When GQ caught up with Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, you couldn’t tell he was any closer to facing Joaquin Barkley (19-6-0) at UFC 307 on October 5 in Salt Lake City. There are a few weeks to go. One of the UFC’s most accomplished strikers and most entertaining fighters sits at the family’s Upstate Karate facility in his hometown of Simpsonville, South Carolina, just hours after starting his job as head instructor of the children’s karate program.
At 41 years old, Thompson could easily be asked why he’s still stepping into the Octagon with a competitor more than a decade younger than him while many of his peers are calling it a career. But martial arts has always been a part of his life. Thompson began training at the age of three – his father, Ray, is a former professional kickboxer. Staying in shape was never an issue because he was always in an environment where he could train and still learn from the man who taught him everything he knows.
Thompson’s interview Q About what still drives him to play and what will define his game when it’s over. He also talks about the mistakes he made early in his attempts to lose weight, and a post-race meal that served as a reminder of life before bright lights and big promotions.
Q: Your last fight was in December. Given where you are in your career so far, was boot camp easier or more of a challenge?
Stephen “Wonder Boy” Thompson: I am one of the MMA fighters who trains year round. There are a lot of people—especially those at the top of their game—who only train when a fight is about to happen. My family runs a martial arts school. We’ve been here 41 years and it’s been a big part of my life. I pick up the kids after school because we have extracurricular activities. Martial arts is definitely a way of life for me and my family. Because I live in the gym, getting trained is easy.
What would it be like to fight in Utah in front of family and friends?
I’m very excited about this. I owe Utah one because I was supposed to play against Michel Pereira last summer. He ended up not gaining weight. But my opponent is Joaquin Buckley, who is 185 inches tall. So I’m not worried about this person not gaining weight. He’s also the type of guy – kind of like Kevin Holland – that he brings once he steps into the Octagon. He’s there to put you to sleep, which leads to a huge fight. I think this is definitely going to be one of the “Fights of the Night.”
What motivates you to still step into the Octagon at this stage of your career?
I’ve been doing martial arts since I was three years old and fighting since I was 15 – kickboxing and mixed martial arts. For a long time, especially when I was younger – it was always the headline. But I realize that doesn’t keep you hungry – just using it as motivation doesn’t always make you eager to stay in the gym or keep your focus on what needs to be accomplished in the Octagon. So I had a bit of a mindset shift and followed in my dad’s footsteps. The goal is obviously to win the championship, but that is not the main goal. The main goal is to see how much I can improve from the last game, especially at my age.
I got into MMA quite late in my career. Now, I’m at the top, with a lot of people. Everyone is really nice. The blueprint for defeating me is to knock me to the ground. So I have to stay hungry because I have to keep doing better. How accomplished can I be at 41 when most people are retiring? So I think that’s what keeps me hungry as my mindset changes. My test is to see if I can fight the up-and-coming tough guys in the UFC. This is my annual training exam. Allow yourself to stay in the gym, keep asking questions, and come in with an empty cup. I think a mindset change helped me a lot, and with that mindset, success will come.
What do you think are the key factors that help you still be able to compete with those up-and-coming boxers?
My dad is my main coach. I call him Dad Redgan. He fought back in the 1970s and 1980s. He has trained many world champion kickboxers and many mixed martial arts fighters. There are a lot of father-son duos that don’t really work out because they clash a lot. We know how to differentiate between father and son, student and coach relationships. I’m not saying we won’t clash, but at the end of the day, this guy has been there longer than me and he’s trained the best. All I can do is listen.
He knows how to train warriors so that they can continue training and continue fighting in the years to come. You can always regulate the body, but you cannot regulate the brain. So we always keep it light. We had a group of guys who left their egos at the door and we would come in and help each other train. At this age, you also have to listen to your body. I spent more time doing physical and massage therapy – letting it heal. If I wake up and feel like I’m tired, I won’t train, but I’ll do something less intense. My coach knows me better than I know myself. So if he sees that I’m tired, he’ll tell me to back off. I think the same goes for my style. There are a lot of guys in the UFC who fight like Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, but there’s only so much your brain and your body can take. Even though I’m in a fighting game, I don’t like getting hit. Easier said than done. But I think with my karate style and background, the way I’m able to evade attacks, especially hard hits, I think that also contributes to my longevity.
Aside from fighting, what impact do you think martial arts has had on your life?
Man, I think that not only made me the martial artist I am today, but it made me a good person. That’s what I try to give back to the kids I teach. It’s a way of life and one of the reasons we have so many kids at our facility. We have grandchildren who have experienced our parents. Yes, it’s a great way to exercise and a great way to lose weight, but I think it’s helped a lot of people around the world in terms of character building.
