TLDR
- Stephen Thompson confirmed his fight against Charles Radtke at UFC 334 on Nov. 14 will be his last UFC bout
- The 43-year-old welcomed a baby girl in September, which changed his priorities and led to retirement decision
- Thompson holds a 17-9-1 record and earned two title shots against Tyron Woodley in 2016 and 2017
- He has lost three straight fights but says his body still feels capable of competing
- Thompson left the door open for a potential return once his daughter is older
Sources: yardbarker.com | sports.yahoo.com | sportsnet.ca
Stephen Thompson has set the date for his final UFC fight. The 43-year-old welterweight confirmed to James Lynch of Ozoon on Thursday that his Nov. 14 bout against Charles Radtke at UFC 334 will be his last.
“It’s my last one, brother,” Thompson said in a clip Lynch released on YouTube. “And what better place to have it than Madison Square Garden, New York City?”
The fight will take place on the preliminary card of UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden. The main event features a heavyweight title bout between Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit.
🔥 Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson wants to finish his UFC contract at Madison Square Garden on November 14—and go out with one final barn burner.
“We have one fight left, and why not go out in front of everyone at Madison Square Garden one last time?
We want to get the right… pic.twitter.com/WET4XM5FXZ
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) August 11, 2026
Fatherhood Changes Everything
Thompson said becoming a father to a baby girl in September has completely shifted his priorities. He now calls himself “Wonderdad” instead of his longtime nickname “Wonderboy.”
“My body feels good,” Thompson told Lynch. “I feel great. I can keep going. But I have a baby girl now.”
The South Carolina native insisted his physical condition isn’t the issue. Instead, he wants to focus on his new role as a father during this stage of his daughter’s life.
“‘Wonderdad’ now,” Thompson said. “That definitely changes your mindset a little bit.”
Thompson did leave open the possibility of a future return. “We’ll see as she’s older where I’m at,” he said. “You might see me again.”
A 14-Year UFC Career
Thompson began his UFC career in 2012 and quickly made a name for himself. He won eight of his first nine fights in the promotion, building momentum toward a title shot.
His best years came between 2013 and 2016 when he went on a seven-fight winning streak. That run earned him a welterweight title shot against Tyron Woodley at UFC 205 in November 2016.
The first fight ended in a thrilling draw. Thompson got a rematch at UFC 209 in March 2017 but lost by majority decision. He never got another chance at the title.
Thompson finishes his career with a 17-9-1 record. He has received eight fight night bonuses, ranking fourth for the most total bonuses in the welterweight division.
He also ranks fifth in the division for total strikes landed with 1,293. Thompson became known for his unique karate-based fighting style, holding a seventh-degree black belt in Tetsushin-ryū Kempo.
UFC CEO Dana White praised Thompson in 2025 after UFC Nashville. “He’s one of the nicest human beings on the planet,” White said.
Thompson enters his final fight on a three-fight losing streak. He has dropped decisions to Shavkat Rakhmonov, Joaquin Buckley, and Gabriel Bonfim since his last win.
His most recent loss came against Bonfim at a UFC Fight Night event in July 2025. Thompson lost by split decision in that bout.
Thompson previously told Lynch that Madison Square Garden was his preferred venue for a retirement fight. “I love fighting at MSG,” he explained. “Spent a lot of time in Long Island, so New York is kind of like my home away from home.”
Charles Radtke will be Thompson’s final opponent on Nov. 14. The fight will give UFC fans one last chance to see “Wonderboy” compete in the Octagon.
