TRENDING Week 10 Waiver Wire NFL trade deadline rumblings Stalker arrested at LeBron's house CFP projections Fantasy Football Stock Report Story by Story by 'I've got no regrets. Zero': Stephen Thompson on retirement, coming up short, and life after UFC 334 Drake Riggs Uncrowned Mon, November 9, 2026 at 10:08 PM UTC · 5 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stephen Thompson will call it a career after he enters the Octagon this Saturday at UFC 334.
One of MMA's premier strikers since his UFC arrival in 2012, "Wonderboy" has delivered many notable moments and highlights throughout his 27-fight career. But the 43-year-old two-time welterweight title challenger recently revealed that his next bout against Charles Radtke in New York's Madison Square Garden will be his last .
Thompson spoke on Monday's edition of "The Ariel Helwani Show" to explain what led to his decision.
"There is a lot. No. 1, I don't see the title anymore," Thompson told Uncrowned. "I mean, these guys are just young studs coming up. I'm not trying to get hurt. But I think more importantly than that is, I don't know if you know this, but I have a baby girl. ... She just turned five months old.
"I keep my personal life on the down low. So I have a baby girl, and obviously that changes a lot of things. Being at home, obviously I will still be teaching martial arts and training and things like that, but it does change your mindset a little bit."
Thompson's motivations to retire makes plenty of sense, especially given he's 1-5 in his past six UFC appearances. With his new family just beginning to grow, Thompson hopes to have more kids over time, which he'll likely keep as private as he has been until now.
"I have just always been that way with whoever I am dating, or obviously, with my wife and my kids. I keep a private life," Thompson said. "Fans can be a little mean, and I just don't want to put them out in the spotlight like that. That's just how I've always been."
It's been more than one full year since Thompson last fought, suffering a hard-fought split decision loss to rising contender Gabriel Bonfim in July 2025. Despite the result, the fight was wildly competitive, and many believed Thompson should have earned the nod, himself included.
Thompson said Monday that he would've liked to make a return sooner. If he had, it could've reshaped his plans to retire, depending on the timeline. But ultimatey, his body is just starting to feel the physical tolls MMA requires much more than it used to.
"After that last one, I ended up splitting my shin. I was back into training about three months after the fight," Thompson said.
"I wanted to get back out there, but my knee started giving me problems. The body's not healing up like it used to. I ended up hurting my neck — had to get that looked at. It's just multiple things adding up, which is why it's taken me so long to get back out there and do it again.
"It's not just the fight — it's leading up to the fight that's getting a little bit more difficult. Making sure I show up fight week feeling healthy. ... I've had numerous knee surgeries, so it's just kind of all adding up at this point."
Stephen Thompson's UFC run has spanned 22 fights and more than a decade inside the Octagon.
Although the training camps are harder in his 40s, Thompson said he's feeling great only days out from his final fight night. This time around, he says he spent more time focusing on recovery while limiting hard spars and overly intense training sessions.
Regarding reflecting on his career as a whole, Thompson says he tries to do that every fight week. This fight will be no different. When he looks back on everything he's done in the UFC, two moments stand out most, and neither should come as a surprise.
"My very first [fight], MC Hammer walked me to the venue at UFC 143, as he was part of my management at the time, and [Georges St-Pierre] was in my corner," Thompson said.
"Then it has to be UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden, Tyron Woodley; we ended up getting Fight of the Night. Getting knocked down over and over again in that fourth round, in that deep guillotine, popped my head out; the whole place erupts.
"It was such an epic event, and I still think it was one of the best fight cards ever. Those two take the cake, but I think the fans are what I am going to remember the most. Everywhere I go, my fans have always had my back every step of the way, and I am going to miss that part."
Thompson remains one of the closest a fighter has ever come to becoming a champion, only to fall short — and it happened in back-to-back fights.
The aforementioned first Woodley clash was a rollercoaster ride for the welterweight division in 2016, ending in a majority draw. It was followed up with the pair's rematch, which ended in a controversial split decision for Woodley. In both instances, Thompson was right there .
Having regrets about either of those fights would be understandable, but "Wonderboy" is entirely at peace with how his career has played out.
"I don't have any grudges. I don't look back wishing anything. I've got no regrets. Zero," Thompson said. "I've enjoyed the ride, and honored and blessed to be a part of it every step of the way. That's all you can do."
Once his MMA career winds down after Saturday night, Thompson plans to continue teaching at his martial arts school in South Carolina while doing broadcast work for the UFC. That doesn't mean he isn't closing the door on an eventual return, though.
Once Thompson's daughter is older, he says a striking match of some sort definitely could entice him, even if he's in his 50s.
"I've been striking my whole life, and I feel like I'm still as good as I was striking-wise. It's the wrestling and jiu-jitsu that mess me up. It injures me," Thompson said.
Source: Sports
