Stephen Thompson News

Justin Golightly - January 19, 2018

UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is sidelined waiting for his shoulder to heal, but he’s made no question that he wants Georges St-Pierre when he comes back. After vacating the middleweight title due to health issues from gaining weight, it seemed like it was a fight that made sense for St-Pierre. Meanwhile, former title challenger Stephen Thompson is coming off a win over Jorge Masvidal and is gunning for another fight with Woodley himself. Friends with St-Pierre, Thompson recently sat down and gave us some insight on the potential welterweight title fight told us why he believes it doesn’t happen. “Do I see [Tyron Woodley] fighting Georges [St-Pierre]? Hell no. Well, that’s the thing. [St-Pierre]’s a very good friend of mine. I really, I don’t want that to happen. He understands that that’s my goal is to get that belt, you know what I mean? If that does come down to it, I would actually put that in his arena if he would like to [fight me] or not because he would be the champion if he beats Tyron. I would put that in his arena and say, ‘Hey,’ — make UFC go to him and say — ‘Hey, does this fight seem right?’ or whatever. Cause before I fought Tyron, we talked. [St-Pierre]’s like, ‘Man, I’m coming back. I have no interest in fighting you,” stuff like that as a friend.”

Jason Kindschy - January 18, 2018

BJPENN Radio is back tonight at 9PM ET/6PM PT two great guests! 9:15PM ET- First up, former title challenger and No. 7 ranked lightweight in the UFC, “The Motown Phenom” Kevin Lee. Months removed from a losing effort against Tony Ferguson for the interim lightweight title, Kevin now looks to make the most out of 2018 and get back to shot at gold. We’ll recap the Ferguson bout, discuss potential match-ups moving forward, his reaction to the announcement of Ferguson vs Nurmagomedov for Brooklyn in April, and McGregor possibly being stripped of the title. Also, Kevin opens up about the loss of his longtime coach and friend, Robert Follis.

Tom Taylor - December 19, 2017

Last Saturday night, the UFC touched down in snowy Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada with UFC on Fox 26. In the card’s exciting main event, former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos asserted himself as one of the welterweight division’s top contenders, defeating former titleholder Robbie Lawler with a dominant, unanimous decision win. Shortly after this breakthrough win, dos Anjos received a callout from fellow welterweight contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, who called him out for a title eliminator bout to establish a true number-one-contender.

Chris Taylor - December 17, 2017

Stephen Thompson sends a message to Rafael dos Anjos following UFC on FOX 26. Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos improved his welterweight record to a perfect 3-0 by earning a lopsided unanimous decision victory over Robbie Lawler in the main event of UFC on FOX 26 last night in Winnipeg.

Tom Taylor - November 8, 2017

Yesterday night, UFC President Dana White announced his plan to move the promotion’s planned February 24 from Orlando, Florida, to Liverpool, UK. The intention, he said, was to pit Liverpool’s own Darren Till against a fellow striking whiz in Stephen Thompson on the card. “I literally [switched] my whole schedule. I’m laying [stuff] out here I shouldn’t be talking about,” White told the LA Times’ Lance Pugmire. “We’re supposed to do this fight in Orlando. I’m pulling it from Orlando and I’m moving it out to [Till’s] hometown in England.”

Chris Taylor - November 7, 2017

The UFC has changed locations in order to have undefeated welterweight Darren Till fight a former title challenger in England. Lance Pugmire of The Los Angeles Times was first to break the news reporting that a scheduled February 24 UFC event in Orlando, Florida will be moved overseas in order to have surging contender Darren Till fight in his backyard of England against former two-time welterweight title challenger Stephen Thompson.

