You've always been one of my favorite MMA fighters, but I truly didn't realize just how close you have stayed to the belt. The fight you had with Burns was SO frustrating and hard for me to watch, I can't imagine how it was in the moment. He just looks SO strong and you know he's looking to take you down every time.. Well, his coach said it best. They needed that W. I'm rooting for you brother, I'd love to see you capture the belt.
Thank you for not only advertising a traditional way of fighting but also traditional values for a fighter. With great power comes great responsibility.
Big MMA Fan but missed the Wonderboy boat for some reason (dove in right around your title fights). This vid makes me respect ya and wish I'd been on board a long time ago. I've been a fan of watching Pereira's fights, but now I'm pulling for ya - Good luck this weekend!
I didn't really know you until I saw this video. Your class and sportsmanship are what this world needs more of. Thank you for mentoring our children along the way. My little girl is turning 8 soon so I know how much that means. Incredible career and good luck Saturday, I'll be rooting for you.
An underated boxer. His timing, precision and distance management are second to none. His ability to switch and blend boxing and kicking while on the move is uncanny. He made karate looks great in MMA, and the best is his character. A true warrior and MA legend.
His boxing is truly fantastic, no doubt he'd have been successful in boxing with his sense of distance and timing. Also he punches very technically clean.
Have you even seen videos of his school and the classes? Its wonderful. Wonderboy still rides around in a van every day to pick the kids up from school haha. Great man
@@m.o.5291 he did a video with a youtuber guy where he showed off what his training camp looks like and half of wonderboy's day in the middle of camp is just teaching his kids karate classes. so badass. part of me almost hopes he retires soon and keeps his health, he's too much of a force for good in the world.
@@keithtorrence2487 you can’t be serious…do you not understand the English language? Something being malicious is determined by the INTENT behind the action, just because an action can be malicious doesn’t make it malicious by default. Imagine thinking that a good guy has to be a victim by default 🤦🏾♂️
I hope Wonderboy sees this! He has his own RU-vid channel, and has done reactions to other content creators' videos about him. I think he'd be honored to have a nearly 30 minute video talking about how beautiful his striking is.
Another video by a channel called martial Liam also did a 21 minute video of just Stephen Thompson striking a few hours ago. I recommend that video if you liked this one.
@link20115 I love Sensei Seth! The Ultimate Self Defense Challenge collab with Martial Arts Journey, hard2hurt, and Ramsay Dewey was amazing! And season 2 supposedly has a UFC fighter on the roster, so my theory is it's Wonderboy.
@@TheElbowMerchant oooh I haven't heard that about season 2! I loved the first, that would be incredible if so. Seth introduced me to martial arts youtube and I've always loved Wonderboy so to see them together was amazing hahah.
Stephen Thompson is a once in a generation talent. There will be no fighter like him in a looong time. He has always been the best fighter in my eyes!!
@armaanb.6566 I hope it'd be a banger but I worry it'd be one of those instances where the fight should be amazing and ends up a slow paced feint/counter hunt. Like Francis vs Lewis etc
Stephen Thompson is one of my all-time favorites. He’s such a nice guy and has fought against many of the best welterweights of all time. The fact he’s never won a title doesn’t matter to me, because not everyone has to be in GOAT contention. He’s genuinely the best pure striker we’ve ever seen in the UFC, and he’s incredibly entertaining.
Man, Wonderboy's stance switching, timing, and distance management is second to none. His unorthodox movement looks so fluid, it's like second nature, whereas many other accomplished strikers look stilted and awkward against Thompson.
Karate gives you that, especially when started at a very young age. That’s what Kata does to you. Swift, fast, powerful yet fluid movements that translate to many movements in fighting.
@@johntony6974 NAH. I think that's what being a world class athlete does. Kata is to keep people busy while piss poor karate instructors suction their mmoney up.
@@Deepgoat you dont sound like you have any knowledge about karate. Kata is essential, but it's only a part of training. You have to do bunkai and kumite as well.
