Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson’s UFC 291 bout was cancelled after his opponent, Michel Pereira, failed to make weight, and Thompson declined a catchweight arrangement; despite having incurred costs for his training camp, Thompson was not compensated by the UFC, something he hopes will be rectified upon Dana White’s return from vacation.
Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson fulfiled his part of the bargain and successfully made weight for his scheduled fight at UFC 291. Unfortunately, his opponent, Michel Pereira, did not meet the weight requirement, coming in at 174 pounds. This led to Thompson declining a catchweight match after Pereira exceeded the welterweight limit for their non-title fight. Consequently, their bout was removed from the card. Despite the unexpected development, Thompson did not receive any compensation from the UFC, but he is hopeful that this will change soon.
Thompson revealed that his management is currently in talks with the UFC, as was first reported on “The MMA Hour”. But up until now, he has not yet received any payment. While UFC President, Dana White, is on vacation, Thompson is optimistic that the UFC will do right by him, since he has always upheld his contractual obligations and complied with the UFC’s demands. He is confident that negotiations are on the right track, and anticipates closure once White returns from his trip.
While remaining hopeful for a resolution, Thompson admits that he would be disappointed if the UFC decided against any form of compensation. In his perspective, he fulfilled his commitment flawlessly, while his opponent was the one who fell short. Consequently, he believes it would be unjust if he paid the price. Furthermore, Thompson expressed his desire for the UFC to introduce a clause in future contracts that protects fighters in similar situations. He pointed out that running a fight camp comes with significant financial burdens since fighters have to cover all the associated expenses out of pocket unless they receive compensation.
Thompson, who was the oldest participant at UFC 291, explained that people often underestimate the financial toll a camp can take on a fighter. It includes hiring training partners and coaches, paying for nutritious meals, undergoing physical therapy, among other expenses. He is hopeful that his unfortunate predicament serves as a wake-up call for the UFC to take actions that protect the interests of the fighters.