Scouting Report: Stephen Thompson

Stephen Thompson

Born: February 11, 1983 (Age: 39) in Simpsonville, South Carolina
Division: Welterweight
Height: 6’0”
Reach: 75”
Record: 16-6-1 (11-6-1 UFC)
Association: Team Upstate Karate/Pitch Black MMA
Stage of Career: Post-Prime

Summary: Thompson is a truly unique fighter, with a striking style unlike that of any other top-level competitor. With his hands down in a bladed karate stance, he throws a plethora of sudden, un-telegraphed, technical punches and kicks that opponents cannot predict. In his prime, he could unleash those weapons for five straight rounds and was an exceptionally smart fighter with excellent defense, to boot. However, as he has gotten older, his hand speed and cardio have declined. Worst of all, he is not nearly as excellent at defending takedowns as he was at his peak. Adversaries have found it easier to get Thompson to the canvas and keep him there. All these variables have made the once-great fighter far more vulnerable and beatable, though he remains plenty skilled.

STRIKING

• Stance: Southpaw, although he switches stances often.
• Hand Speed: Fast and well above average in his prime but slower nowadays.
• Jab: Technical and fast while having no telegraph.
• Cross: Carries similar properties to the jab but with a little less power than one would hope. However, he did floor Jorge Masvidal with a right cross.
• Left Hook: Lacks a little rotation, partly due to his stance, but the punch is quick, powerful and otherwise technical.
• Right Hook: Same properties as the left hook.
• Overhand Right: Does not use it much.
• Uppercuts: Rarely throws them.
• Solitary Striker or Volume Puncher: Mostly a one-shot sniper, though he fires short combinations at times.
• Favorite Combinations: Favors the one-two, which is quick and incredibly sudden, with no telegraph.
• Leg Kicks: Sometimes he puts a little less steam on them, foregoing power for suddenness and speed.
• Body Kicks: Sheer variety makes them all-time great weapons. He throws a roundhouse with similar properties to his leg kicks, along with a nice side kick with which he can quickly change direction and go upstairs. Thompson also features a fantastic front kick to the stomach that is sneaky, fast and sudden.
• Head Kicks: Shows great flexibility on top of being fast and sudden, having knocked out multiple opponents with them.
• Chains Kicks to Punches: Yes.

Thompson has one of the most unique striking styles in MMA history and nevertheless found elite-level success. He has a bladed karate stance with his hands very low, yet he manages to make up for it with great movement and defensive instincts. The low hands make his punches incredibly difficult to predict or react to. They come from every angle with no telegraph. Though he is a southpaw, he switches stances quite often and is dangerous with any variation of straight punch. Both of his hooks are excellent, too, making it extremely difficult for an opponent to predict where the strikes will come from. His kicks are all outstanding. The head kick is well-known for its destructive powers, but his mix of body kicks is truly exceptional. He incorporates the roundhouse, side kick and front kick all especially well. It should be noted that as he has aged, his hand speed has diminished.

CLINCH

• Physical Strength: Excellent at his peak, perhaps merely decent now.
• Technique: Positions his body well and utilizes all the correct movements.
• Knees: Effective when he throws them, but he often looks to defend.
• Elbows: Does not throw them.
• Defense Against Knees/Elbows: Outstanding.

Thompson usually looks to avoid the takedown and gain separation from the clinch, although he can land a hard knee if given an opportunity.

GRAPPLING

• Wrestling from a Shot: Non-existent.
• Wrestling in the Clinch: Non-existent.
• Takedown Defense: Used to be excellent in his prime, but he suffered recent losses to Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad due to his inability to stay upright.
• Ability to Return to Feet: Decent but struggles to hip-escape and remains a little behind in terms of grappling.
• Submissions: Does not look for them.
• Defense/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from the Bottom: Able to control the biceps well and minimizes ground-and-pound damage, along with submission attempts.
• Top Control: Minimal in the rare times when has moved into position.
• Ground-and-Pound: Difficult to judge, since he is usually finishing an opponent off whenever he uses it.

Thompson mainly looks to nullify an opponent’s grappling, though he has become less successful at doing so as he nears 40 years of age. He used to excel at stopping takedowns and was also quite adept at hip-escaping back to his feet. However, he is now easier to take down and keep there. Thompson still has solid ground-and-pound defense from the bottom and can stop submissions, but that has become a recipe for losing decisions—as evidenced by his aforementioned setbacks against Burns and Muhammad.

INTANGIBLES

• Athleticism/General Physical Strength: Used to be excellent, with very sleek, fluid movement. However, he has grown rather ordinary as he has aged.
• Cardio: Traditionally great but likely waning in the latter stages of his career. Thompson once barely slowed down when he moved around the cage while firing strikes and defending takedowns for 25 minutes. Now, he becomes visibly fatigued in the third round, with his takedown defense weakening as a result.
• Chin: Can weather hard shots, but truly powerful blows, like the Superman punch Anthony Pettis landed against him, can put him out.
• Recuperative Powers: Manages to get his bearings back quickly.
• Intelligence: Off the charts. Such a unique fighting style would not work otherwise.