@@Feracitus I was a brown belt in karate, it's a trash art in 99% of schools. Aikido is trash too. I'd reverse my life and spend it doing something good like muy thai or high school wrestling. Doing silly dances isn't going to keep you from getting your jaw busted in real life.
The modesty of this guy is in such contrast with his accomplishments. A complete fighter, a classic musician playing mayhem in a punk fest. What a joy to watch. Wonderful.
As a Karateka, Stephen Thompson's attacks are very deadly, especially his kicks. But if you pay close attention, his karate straight punches play a big role in getting points. Because in general, MMA fighters are used to receiving hug punches. So that the straight punch is difficult to avoid. 👊 Osu 🥋
Think about the psychological affect of that though. I know that's not his MO but, in a league where you're used to taking a half dozen more hits if you go down, and this guy just lets you up????? It's like he's saying, okay that was good.... AGAIN! and then beats puts you on the mat again with your next best effort. Psychologically brutal in a ring.
@@jstray2321 There are a number of reasons why that's probably better, especially as a striker. The main thing is if you're mainly a striker, you don't want to risk going on the ground, that's just a big nope. Even going for a finisher is dangerous. You often see people going for haymakers to try to finish it right then and there, but from what I've learned from my years of karate, you don't want to do that. Maybe it's a karate thing now that I think about it. Having a ground guard against a standing opponent is a really scary thing for the opponent, you're not getting approached. So we learn to not risk that, and let the opponent get back up. At least I did. It's a form of respect for that kind of guard. There is the psychological aspect too, like you describe. There can definitely be a statement to it, but sometimes it's not intentional. Regardless of the intention, it can be absolutely crushing, you're right. Knocking the opponent down has however the main effect of interrupting the opponent's flow/pace. It's generally completely forgotten because it's "embedded" within the flashy knock down, but it's a very real physical effect. Most fighters could last a very long time if they're in their combat flow. If that gets interrupted, that endurance gets cut down by entire chunks every time. It could actually be an entire strategy in itself, going for a fight of attrition… kind of what muay thai does, really. That's why often the first big connect is a big deal, because that's a massive edge to have.
WB best epitomizes martial arts instructor & philosopher John Danaher's observation about personalities entering into martial arts: if they enter as good & kind students, they will exit at the end of their journey as learned, disciplined, better, & kinder human beings with tons to teach others. But if they enter as horrible personalities, when they exit as skilled fighters, they are worse human beings because now they have the skills to hurt other people as they choose! WB is the former, of course.
@@rpemulis I think McGregor's magical left hook kind of defines his 'way', and he's unorthodox and likes wearing suits, so JP could be his character, lol
Wonder boy commenting on this video to say thank you just proves he is truly a man of the people and one of the nicest guys around, hoping I get the chance to fight him before he retires.
I know about Lyoto and others but Wonderboy was really the one who showed us we wrote traditional martial arts off too soon early in mma. To be fair, a mix of western boxing and muay thai like dutch kickboxing with modified stances to prevent takedowns still seems to be the 'best' style for standup mma. But wonderboy showed us what was possible with karate and it was beautiful. Thank you Steven, you took karate into the next age of fighting
@@elrey8876 starting reading your comment I felt a great insightful point was coming. And I was right. In all seriousness, while Lyoto used Karate, Stephen morphed point fighting karate into an mma style. A lot different in my mind. One of great innovators in our sport
WOW, Stephen is such a skillfull Great fighter, I really hope all the kids be safety doing sports and away from dangerous vaccines. BEST REGARDS FROM PERÚ
The most professional fighter ever. Never takes anyhing personal. Always full of respect. A very rare breed. Like someone once said, " they dont build them like this anymore"
not going to say you are wrong on anything. But, they do build em. I would think he has a twin right here in the Netherlands called Rico Verhoeven. If you don't know the dutch guy, check him out, he really does know how to deliver and is always respectful. They could seriously have been twins.
Nobody deserves the belt more than this man. If UFC doesn't give him a title belt, the whole world crowns him with a "Best Human Being" belt. Nobody can take that away from him, he is truly unique in this sense and will be remembered forever for it.
