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Stephen Thompson Plans To Avoid BJ Penn-Esque End To MMA Career: 'It Made Him Less Of A Legend'

Originally posted on MMA News | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated 9/28/23

UFC welterweight veteran Stephen Thompson may be on the wrong side of 40, but that doesn't mean he's giving up hope of a championship crowning just yet.

"Wonderboy" has previously fallen short of title glory on two separate occasions inside the Octagon, with a majority draw and majority decision loss to Tyron Woodley in back-to-back fights preventing the addition of gold to his mixed martial arts résumé.

Since then, Thompson has kept himself in amongst the discussion high up the 170-pound ladder. And this December, he'll look to cash in on his longtime contender status by securing a late-career opportunity.

To do so, the South Carolina native will have to blemish the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov's MMA record, which has extended to 17-0 courtesy of standout UFC wins over Neil Magny and Geoff Neal.

With "Nomad" regarded as one of the very best prospects in the sport, "Wonderboy" isn't slowing down or pursuing comfortable contests.

But while that might be the case for the time being, Thompson acknowledges that he'll have a decision to make should things not go his way moving forward.

Thompson Cites Penn's Late Career As MMA Farewell To Avoid

Talk of retirement in combat sports is always a prevalent topic given the damage that a fighter continuing beyond their abilities can do. Currently, attention in that regard surrounds Tony Ferguson, as the 39-year-old gears up for a return to action on the back of a six-fight losing skid.

During an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, "Wonderboy" named "El Cucuy" and former two-division champion BJ Penn as examples of end-of-career form he hopes to avoid.

"That definitely has gone through my head," Thompson said. "I don't wanna be that where people are like, 'Bro, why is he even out there? He's taken too much punishment.' ... I don't like to see guys who have been at the top of their game, who have been legends in the game, take punishment.

"BJ Penn was one of them. He was at the pinnacle. And every fight that he took after that that he lost, it just made him less of a legend, I think," Thompson continued. "If he would have stopped at the top, when he first did — he didn't have to come back, you know? ... Getting knocked out left and right, you know what that does to people later on. That's permanent damage right there."

Penn, an ex-titleholder at both lightweight and welterweight, concluded his MMA tenure with a difficult run of form, which saw him win just one of his last 11 fights and depart on the back of seven straight losses.

Although he appears a sizable distance away from that stage, "Wonderboy" is ready to walk away if and when his ability to compete inside the cage dims.