFC welterweight division has to offer. He has been in some wars and has fought in two title fights. He knows as well as anyone what it takes to compete in the welterweight division. McGregor’s two fights at 170 pounds were a loss against Nate Diaz and a win against Donald Cerrone.
Having three losses in a row at lightweight, this move could be a new beginning for McGregor. He is currently out dealing with the recovery of his leg injury he suffered his last time in the Octagon. At this point, a timetable for his return is unconfirmed, but he is expected to be back in action by early fall.
How do you think Conor McGregor would fare against Kamaru Usman?
UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson wants to run it back with Jorge Masvidal as both fighters look to stay in the title chase.
Thompson and Masvidal are both on losing streaks in the UFC’s welterweight division, which would’ve surprised many back in 2019. Masvidal most recently fell to Colby Covington at UFC 272, while Thompson lost a lopsided unanimous decision to Belal Muhammad last December.
Thompson still has aspirations of another UFC welterweight title shot before he calls it a career. Now, he feels the time is right to fight Masvidal in a matchup between two welterweights in desperate need of a win.
Stephen Thompson, Jorge Masvidal
Thompson fought Masvidal at UFC 217, earning a unanimous decision victory. This was Masvidal’s last fight before his self-proclaimed “resurrection” in which he won three straight in 2019.
“I would like to fight in May, we will see though. I had some names thrown at me like Robbie Lawler and now Masvidal came off the loss so that would be a fun rematch,” Thompson said. “The NMF vs. the BMF, so yeah man those are the kind of the guys I’m looking at. Give me a striker for my next fight. Don’t give me a wrestler, and the wrestlers are just a different pedigree. I’ve fought wrestlers in the past but now they are on a different level.”
Masvidal has squashed speculation that he may retire after the loss to Covington and seems intent on a quick return to the Octagon later this year. The timing may make sense for a fight with Thompson on an upcoming pay-per-view card.
Masvidal is looking to potentially get another shot with his former friend turned rival Covington shortly. If he wants any chance at redemption, a win over Thompson could be a big step in the right direction.
Do you want to see Stephen Thompson vs. Jorge Masvidal 2?
The following article was published on this day five years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
On This Day Five Years Ago…
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 27, 2017, 10:04 PM]
Khabib Nurmagomedov is not the first person who would spring to mind for many looking for an explanation of romantic comedy plots.
That being said, there are many out there who would agree wholeheartedly with his interpretations. theChive caught up with the Russian fighter ahead of his lightweight interim championship title fight at UFC 209 this coming Saturday, as part of a sponsored media exercise prior to the most anticipated card of 2017 so far.
Nurmagomedov was given a number of plots of popular “chick-flicks” and asked how he felt about each of them. The opportunity to take a jaunt into the world of movie reviews seemed as equally bemusing to Khabib as it must to those who have watched the clip. This, however, is comedy gold.
You can watch the full clip above.
UFC 209 features Nurmagomedov’s fight against Tony Ferguson and is headlined by the welterweight rematch title fight featuring champion Tyron Woodley and contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.
UFC welterweight Stephen Thompson doesn’t think it would be a good idea if Francis Ngannou parted ways with the UFC for a Tyson Fury fight.
Ngannou defeated Ciryl Gane in his first heavyweight title defense at UFC 270. After some early struggles in the fight, Ngannou was able to gain momentum with his grappling and coast to a unanimous decision win.
Ngannou has been at odds with the UFC brass over an ongoing contract dispute and has requested more leniency and freedom. More specifically, he wants to explore a potential boxing match against Fury shortly, after the two of them have gone back-and-forth on social media.
During a recent interview with MiddleEasy, Thompson explained why Ngannou should think twice before considering leaving his MMA home for a fight in the boxing ring.
“That’s one of the things with the UFC,” Thompson said. “[Ngannou’s] the baddest man on the planet. He is the biggest and baddest dude on the planet at this point, especially in MMA. And making, what they say he made, $600,000 or something like that? And you got other heavyweights in the boxing industry making $30 million, so I kind of see why he’s a little upset.
“But, this isn’t boxing… If he’s not with the UFC, what’s he gonna do? Have that one fight with Tyson Fury and that’s it? Is he gonna go to heavyweight boxing? I think that would be a mistake for him, to be honest with you.”
Ngannou’s relationship with the UFC brass has become tense in recent months, and UFC President Dana White refused to put the belt around him at UFC 270. Ngannou has always been known to have some of the most powerful hands in MMA history and has flirted with a potential move to boxing.