Chris Taylor - November 4, 2017

A key welterweight scrap between Stephen Thompson and Jorge Masvidal took place during tonight’s UFC 217 pay-per-view main card at Madison Square Garden. Round one begins and Jorge throws a front kick that misses. Stephen takes the center of the octagon. He lands a nice outside low kick. Thompson goes high but Jorge blocks it. Masvidal comes back with a low kick. Thompson hammers Jorge with a side kick. Masvidal backs up to the fence and then circles off. Thompson with a side kick to the face. Jorge smiles at him. Thompson leaps in with a beautiful combination. Jorge circles and then lands a nice low kick. Thompson leaps in with a left hand that lands. Masvidal misses with a low kick. He throws another that connects. Thompson goes to the body with a kick. Jorge is responding with kicks now. Thompson circles out and then leaps in with a big right hand. He follows that up with a side kick that sends Masvidal to the floor. Jorge gets back up and lands a pair of low kicks. Thompson retreats. Masvidal follows him and lands a low kick. Thompson lands a perfect straight left down the pipe. That was beautiful. Masvidal presses forward and lands a combination of his own. The horn sounds to end round one.

Justin Golightly - November 3, 2017

Promising not to be the rusty coin sitting in the embarrassment of riches that is UFC 217, a wild scrap between Jorge Masvidal and Stephen Thompson rests just below the three title fights. On any normal fight card, this is a main event. On any other big pay-per-view, it could be a co-main event. Despite a Robbie Lawler and Rafael dos Anjos bout set to crown the next challenger to Tyron Woodley’s welterweight strap, this fight between Masvidal and Wonderboy has huge title implications. This is something Masvidal is knows and has a plan already set in place if he gets his hand raised. “I see myself breaking his face. I’ll be number one. After this fight, I’ll fight for the belt, especially after the post-fight speech I’m going to give. I haven’t prepared anything yet, but I’ll […] do something really disgusting, something ugly, and scare people. It’ll go viral. I still don’t know what it’s going to be, though. Colby [Covington] gave people a demonstration of insanity. I’m going to do something different, the way I usually do.” 

Justin Golightly - October 31, 2017

UFC 217 is one of those cards where every single fight will be a battle for a spotlight. The second fight on the television prelims features Ovince Saint Preux, if that gives you any indication of the scope we’re talking about. Not to be buried beneath the three title fights on the card, Stephen Thompson will throwdown with Jorge Masvidal right before Joanna Jedrzejczyk defends her title against Rose Namajunas. After fighting welterweight champ Tyron Woodley twice, Thompson seems pumped about a refreshing match-up with Masvidal.   “This fight has fireworks written all over it. I’ve been training for Tyron Woodley for almost a year now and this [fight with Jorge Masvidal] gives me somebody different to break down, somebody different to get ready for. The media obligations aren’t there. When I was fighting Tyron, especially with it being a title fight, it was kind of crazy. With this, I can just sit back and focus on the fight, train, train when I want to train and not have to go all over the place to do the media. It’s nice to be able to sit back and just think about the fight. I’m excited, I’m energized, I can relax a little bit more. The energy level is truly up.”

Justin Golightly - October 10, 2017

Stephen Thompson is returning in a dangerous scrap with welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal, but he has his eyes set on bigger things. He’s had two shots at Tyron Woodley’s title, but came up short each time. Before he knew he was going to get the fight, he talked about a match with Robbie Lawler. With Woodley gone for shoulder rehab, he’s said it gives the division a chance to shuffle, which is why Thompson wants Lawler to be his ace in the whole to close our he and Woodley’s trilogy. “We’ve been kind of going back and forth with me and Robbie Lawler, I was ranked number one, then he’s number one, then we’re both number one. So hopefully a good win over [Jorge Masvidal] – you know, I understand Tyron [Woodley] is out for a little while, so hopefully we’ll be able to fight against Robbie Lawler, maybe for an interim welterweight title against him for that belt. You’re gonna see more of Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson than you saw in my last two fights against Tyron. I love it when guys come forward, which is something you didn’t see during the Tyron Woodley fight. But that’s just the way Masvidal is, he comes walking forward, he’s not afraid to press the action, which enables me to use my arsenal a little bit better, to use my kicks, to use my angles. So yeah, man, you’re gonna see a more exciting fight from me November 4th.”

