UFC welterweight Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson is currently the oldest fighter on the roster at 42-years-old, and he’ll give the younger Gabriel Bonfim an opportunity at UFC Nashville this Saturday night.
Thompson (17-8-1) has never been one to turn a fight down in order to avoid a loss. Other fighters gave him the same shot that he’s now giving Bonfim.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the guys like Jake Ellenberger and Johny Hendricks, Rory McDonald, giving somebody like myself who was lower ranked a shot at coming up,” Thompson told reporters on Wednesday.
“It’s kind of getting a little popular. You’re seeing a lot of fighters trying to hold onto their rankings. I’ve always been the type of guy to kind of give those up and coming guys a chance. I did with Vicente Luque, Geoff Neal, Kevin Holland. So I don’t mind it at all.”
Earlier in the day Bonfim told reporters that he grew up watching Thompson fight. Thompson loved the gesture from his opponent.
“It keeps me fresh, keeps me on my toes for sure, and give these guys who are lower ranked a chance to come up and prove themselves,” he said.
“That is why I do what I do. I got 600 kids back home watching every move that I make. It’s even cooler to have fighters in the UFC knowing that I had an influence in them or in some way influence them to make this their career. That’s cool to hear that Bonfim watched me growing up. Makes me feel old at the same time, but it’s cool at the same time.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Stephen Thompson above. He takes on Gabriel Bonfim at UFC Nashville on Saturday night.