It’s unclear if Ngannou will remain with the UFC past 2022, but Thompson thinks Ngannou may be making a mistake by leaving his throne in MMA to pursue a money fight in boxing.
Do you agree with Stephen Thompson that Francis Ngannou shouldn’t leave the UFC?
UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson has explained why Henry Cejudo’s size has impacted his global draw and ability to demand certain fights.
Not many individuals boast combat sports accolades as impressive as Cejudo. As well as being an Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling, a feat he achieved in Beijing in 2008, “Triple C” is a former two-division UFC champion, having held gold at both flyweight and bantamweight. No other fighter has won an Olympic gold medal and a UFC title.
But despite becoming only the second fighter to defend titles in two weight classes and defeating the likes of TJ Dillashaw, Dominick Cruz, and Demetrious Johnson, Cejudo is rarely talked about in the conversation for the greatest of all time and certainly isn’t looked at the same as many other former champs by a portion of the fanbase.
That sentiment was on display recently when the Californian’s intention to return from retirement to challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title was laughed off by many, including UFC President Dana White.
Dana, I needed a break. Honestly, it was getting boring beating up TJ Pillashaw in under a minute and Dominick Snooze in 2. I got married, had a kid and am now rejuvenated. I wanna be 4C. If I beat up an old guy at a bar and learn how to Riverdance will you give me a shot? https://t.co/xdfPUZxwDM
Having initially called out the 145-pound king last year in the hope of becoming the first three-division champ in UFC history, Cejudo had another crack at booking the matchup in recent days when Max Holloway withdrew from his scheduled trilogy clash with Volkanovski.
“The Messenger” was met with a claim that it wouldn’t make sense and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung was granted the shot instead.
In response, Cejudo pointed out that the great Georges St-Pierre was granted the luxury of returning from a long layoff to move up to a new division and challenge for another title. ‘What’s the difference?’ Cejudo exclaimed. According to two-time welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, it’s size.
During a recent episode of his YouTube podcast, the #7-ranked 170lber suggested size matters when it comes to being a global draw and attraction, and being a fighter who’s in a position to make demands.
“It’s the size. It’s the size that matters,” Thompson said. “Like, guys look at these 125ers, 135ers, and, no beef, probably a lot of these guys can beat me, but what I’m saying is, they (fans) don’t look at these guys… everybody knows the heavyweights, everyone looks at Francis Ngannou, but when they look at the smaller guys they’re just not appealing.
“It’s like in Japan. The bigger, the more dramatic, the better,” added Thompson. “And when you look at the 135ers, they’re just not big and dramatic. You can try to be dramatic, but people aren’t gonna take you serious, like Cejudo, it comes off super cringe when you got somebody doing that. But you get somebody around 170 and up, especially at heavyweight, (it’s different)… That’s why in Japan there was only one weight class, that was it, heavyweight. When you fought K1, it was all heavyweight. It’s big, dramatic, flares, you know; people wanna see that.”
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While it’s seemingly unlikely we’ll see Cejudo challenging for featherweight gold in his first fight back, all signs point towards the 34-year-old targeting a return to the Octagon in 2022.
If he can make a successful comeback and perhaps regain the bantamweight title he vacated in 2020, perhaps a super fight against whoever sits on the 145-pound throne at that time will be possible.
Do you agree with Stephen Thompson? Is Henry Cejudo not a bigger draw because of his size?
UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson is targeting a return to the Octagon in the coming months and has two promotional veterans in mind.
At the start of 2021, Thompson was riding a two-fight win streak and was fresh off a dominant main event victory over Geoff Neal. His target over the next 12 months was to secure his third title shot in the UFC.
But instead of booking a date with reigning 170-pound king Kamaru Usman, “Wonderboy” slipped down the rankings with back-to-back setbacks.
In his first appearance of the year, Thompson faced recent title challenger and top-three welterweight Gilbert Burns. At the time, many believed a victory over “Durinho” would have secured the 38-year-old another opportunity to reach the mountaintop. However, in the UFC 264 co-main event, he was controlled and beaten on the scorecards by the Brazilian.
Fast forward five months to December’s UFC Vegas 45, and Thompson had a quick chance to rebound and keep his place in the title conversation. But in a similar fashion to his previous outing, he was taken down and convincingly out-grappled, this time by rising name Belal Muhammad.
Despite yet another setback and his close proximity to the 40-year-old milestone, Thompson isn’t letting his championship aspirations disintegrate just yet. Spurred on by his desire to become the promotion’s oldest fighter, “Wonderboy” is ready to set things right in 2022.
