Stephen Thompson News

Tom Taylor - February 15, 2021

Longtime UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson believes he deserves the next shot at the division’s reigning champ, Kamaru Usman. Usman returned to action in the main event of UFC 258 over the weekend, defending his title against No. 1 contender Gilbert Burns with a third-round TKO. With his win over Burns, Usman has now beaten four of the UFC’s top five welterweights, having also defeated Colby Covington, Leon Edwards and Jorge Masvidal.

Cole Shelton - February 11, 2021

Stephen Thompson is hoping to finally fight Leon Edwards. Ever since Edwards lost his fight to Tyron Woodley in March of 2020 due to the pandemic, Thompson has been vocal about wanting to fight him. “Wonderboy,” thought it made sense but the Englishman didn’t like it and turned it down. Edwards was then forced to fight Khamzat Chimaev but after the fight was called off for the third time, Thompson believes the time is now for the fight to happen.

Adam Martin - January 21, 2021

UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson says he sees “no need” for UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov to fight again. Nurmagomedov has been in a quasi-retirement ever since submitting Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. Following that victory, “The Eagle” announced plans to hang up his gloves. However, UFC president Dana White has been trying his best over the last few months to coax Nurmagomedov into one more fight. The champ has said that he wants to see what happens at UFC 257 with all the top lightweights fighting on that card, and right now he’s made no final decision.

Drake Riggs - January 14, 2021

When being paired to shoot a commercial together, TJ Dillashaw and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson had to be on their best office behavior. In July 2018, men’s clothing company Van Heusen released a commercial displaying their new Flex Collection. Showing off the new wares were none other than UFC superstars Stephen Thompson and, at the time the UFC bantamweight champion, TJ Dillashaw.

Harry Kettle - December 23, 2020

Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson has received a potential six-month suspension in the wake of his win over Geoff Neal last weekend. Thompson was able to continue building momentum in the welterweight division with what turned out to be an incredibly comprehensive victory over rising star Geoff Neal. Now, the question turns to who he will fight next as his quest for a UFC title goes on.

Cole Shelton - December 21, 2020

In the main event of UFC Vegas 17, Stephen Thompson took on rising contender Geoff Neal. Thompson was looking to cement his case as a top-five welterweight while Neal was set for the biggest fight of his career. Ultimately, it was “Wonderboy” who won every single round to get a clear-cut decision and prove to everyone he is still a contender at 170lbs.

Adam Martin - December 20, 2020

UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson showed off his facial cuts following his war against Geoff Neal in the UFC Vegas 17 main event. Despite entering the Octagon as the slight betting underdog to Neal based on closing odds, Thompson won the fight in a blowout, winning 50-45 on all three of the judges’ scorecards. Thompson showed that there are levels to this game as he stayed on the outside and landed nearly 200 significant strikes on Neal, who showed incredible durability by going the full five rounds in what was a shutout win for Thompson.

Adam Martin - December 20, 2020

UFC welterweight Stephen Thompson says he will consider top prospect Khamzat Chimaev “the real deal” only if he beats Leon Edwards. Thompson was one of the top-ranked welterweights who were called out by Chimaev after he beat Gerald Meerschaert in September, but Thompson turned down the fight citing him being far above Chimaev in the rankings. The UFC was eventually able to book Chimaev against Leon Edwards, and the two will meet on Fight Island on January 20 after their original booking for UFC Vegas 17 fell through due to COVID-19. Thompson, meanwhile, went on to fight No. 11 ranked Geoff Neal and won a decision.

Adam D Martin - December 20, 2020

UFC welterweight Stephen Thompson says he wants to do a ‘NMF’ vs ‘BMF’ rematch with former opponent Jorge Masvidal in 2021. Thompson and Masvidal first met back at UFC 217: Bisping vs. St. Pierre in November 2017, with Thompson winning a unanimous decision that night. Since then, Thompson has remained a top-10 welterweight, while Masvidal has exploded into superstardom. After losing to Thompson, Masvidal reeled off three straight wins over Darren Till, Ben Askren, and Nate Diaz by stoppage before finally losing to Kamaru Usman. As for Thompson, he beat Vicente Luque at UFC 244 on the undercard of Masvidal vs. Diaz.

