Stephen Thompson

Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson is an American mixed martial artist who has competed in the welterweight division of the UFC.

Thompson was raised in Simpsonville, South Carolina, in a family built around martial arts. His father, Ray Thompson, a former professional kickboxer, owns and operates Upstate Karate, and Stephen began training under him at age three, with martial arts instruction a mandatory part of childhood in the Thompson household. He grew into the head instructor of the kids' program at his father's school before transitioning into full-time competition, turning professional in MMA in 2010 and earning a call-up to the UFC in 2012.

Thompson's credentials outside the cage are extensive and well-documented: he holds a multiple-degree black belt in Tetsushin Ryu Kempo karate, along with rank in jujitsu and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the latter developed under the tutelage of his brother-in-law, renowned instructor Carlos Machado. As a kickboxer, he compiled a professional record of 57 wins and 0 losses with 39 knockouts, capturing the W.A.K.O. Cruiserweight World Championship in 2005 among numerous other titles, to go with an undefeated 37-0 amateur mark. These are historical records from a separate career and will not go stale.

Inside the cage, Thompson's karate lineage defines him. He fights from a wide, bouncing stance that lets him cover distance in an instant, firing kicks from unpredictable angles while remaining notoriously difficult to hit. That elusive, technical striking made him one of the most decorated strikers to pass through the promotion, earning multiple Fight of the Night bonuses.

His career highlights include two title fights against then-champion Tyron Woodley, a majority draw at UFC 205 and a majority-decision loss in their UFC 209 rematch, along with notable victories over Rory MacDonald, Johny Hendricks, Vicente Luque, and Jorge Masvidal

Stats last updated: August 09, 2026