During a recent interview with MiddleEasy, Thompson provided an update on his return. While an April fight is his current target, “Wonderboy” did reveal he is awaiting an MRI scan on his collarbone, which he’s experienced pain on since his defeat to Muhammad on December 18.
“Well, I wanna get back in April. I’ve got an MRI I’ve gotta do on my collarbone; It’s been killing me after the last fight,” said Thompson. “When Belal Muhammad picked me up and threw me down, I ended up putting my arm out and we both landed on my shoulder. I kinda jacked my collarbone up. So, I’m still training but usually, after every training session, it’s giving me some problems… But I wanna fight again in April. I’m not sure who yet.”
Nevertheless, Thompson doesn’t believe it’s too serious and hopes to have the chance to end his losing skid in the second quarter of the year.
Despite suggesting he’s looking to avoid an overwhelming wrestler in his next matchup, “Wonderboy” did admit he’s open to a “jiu-jitsu vs. karate” clash with grappling specialist Michael Chiesa.
“At this point, I would say, let’s hold off on the wrestlers real quick [LAUGHS]. The last few guys I just got obliterated… I think (Chiesa) would be a good opponent, for sure… I mean, he does have a name and he’s a good buddy of mine too, so I think that’d be a fun one,” added Thompson. “Obviously I’m gonna try and keep that fight standing because his jiu-jitsu is good. You saw his last fight with Vicente Luque, getting submitted, that’s kind of always been a thing. I’ve seen him start wrestling guys and him wrestling himself into a submission; getting sucked into a guillotine or triangle.
Michael Chiesa, Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
“He’s doing work at 170. I think I can outstrike him, I can out-move him, for sure. If we fought, I’d definitely look to keep the fight standing. But he fights fairly stiff. Maybe that’s why he’s so strong. He’s got that muscle. I think it would be a fun fight, it would definitely be one of those jiu-jitsu vs. karate guys again.”
But if he’s focusing solely on another striker he can trade blows with, who better than welterweight legend and former champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler?
“I think (Lawler) would be a really fun fight, especially for the fans. I’ve been trying to fight this guy since he was champion. I think that would be a great fight, even though he’s not ranked at this point, I would love (it). It would be an honor to fight a legend, and exciting, it would be an exciting fight. Two guys going out there striking it up. That would be awesome,” concluded Thompson.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CThroK7LUi3/
Despite consecutive defeats in the Octagon, Thompson remains a fan favorite and a name most will always be excited to watch. “Wonderboy” will hope to put his entertaining and slick striking style on full display again in 2022 after an underwhelming last 12 months.
Who would you prefer to see Stephen Thompson face next, Michael Chiesa or Robbie Lawler?
Undefeated UFC welterweight Sean Brady believes a fight with Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson is the only matchup that makes sense for him next.
After a perfect 4-0 start on MMA’s biggest stage, which included a 2021 submission victory over Jake Matthews, Brady had his chance to break into the group of contenders at UFC Vegas 43 in November. He faced the challenge of promotional veteran Michael Chiesa, a man who boasts the names of Neil Magny, Rafael dos Anjos, and Beneil Dariush on his résumé.
In a controlling performance, Brady extended his unblemished record to 15-0 with a unanimous decision triumph over “Maverick.” In doing so, he rose to #9 in the UFC welterweight rankings. With that in mind, he’s targeting a big name for his next Octagon outing.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWhOIL1oh9P/
Brady Hopes To Use Thompson As A Stepping Stone Up The WW Ladder
While Brady surged up the welterweight ladder in 2021, one top veteran went in the opposite direction. At the start of the year, Stephen Thompson was riding a two-fight win streak and, as one of the few high-ranked names yet to challenge Kamaru Usman, had aspirations of a title shot.
Fast forward to the start of 2022 and the script has flipped for “Wonderboy.” Defeats to Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad have left him in need of a rebound performance to keep his hopes of a third championship opportunity alive.
During a recent interview with The Schmo, Brady offered to give Thompson that chance. Discussing his options in 2022, the 29-year-old suggested there aren’t many beyond “Wonderboy.”
“It’s a weird division,” Brady said. “Honestly, I’m nine, Wonderboy’s seven, I don’t really see any other options right now. I know the guys in the top five, they only want guys higher than them or a title fight, and then Neil Magny and me are training partners, we’re not fighting each other, and there’s Masvidal; I’m realistic, I know I’m not getting that fight. So I think me and Wonderboy would be a great fight.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CUsiFUyLGte/
With Brady evidently ruling out a clash with teammate Magny, that leaves the UFC with two pairs of training partners refusing to fight inside the 170-pound top 10, top-five contenders Burns and Vicente Luque being the other.
