Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson highlights

Stephen Thompson could be the next welterweight title contender and is single handily proving that a karate-based fighter can find success at the highest level of MMA.

Thompson began his UFC career in 2012 and since then has been an impressive 7-1 inside the Octagon. His last two victories have been first round stoppages over top contender Jake Ellenberger and former world champion Johnny Hendricks.’

Thompson is now on the short list of top contenders to fight champion Robbie Lawler for the UFC welterweight title.

More about Stephen Thompson

• MMA Pro since 2010

• Seven wins by KO, one by submission (RNC)

• Owns a combined 57-0 kickboxing record, which includes over 40 KOs

• Brother-in-law is Carlos Machado

• Has trained with Anderson Silva, Chris Weidman, Georges St-Pierre, Rashad Evans, Nate Marquardt, and Keith Jardine

• On six-fight winning streak

• Origin of nickname: It came when I was 15. I fought a guy that was in his early to mid twenties and held a couple state kickboxing titles. He was undefeated also. I put a beating on him that totally baffled people, as it was my first fight. My dad threw my in DEEP. He wanted to see if this was what I REALLY wanted to do. After the fight the guy I beat was totally demoralized that he got essentially spanked by a 15-year-old in his first fight and made the comment “I wonder why I got in the ring with that boy.” So the commentator heard this and called me Wonderboy. Also when I was a younger kid I’d sing and dance and my sister’s then boyfriend would call me Stevie Wonder so somehow all this turned into Wonderboy. Yeah, kinda crazy.

source: ufc.com