Christopher Taylor - December 19, 2020

Former UFC welterweight title challenger Stephen Thompson issued a classy statement following his victory over Geoff Neal this evening. In the main event of UFC Vegas 17, ‘Wonderboy’ took on ‘Handz of Steel’ in matchup of perennial division contenders.

Christopher Taylor - December 19, 2020

Geoff Neal has released a statement after having his seven-fight win streak snapped by Stephen Thompson at tonight’s UFC Vegas 17 event. Neal (13-3 MMA) was returning to the Octagon for the first time in over a year for tonight’s scrap with ‘Wonderboy’. The Texas native had most previously competed at UFC 245 in December of 2019, where he scored a first round TKO victory over Mike Perry.

Chris Taylor - December 19, 2020

A key welterweight bout between perennial division contenders Stephen Thompson and Geoff Neal headlined tonight’s UFC Vegas 17 event. Thompson (15-4-1 MMA) was returning to action for the first time since UFC 244 in November of 2019, where he earned a unanimous decision victory over Vicente Luque. Prior that win, ‘Wonderboy’ was coming off the first knockout loss of his career thanks to a superman punch from Anthony Pettis.

Chris Taylor - December 19, 2020

The Octagon remains in Nevada for tonight’s UFC Vegas 17 event, a twelve-bout fight card headlined by Stephen Thompson vs. Geoff Neal. Thompson (15-4-1 MMA) is set to return for the first time since UFC 244 in November of 2019, where he earned a unanimous decision victory over Vicente Luque. Prior that win, ‘Wonderboy’ was coming off the first knockout loss of his career thanks to a superman punch from Anthony Pettis.

Cole Shelton - December 18, 2020

Stephen Thompson is rooting for Tyron Woodley. Thompson and Woodley fought at UFC 205 and 209 with the first fight being a draw and Woodley winning the rematch by majority decision. Since then, however, Woodley has struggled. He defended his belt against Demian Maia and Darren Till but in his last three fights has been dominated. “The Chosen One” lost all five rounds to Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns and lost all four rounds to Colby Covington before he got TKO’d in the fifth.

Tom Taylor - December 18, 2020

On Saturday night, the UFC will return to our screens for the final time this year with the stacked UFC Vegas 17 card out of the APEX facility in Las Vegas. The UFC Vegas 17 card was originally expected to be headlined by a welterweight showdown between No. 3-ranked contender Leon Edwards and rising prospect Khamzat Chimaev. When Edwards tested positive for COVID-19, however, that fight was rescheduled for January, and a welterweight fight between Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and Geoff Neal—both ranked contenders—was promoted to the main event spot.

Cole Shelton - December 17, 2020

Stephen Thompson believes he would crush Jake Paul if they were to fight one another. Ever since Paul knocked out Nate Robinson on the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. undercard he has become a massive star. The 23-year-old YouTube star has since taken over the combat sports world and has called out the likes of Conor McGregor, Chris Weidman, and Dillon Danis. Yet, for Thompson, he knows if he were to fight him, it would not end well for Paul.

Adam Martin - December 17, 2020

The full betting odds have been released for the 14 fights scheduled to take place at Saturday’s UFC Vegas 17: Thompson vs. Neal. The main event sees former UFC welterweight title challenger Stephen Thompson take on surging contender Geoff Neal. Thompson last fought at UFC 244 in November 2019, taking home “Fight of the Night” in his unanimous decision win over Vicente Luque. As for Neal, he is 5-0 in the UFC and is coming off of a head kick TKO win over Mike Perry at UFC 245. However, Neal has not been able to fight so far this year due to some health issues.

Cole Shelton - December 15, 2020

Stephen Thompson thinks the UFC views him as a gatekeeper now. For the second-straight fight, Thompson will fight a rising welterweight contender, but this time he will be the main event as he battles Geoff Neal. It is a very intriguing matchup but for “Wonderboy” he knows why the UFC made this fight and that is them wanting to push Neal up the rankings.