I don't care if Wonderboy never fights for another title again, he is the most entertaining welterweight the UFC has ever seen and I will be eternally grateful for him deciding to step into the octagon every time.
15:23 how can you not love this guy, he's gotta have one of the purest hearts in all of MMA. somehow he's made a character out of being just a nice fucking guy that people care about in a world of trash talker egomaniacs.
I still remember I was hoping WB could get a title shot two years ago, just how fast time flies Now I only wish him a perfect ending to his career What a legend😭😭😭
WB v Belal ignited my dislike for Belal that hasn’t subsided since lol Gilbert Burns did the same by just lay and praying on him but he redeemed himself with a lot of banger fights pre and post that one 😭
A belt means a lot though… It means for at least a moment you were the best in the world at that weight. Without one you just can’t be on the list of THE greats…
Even at his age,Steve still performs at a very high level. His only kryptonite is the few tail gunners that avoid his striking all costs and hump his legs. Can’t wait for his fight against Pereira.
This was a beautiful homage to my favorite fighter of all time. Wonderboy took the time to send my son (who's into judo and Thai box) several messages; always ending the message with OSS. He's just the perfect role model for kids in today's 'look at me' society. He shows that being humble and kind and true to yourself is the way to live your life. Still gutted that he didn't win the title, if only he didn't advance in the last 30 seconds of the second Woodley fight...But he's had (and still has) an amazing career nonetheless. Thank you so much for this video, just brilliant.
As a division 1 wrestler, it's super impressive to see how good his wrestling was in just his 3rd fight. He just has incredible body weight control. Good hips
The way he switched stance and exits range on the straight is so sick. It opens up the kick if he wants it but if he doesn't , he still has a ton of options
I have a new favorite mma artist of all time - Stephen Thompson. What a gentleman! In the truest sense. His mom and dad and the whole family must be immensely proud of him.
I'm astonished by how well Thompson is trained about distances. (punch & kick) You can see he doesn't even flinched when he knows his opponent won't land. It's not cockyness, he knows when to dodge. But he's saving so much precious energy this way.
not complaining but he's extremely tall vs the others, meaning his legs easily hit their head knowing that if he can just hit their head they can only just touch his with their foot at worst etc. Reach and height are great advantages defensively not offensively, despite what people thing.
@@RassionellMaddman well, ido agree.... to a limit. There's a super tiny girl owning several black belts, at my kung Fu club, who are a freaking killer if you're tall. It's super hard to touch/hit her, and she always get too close to allow proper defense. Better master grappling/elbows/knees, facing her, or she'll destroy you in so many ways xD And she trained a lot against long leg, due to her size, a nd can pull crazy BJJ leg locks if you "offer" her a head kick, lol xD Though yeah, in theory, size matters, I don't deny it. But a highly trained short-size can be sooo deadly too, if trained in proper martial arts to make the best out of what tall opponents can throw.
''There´s no other way to fight you. I know a lot of people don´t respoet that, but... We needed a win, brother.'' Gilbert Burns coach to Stephen Thompson. Mad respect!
Such a classy fighter. Most fighters with traditional martial arts background are down to earth, humble and nice, especially karateka. Lyoto Machica is also another humble warrior.
This guy is also very serious, he never exaggerates when the opponent is clearly defeated. Congratulations, and beautiful video, your story is understandable for a person who speaks English studied at school. I'm Italian and I follow you 😊
@@deckape714 Yes. I speak little English, And native speakers understand this much better than I do. But, I really appreciate the sound, and all that, because surely there is a work behind it, on speaking clearly and on conveying emotion, enthusiasm.
If you're a fan of the fight game you gotta love this guy and such a great ambassador to the sport. That little video game jumping flip twist thing he does is one of the coolest things I've ever seen in the octagon. Only Wonderboy!!
Wonderboy will have a long career after his active days are over. One of the best teachers of "real world use karate". Classic martial arts are all fine, but they're usually lacking in power outside of their own ruleset. This experience is priceless as a teacher.
