American mixed martial artist Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson was born on February 11, 1983, in Simpsonville, South Carolina, U.S. Before being globally known in MMA, Thompson was a celebrated kickboxer with no losses to his name. At the age of 15, Thompson started his journey in kickboxing and karate. He has obtained black belt levels in Tetsushin-ryū Kempo, American Kickboxing, and Jujutsu. Thompson is also a student of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Carlos Machado, who happens to be his brother-in-law. Thompson completed his high school education in 2001 and currently serves as the Head Instructor for the children's karate program at Upstate Karate.
'Wonderboy' fights in the welterweight division and currently maintains a professional record of 17 wins, 7 losses, and 1 draw (17-7-1). As of September 2024, Thompson is placed at #9 in the UFC welterweight rankings. Moreover, Thompson will be facing Joaquin Buckley at UFC 307.
Stephen Thompson's kickboxing record
Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson holds an undefeated record of 20 wins, 0 losses, and 1 no-contest in professional kickboxing. He began his martial arts journey in kickboxing, where his father, Ray, served as his trainer and manager. As an amateur kickboxer, Thompson achieved great success, securing 16 titles and concluding his amateur career with an impressive record of 37 wins, 18 of which were by knockout and no losses.
His professional kickboxing debut took place on May 15, 2004, against Kadir Kadri, resulting in a KO victory in the fifth round. Thompson continued his success, notably defeating Eric Boudreau in Montreal on December 14, 2004, and securing a unanimous decision win in a rematch against Kadir Kadri on May 21, 2005. Thompson's journey in kickboxing included victories over Freddie Espiricueta and a celebrated undefeated run in the World Combat League in 2006, where he became the #1 ranked fighter by the end of the year. In 2007, a highly anticipated bout against Raymond Daniels ended in a no-contest due to a knee injury.
Around the same time, Thompson decided to transition to professional mixed martial arts, marking a shift from kickboxing to a new chapter in his fighting career. Alongside his accomplishments in the ring, Thompson has been featured in various magazines, performed in the "Athletes Project" at the Peace Center for the Performing Arts, and appeared in TV commercials.
Also Read: What karate does Stephen Thompson do?
FAQs on Stephen Thompson
A. Stephen Thompson has a record of 20 wins, 0 losses, and 1 no-contest in professional kickboxing.
A. Stephen Thompson made his professional MMA debut in 2010.
A. Stephen Thompson made his octagon debut on February 4, 2012, at UFC 143.
A. Stephen Thompson holds a professional MMA record of 17 wins, 7 losses, and 1 draw.
A. Yes, Stephen Thompson retired from kickboxing as an undefeated fighter in both amateur and professional circuits.
