Stephen `Wonderboy` Thompson, a former UFC title contender, is advocating for substantial changes in mixed martial arts judging following his recent bout at UFC Nashville.
At UFC Nashville on Saturday, UFC veteran Stephen Thompson suffered his fifth defeat in his last six contests, facing Gabriel Bonfim. However, Thompson believes the decision was unjust and he was not the rightful loser.
The co-main event at UFC Nashville featured a tightly contested match between Thompson and Bonfim. Bonfim was awarded a split decision victory, even though many argue Thompson delivered more impactful strikes in the closing moments of the fight.
Thompson, known for his charismatic `NMF` (Nice MotherF***er) persona within the UFC, uncharacteristically deviated from it to criticize the two judges whose scoring did not favor him.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Stephen Thompson Aligns with `Robbery` Sentiments After UFC Nashville Loss
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show recently, Thompson joined a growing list of UFC athletes demanding comprehensive judging reform.
Thompson articulated his frustration, stating, “I felt that I did enough to win the fight. My strikes were clean, my movement was excellent, and I believe I inflicted more damage, which should have swayed the decision in my favor.” He acknowledged Bonfim as a formidable opponent, saying, “Hats off to him, tough fighter.” However, he questioned the verdict, adding, “When the crowd and the analysts are all this shocked by the decision, something is clearly amiss. I’ve been in this sport for a long time, and I understand the feeling of winning and losing. I didn’t lose!” Thompson emphasized the widespread disagreement with the outcome: “Everyone who watched the fight thought I won.” He then posed the critical question, “So what do we do about that?” and called for systemic change: “I believe there needs to be greater accountability for judges. While this isn’t the UFC’s direct responsibility but rather the commission’s, there’s an urgent need for more transparency and enhanced education regarding the judging criteria in these bouts.”
Ray Longo, Thompson`s former coach, suggested that age played a role in the judges` scoring, asserting that his former fighter was unfairly denied the victory. Longo speculated that had Thompson been 34 years old, he would have undoubtedly been awarded the win.
Adding to his misfortunes, Thompson sustained a severe shin injury during the fight, described as one of the most gruesome mid-fight cuts seen recently in the UFC. He disclosed that he required three layers of stitches post-UFC Nashville to mend his damaged shin.
Stephen Thompson Pursues UFC History Despite Nashville Setback
Despite the contentious loss and its aftermath at UFC Nashville, Thompson remains poised to achieve a historic milestone before potentially retiring. Prior to the Nashville event, he had expressed his ambition to surpass Randy Couture`s record, aiming to become the oldest fighter to compete in the Octagon (Couture competed until age 47).
Leading up to UFC Nashville, Thompson experienced a devastating knockout loss to Joaquin Buckley at UFC 307 and a prior submission defeat to Shavkat Rakhmonov. His last victory dates back to 2022, when he defeated Kevin Holland at UFC Orlando.
Although Thompson is no longer a contender in the welterweight title picture, he intends to fulfill the remainder of his UFC contract.
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