As a former Wado-ryu and admirer of a certain Michael Bisping, RESPECT, fella.Seriously. From a Brit. Have just shown this video to my 8yo grandson. Thank you Mr Thompson for help with his inevitable future encounters with bullies. He has a very similar growing build. Hopefully some of your talent.😀
I absolutely love this guy, such an incredible fighter and sportsman. What’s not to like about him? Unbelievable talent. Thanks vote sport for another superb video. Much appreciated.🙏🏻❤️
God, it would've been great if this guy spent his prime in the muay thai and kickboxing divisions of One FC. Dude totally could've held multiple belts!
Wonderboy is such a nice guy and a figure so many people look up to. He is for me - even without any major titles - such a win for this sport with everything he gives, including insane fights, teaching younger generations and showing true sportmanship. Thompson vs. Holland is still one of my favorite all time fights!
World needs more "nice guys" as a "standard" behavior and personallity. Respecfull manners + karate style = Unforgettable martial artist and for me...that make them trully champions. No matter how unstoppable you're in a fight. You still as good as you are as a human beign...
To me, Stephen Thomson is truly a master martial artist and a gentleman. He has deep respect from many of us who understand his respect for his opponents, and the art of fighting with dignity. His is a deep understanding of martial arts. Mature, deadly yet respectful martial artist. He is a champion.
How can you not love this guy? He’s always an amazing and fierce competitor, who’s always humble and probably the friendliest fighter in the UFC. Such a great ambassador to the sport. I would love to see him get that belt wrapped around his waist. 🔥❤️🙏😀
I cant believe im just finding out about Wonderboy now. What a legend! A great ambassador for karate who displays stunning precision and intelligence in the ring combined with a kindness and respect that is a great example for not only his karate students but everyone out there. ❤
I absolutely love how he moves off the centerline with his combinations. It seems to really work well with how he utilizes the distance. I can’t imagine it’s easy for other fighters to find sparring partners who can replicate his style and techniques.
Wonder Boy Stephen Thompson. I salute you sir. You are on top three Hall of Famer in MMA - UFC Champions! Your skills and techniques and poise are remarkable. I wish to see you in action movies to represent your martial arts fans around the world.
Thanks for all the great fights over the years Stephen! Even though you never got the belt you’ll still go down in history as one of the goat! The best fighter to watch by far!
You know what I Love. I love the patience it takes for all these fights to be gathered and saved so the story can cover the year or two in this vid. So many times people create a fight compilation where a perspective better informs and captures an interest. I look forward to big things from the young man
what a guy. my dad trained in Karate early in life and he taught me to be kind and respectful to everyone. he taught me how to fight and always said "if you can walk away from a fight, do it."
Damn, that man has the skills! Much respect. And he seems like a decent person. As being a Shotokan practioner myself, he has my respect. I can see his techniques. Sometimes textbook Karate, but sometimes a little modified to suit the situation. I've never seen the side kick being used so well. Wonderful to watch. And such courage and tenacity! Keep going, osu!
I've been watching your videos for a few days now, and I gotta say, mate, you are doing an incredible job. Your writing, editing, narration, storytelling... All top notch. It's clear you put a ton of work into these, and I'm thoroughly enjoying them. Thanks for the fantastic content!
I don't think I've ever cried watching mma or boxing. But this time I dropped a few tears of relief. A relief of knowing that up to this day we have people on this planet that are not corrupt and stick to their principles of honour. How blessed are all those kids under Stephen's supervision and how lucky their parents are!!! Real men and gentlemen are even more important in this crazy age when deranged males pretending to be females crawling into rings and cages to compete against biological women. I believe that only because of people like Stephen Thompson the planet Earth is still spinning to the right direction, and there is hope that true sportsmenship will find it's way back to our rotten society.
@@luisgomez8635 Surprised myself too. You never know what and when can unexpectedly touch you on a deeper level. Especially when you over 50 and have more experience.
@@luisgomez8635life is like that man. Ever look at something so beautiful it gives you happy tears? If not I hope you do someday. Those aren't tears to be ashamed of, just a deep feeling that's hard to explain but it makes you happy and sad at the same time.