Nevertheless, should Brady fight and beat Thompson, avoiding a clash with “The Haitian Sensation” shouldn’t be an issue, as he’ll be well on his way towards title contention and not far from a shot at “The Nigerian Nightmare.”
How do you think a fight between Sean Brady and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson would play out?
UFC welterweight Stephen Thompson has discussed his latest setback in the Octagon and explained what went wrong on the night.
In early 2021, Thompson was riding high off back-to-back wins against Vicente Luque and Geoff Neal. As an in-form top-five fighter and one of the few top contenders Kamaru Usman is yet to face, many predicted a title shot down the line.
“Wonderboy” seemingly had the chance to secure one at UFC 264 against Gilbert Burns. Instead, he was controlled and comfortably beaten on the scorecards. With his motivation unwavering, the 38-year-old hoped to get back on track by fitting in another fight before the close of the year.
After Belal Muhammad answered his prayers, many expected Thompson to re-enter the win column and stake his claim for a matchup with the champion. But once again, the two-time title challenger failed to keep the fight on the feet and was dominated throughout, falling to yet another unanimous decision.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXpb8hGoqNF/
Thompson: “I Got Manhandled For Three Rounds”
During a recent episode of his podcast, Stephen Thompson addressed his defeat and analyzed what went wrong in the UFC Vegas 45 co-main event.
While he conceded that he was “manhandled” for the best part of 15 minutes, Thompson suggested a botched rehydration process may have had a part to play. Despite having a good camp, “Wonderboy” admitted he was a lot more tired and exhausted at the start of the fight, something he says he noticed even before entering the Octagon.
“I lost my fight, got manhandled for three rounds. Yeah man, it was a sucky experience, to be honest with you. Like, you know, I don’t know why this happens but when you know I had a great camp, camp was awesome. I was in the greatest shape of my life, you know. Was in shape, felt strong and then you know things start to kind of get a little weird whenever you’re getting ready to go out you’re in the back kind of warming up and your legs start to feel tingly, that’s not a good sign…Maybe it had something to do with my rehydration; not sure. But I felt exhausted, felt super tired right out of the first round. I didn’t want to say anything to my coaches or anything that my legs were feeling tingly.
“It was the rehydration, that was just difficult. You know back in the past, it was kind of like an unwritten rule or untalked about thing that before USADA, we were allowed to IVs you know and it was kind of… something we did back in our hotel. Everybody did it. It was such an easier way to get those fluids back and you felt so much better, like, instantly. And now having to do everything orally, it’s difficult, it takes longer, you don’t know if you have drank enough.” (h/t Sportskeeda)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXsFZdFKKS4/
Given his age and losses in 2021, some fans and pundits have suggested Thompson isn’t capable of competing at the highest level anymore. But “Wonderboy” has no plans to hang up his gloves anytime soon.
Having previously revealed his desire to become the oldest fighter in UFC history, Thompson has now questioned why fans want him to retire. According to the 38-year-old, his body feels better than it did five years ago when he fought Tyron Woodley for the title.
“I feel like people that do retire, when they sit down on the chair, they just feel like they should retire. Like just, their bodies beat up, aches and pains… When I sit here and I’m sitting down in this chair, I feel great. I feel fine. I feel fine. I feel better than I was five years ago. I just don’t get it.” (h/t Sportskeeda)
With his motivation to compete as high as ever, we’ll likely be seeing Thompson attempt a resurgence in 2022.
Do you think Stephen Thompson can still compete at the highest level in the UFC welterweight division?
“I want to apologize to my coaches, my family, and my fans for my performance,” Thompson wrote. “I’m motivated not broken.”
This is the second loss in a row for Thompson and the fourth out of his last six fights. Prior to the loss, Thompson was sitting in the #5 spot of the rankings. He will most likely move further down the list and further away from another title shot.
Thompson is 38 years old and has been fighting professionally since 2010. It seems retirement is far from his mind considering his “motivated” statement. Despite the setback, Thompson will continue to fight in the UFC as long as he can. He spoke recently in an interview about wanting to be the oldest fighter on the UFC roster.
“I want to break records, man. I wanna be the oldest guy who ever fought in the UFC. They are going to have to bring out a senior division or something,” he said. “It’s the plan. I will do this as long as my body will let me or when my dad says I’m done.”
When Thompson finally decides to hang up his gloves, he will have plenty of other opportunities. He is a martial arts teacher for children at his family gym and has recently been involved in the Netflix Cobra Kai series.
Who do you want to see Stephen Thompson fight next after his UFC Vegas 45 loss?
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