Justin Golightly - August 17, 2017

  It may not compare to last year’s UFC debut at Madison Square Garden, but UFC 217 is definitely stacked. According to Jorge Masvidal, after a little bit of social media trash talk, the huge event just got more violent. On his Twitter, Gamebred announced that he and “Wonderbread” Stephen Thompson will fight each other to see who can get back in the title contention. Holy crap, it’s going to be Miami backyard brawlin’ going toe-to-head with down South Karate.

Justin Golightly - August 11, 2017

Stephen Thompson is all healed up and ready to spin kick the top five in the UFC welterweight division, all on a journey to get back to a title shot. Tyron Woodley (18-3-1 MMA) successfully defended his welterweight title at last month’s UFC 214 event in Anaheim, defeating top division contender Demian Maia via unanimous decision. Woodley put on absolute defensive clinic to stuff all 21 of the Brazilian submission specialist’s takedown attempts, leaving Maia with a pair of badly swollen eyes to take home with him after five rounds. When you stuff 24 takedown attempts and make your third successful defense … @TWooodley pic.twitter.com/uC8iHizOGR

Justin Golightly - August 10, 2017

If UFC 217 wasn’t already stacked enough, it looks like another high profile fight is in the works. Jorge Masivdal has tried to fight everyone from Tyron Woodley to Ben Askren after losing to Demian Maia. One of those guys has been Stephen Thompson. Gamebred has been tweeting Wonderboy since June to goad him into the Octagon — even saying his knee injury is fake — and finally it looks like it has paid off. Thompson went on Severe MMA’s “Talking Brawls” podcast to tell Masvidal that he should start getting ready. Let’s not play no games I’m fighting @WonderboyMMA for a title shot after gsp. If his ass don’t want to fight, I’m next. #hoslapseason

Scott Hernandez - June 9, 2017

Former UFC welterweight title challenger Stephen Thompson has remained adamant that he wouldn’t fight his friend and former teammate Georges St-Pierre. With that being said however, after dropping a decision to Tyron Woodley earlier this year in a highly anticipated rematch for the welterweight title, Thompson appears to be warming up to the idea.

Scott Hernandez - June 9, 2017

While Tyron Woodley and Demian Maia have no date finalized for their highly anticipated welterweight title fight, all signs point towards Maia getting the next welterweight title fight against the champ. That fight has the MMA community torn on their predictions for the scrap, with many wondering stylistically how the pair will matchup given that Maia’s strength is his Jiu-Jitsu, and Woodley’s strength is his impressive wrestling background.

Scott Hernandez - June 8, 2017

Former UFC welterweight title challenger Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson has been absent from the Octagon since his UFC 209 showdown with Tyron Woodley for the welterweight championship, a highly anticipated rematch from their UFC 205 co-main event showdown that saw Woodley retain the belt in a majority draw effort. Following the rematch at UFC 209, Thompson revealed that he injured his knee in his rematch with Woodley. While there has been no word on when ‘Wonderboy’ will return to the Octagon, he spoke to Submission Radio this week to unveil his ideal return plan:

Tom Taylor - May 16, 2017

Last weekend, on the main card of the blockbuster UFC 211, Jorge Masvidal took on Demian Maia in what appeared to be a welterweight number one contender fight. Though Masvidal was the far sharper man on the feet, he fell victim to Maia’s legendary grappling skill, succumbing to four takedowns and giving up almost eight minutes of control time on the mat. And while there were some members of the MMA community that believed he’d done enough to eke out the win, the judges ultimately sided with Maia by split decision. Having come up short in this perceived number one contender bout, one might expect Masvidal to take a bit of time off and reassess. Yet this is not the way the fan favorite is doing things. Instead, he is already making efforts to book his next fight.

Scott Hernandez - April 11, 2017

It’s no secret that UFC welterweight Stephen Thompson possesses some of the best striking in the entire UFC given his Karate background. Thompson won numerous International Kickboxing Federation (IKR) championships in the early 2000s. In addition, Thompson never lost a match, going a perfect 37-0 throughout the course of his kickboxing career.