Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson was born on February 11th, 1983, in Simpsonville, South Carolina. He is a professional mixed martial artist and former kickboxing champion. He stands at 6'0" with a reach of 75 inches while competing in the UFC at 170 pounds in the welterweight division. Growing up, Thompson began training in martial arts at a very young age under his father, Ray Thompson, a professional kickboxer and owner of the Upstate Karate School. He had a fantastic kickboxing career prior to making his transition to MMA. Thompson made his UFC debut against Dan Stittgen in 2012, knocking him out via head kick in the first round. He was also awarded the Knockout of the Night bonus for this win.
Known for being one of the best strikers in the world, Thompson has wins over the likes of formidable opponents such as Robert Whittaker, Geoff Neal, and Jorge Masvidal. He has also competed twice for the UFC welterweight championship on two occasions against Tyron Woodley. The first at, UFC 205, ended via a majority draw, while Woodley won their UFC 209 rematch via decision. Thompson would go on to attain further Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night honors multiple times and is still within the top ranks of the UFC. As of October 2024, he is ranked ninth in the welterweight division.
Stephen Thompson Nickname
Stephen Thompson picked up the nickname "Wonderboy" when he was 15 in his first professional kickboxing match against an opponent who was 26 and had a 20-0 record. Thompson thoroughly dominated this fight. After that fight ended, the announcer asked Thompson’s opponent how it felt to lose, and he jokingly responded, "I wonder why I stepped in the ring with that boy." This comment led to the nickname ‘Wonderboy,’ which stuck with Thompson throughout his career, despite him now being much older.
Stephen Thompson early career
Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson had an impressive kickboxing career that laid the foundation for his success in mixed martial arts. Trained by his father, Ray Thompson, from a young age, Stephen began competing in karate and kickboxing when he was 15. He quickly became one of the most esteemed amateur kickboxers, collecting 16 titles with an unblemished record of 37 wins, with 18 of those victories coming by knockout.
Turning pro in 2004, Thompson won his first fight by knockout. For the next couple of years, he would go on and fight several different events throughout the U.S. and in Canada, all while remaining undefeated. By 2006, Thompson was the ranked #1 fighter in the World Combat League, a prestigious kickboxing organization, where he went undefeated for one whole year.
Thompson's kickboxing journey eventually led to a transition to mixed martial arts in 2007 after recovering from an injury.
FAQs on Stephen Thompson's nickname
A. Stephen Thompson is nicknamed ‘Wonderboy’.
A. Stephen Thompson’s first kickboxing opponent inspired the nickname, ‘Wonderboy’.
A. Stephen Thompson is 41 years old as of October 2024.
A. He fights out of Simpsonville, South Carolina, U.S.
