Have you ever wondered how Stephen Thompson got his nickname?
Fighting in his forty, two-time UFC title finer Stephen Thompson is still going to his iconic nickname 'Wonderboy' decades after it was thought of.
Thompson is one of the more striking strikers on the UFC schedule, his karate style appears to be a difficult code to crack for many welter weights.
Thompson made his Pro MMA debut at the age of 26 with a wealth of experience in advance in the kickboxing ring.
Stephen Thompson in his last fight, versus Kevin Holland in 2022. Image/ USA Today/ Nathan Ray Seebeck
Stephen Thompson had his first fight at 15
In addition, with former champion Lyoto Machida as the best karate bowers in UFC history, “Wonderboy” did not always believe in his skills that were passed on from his father/coach, Ray Thompson.
That was due to his older sister, Thompson remembers in the legendary story behind his nickname.
'So my father fought against kickboxing. My older sister fought against kickboxing. So they were a bit of my inspiration to go to kickboxing, to have my first fight at the age of 15. I thought I sucked kickboxing, “said Thompson on the Jaxxon podcast.
“My sister always beat the nonsense out of me, cried me, bro. I grew up with it. I mean, she was the Alfa dog for the longest time, so I thought I was terrible here. I get my ass kicked by this girl … “
How Stephen Thompson got the nickname 'Wonderboy'
Only when Thompson was matched almost twice as old with someone, did he get the trust boost (and the nickname) that he desperately needed.
“My father let me fight this guy. He was like 26, I think he was 20-0 in kickboxing, threw me a bit at the dogs on that one, “Thompson continued. “I think it was a way for him to show that I was better than what I thought I was.
“I finally hit the man's brakes and then the commentator was like, what do you think of this Stephen Thompson -child? And he is so, man, I wonder why he even got into the ring with this boy. And the announcer called me 'Wonderboy' and continued to stay with me forever. “
“That is a good story about how to get a nickname,” replied former UFC champion Quinton 'Rampage Jackson on Thompson.
Now 42, Stephen Thompson still remains in the UFC Welterweight Rankings on #11. “Wonderboy” comes from stop losing Shavkat Rakhmonov and Joaquin Buckley.
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