Stephen Thompson’s storied MMA journey is drawing to a close at UFC 334 on November 14. The former two-time welterweight title contender has announced that his upcoming match against Charles Radtke at Madison Square Garden will be his final fight inside the Octagon.
At 43 years old, Thompson has been signaling for a while that he has just one bout left on his current UFC contract, leading fans to anticipate this as the last chapter for “Wonderboy.” In an interview with James Lynch for Ozun, Thompson confirmed, “Last one, brother! It’s my last one. What better place to have it than Madison Square Garden, New York City?”
In September 2026, Thompson became a father to a baby girl, and balancing fatherhood alongside the intense demands of a professional MMA career has become a significant factor in his decision. “My body feels good. I feel great. I can keep going. But I have a baby girl… ‘Wonderdad’ now. That definitely changes your mindset a little bit. We’ll see as she’s older where I’m at. You might see me again,” he shared.
Though stepping away from MMA, Thompson is not completely closing the door on competition, as he remains open to opportunities in organizations like Karate Combat and RAF. However, with his daughter just four months old, his main priority is now his family.
Thompson made the transition from kickboxing to MMA in 2010 and quickly gained attention by going 5-0 before earning a UFC contract. He debuted at UFC 142 in January 2012 and won eight of his first nine fights. His strong performance led to two shots at the welterweight title: a majority draw against Tyron Woodley at UFC 205 in November 2016 and a majority decision loss to Woodley at UFC 209 in March 2017.
While he never clinched the championship, “Wonderboy” built an impressive resume with wins over high-profile fighters such as Rory MacDonald, Johny Hendricks, Robert Whittaker, Jorge Masvidal, Vicente Luque, Geoff Neal, and Kevin Holland.
The later part of his career, however, has been challenging. Thompson has lost six of his last seven fights and enters his farewell UFC bout on a three-fight losing streak. This stretch began with a submission loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 296 in December 2023 and continued with a split decision defeat against Gabriel Bonfim at a UFC Fight Night event in 2025.
At UFC 334, Thompson will take on rising star Charles Radtke, who debuted in 2023 and boasts a 5-2 UFC record, including two consecutive wins in his last fights. For a fighter who has provided fans with countless unforgettable moments, Madison Square Garden offers a fitting stage to conclude an exceptional MMA career.
Fan Take: Stephen Thompson’s retirement marks the end of an era for welterweight fans and the UFC alike, as “Wonderboy” brought a unique blend of precision striking and sportsmanship to the sport. His final fight symbolizes not only the close of a remarkable career but also the ongoing evolution of MMA’s talent pool as new contenders like Charles Radtke step into the spotlight.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
