Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson: Top 5 MMA Finishes

Let’s zoom in on Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, one of the best strikers in MMA and a threat in the UFC Welterweight Division.

Before cracking down on the world of free-fighting, he had already done damage in kickboxing with 57 fights (twenty of which were professional) with not a single defeat. With a background in Kenpō karate and kickboxing, he has trained with Georges St-Pierre and now trains with his brother-in-law, the former UFC Middleweight Champion, Chris Weidman. He has unequivocally become one of the best strikers in his division.

His atypical style allows him to achieve victory with style. Read up on his Top 5 MMA Finishes (in descending order)!

  1. Vs. Chris Clements – UFC 165 (Sept. 21, 2013)
  2. Before this fight, Stephen Thompson had already fought three times in the UFC with two victories under his belt, yet also his first career defeat against veteran Matt Brown.

    During the first round here, Thompson was surprised by a dragon tail kick. Nevertheless, he brought on the goods with a flurry of combination punches that knocked down his opponent forcing the referee to call the fight.

    This contest got him his first back-to-back win in the UFC.

    1. Vs. Johny Hendricks – UFC Fight Night 82 (Feb. 7, 2016)
    2. After winning five fights in a row, Thompson faced former division champion Johnny Hendricks.

      Starting with a shower of punches and a back kick, “Wonderboy” knocked his opponent down and finished the fight with several punches in classic ground and pound fashion.

      Thanks to this performance, he won his fourth bonus of the night in the UFC. After this bout, Stephen faced Rory MacDonald.

      He won by unanimous decision and improved his record with a 7-win streak. Thompson got a title shot after this fight.

      1. Vs Robert Whittaker – UFC 170 (Feb. 23, 2014)
      2. With a 3-1 record, Thompson faced former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker.

        Thompson finished the fight in the first round using a refined boxing strategy and became the first fighter to serve a TKO to the Australian. He got his second bonus of the night after this fight.

        For Whittaker, it was complicated at this stage of his career; because he was on a two-fight losing skid.

        1. Vs Dan Stittgen – UFC 143 (Feb. 4, 2012)
        2. For his first fight in the UFC, Stephen Thompson faced Dan Stittgen.

          In the last minute of the first round, Thompson lead with a series of 1-2 combination punches before then kicking the head of his opponent, knocking him out.

          Thanks to this performance, ‘Wonderboy’ won his first Knockout of the Night UFC bonus.

          1. Vs Jake Ellenberger – TUF 21 Finale (Jul. 12, 2015)
          2. After 6 fights in the UFC and two bonuses won, Stephen faced veteran Jake Ellenberger.

            Towards the end of the first round, while the two adversaries observed each other without exchanging blows, Thompson produced a spinning hook kick which surprised and knocked Ellenberger down. Wonderboy continued with a series of punches to end the encounter.

            This performance allowed him to win his third bonus in the big league.

            So there we have it, 5 of the best Stephen Thompson finishes. Do you agree that “Wonderboy” who’s ranked #5 is one of the best strikers? From the list above, which is your favourite Stephen Thompson fight moment?

            Which fighter would you like to see get KFK’d next? Let us know in the comments below; Like, share and join in the conversation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter & Instagram.

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Arnaud has trained in Taekwondo from the age of 18. He's also trained for several years in Shotokan karate (brown belt) and Muay Thai. He's trained in combat Sambo and wrestling, having competed in France and other countries in the tough, versatile 150lb weight category. Arnaud is a great fan of all martial arts and combat sports and loves watching different styles (eg. MMA, boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai) used in the UFC, Bellator, Glory and World Championships. Overall, he's passionate about fighting and keeping a martial warrior mindset.

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