Following UFC Nashville, former UFC title contender Stephen `Wonderboy` Thompson has voiced his desire for significant changes in MMA judging.
UFC star Stephen Thompson suffered his fifth loss in his last six outings on Saturday against Gabriel Bonfim at UFC Nashville, yet he doesn`t believe he was the rightful loser of the bout.
Thompson and Bonfim engaged in a closely contested fight, serving as the co-main event at UFC Nashville. Bonfim secured a split decision victory over Thompson, despite Thompson arguably landing more impactful strikes in the final moments.
Thompson, known as one of the most charismatic figures in the UFC, uncharacteristically deviated from his “NMF” (Nice Motherf***er) persona to criticize the two judges who did not score the fight in his favor.
Stephen Thompson Supports “Robbery” Claims Following UFC Nashville Defeat
In a recent appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Thompson joined a growing list of UFC stars calling for substantial judging reform.
“I felt I did enough to win the fight. Clean strikes, great movement, I believed I inflicted more damage, and that it was in my favor,” Thompson stated. “Bonfim is a tough fighter, hats off to him. But when the crowd and analysts are all so shocked by the decision, something isn`t right. I`ve been in this game for a long time, and I know what it feels like to win and lose a fight. I didn`t lose! Everyone who saw the fight thought I won,” Thompson continued. “So what do we do about that? I think there needs to be more accountability for judges, and I know that`s not the UFC`s fault, it`s the commission`s fault. But there needs to be more transparency and more education when it comes to judging these fights.”
Thompson`s former coach, Ray Longo, suggests his protégé was “robbed” on the judges` scorecards due to his age, claiming that if Thompson were 34, he would have been awarded the victory.
To compound matters, Thompson suffered a horrific shin injury—one of the most gruesome mid-fight lacerations in recent UFC history. He revealed requiring three layers of stitches after UFC Nashville to repair the damaged shin.
Stephen Thompson Aims for UFC History Despite Nashville Setback
Despite his recent setback at UFC Nashville and the ensuing controversy, Thompson still has an opportunity to make UFC history before retiring. Leading up to the Nashville event, Thompson had aimed to challenge Randy Couture`s record for the oldest fighter to compete in the Octagon (Couture fought at 47).
Prior to UFC Nashville, Thompson endured a brutal knockout loss to Joaquin Buckley at UFC 307, following a submission defeat by Shavkat Rakhmonov. His last victory dates back to his win over Kevin Holland at UFC Orlando in 2022.
While Thompson is currently out of the welterweight title contention, he intends to remain active in the sport for at least the remainder of his UFC contract.
