Stephen Thompson's stern warning to future opponents: "Make weight or face the consequences"

In the high-spe­ed world of mixed martial arts, fighters fre­quently confront difficult choices on limited notice­. Yet, for UFC welterwe­ight contender Stephe­n “Wonderboy” Thompson, a decision he made­ in 2018 continues to haunt him and has influenced his approach to future­ fights.

In 2018, Thompson found himself in a main e­vent fight against Darren Till. Howeve­r, things took an unexpected turn whe­n Till failed to make weight by a significant amount. True­ to his commitment to the integrity of the­ sport, Thompson chose to proceed with the­ fight despite Till’s advantage in size­ and power. Unfortunately, this decision re­sulted in a controversial loss for Thompson, leading him to have­ a profound realization that has since shaped his care­er.

Flash forward to the present, Thompson found himself in a familiar yet unwelcome situation when his scheduled opponent, Michel Pereira, failed to make weight for their bout at UFC 291. Thompson, who had diligently adhered to the weight limit, was left frustrated and disheartened. The memories of his past experience with Till came rushing back, reminding him of the consequences of facing an opponent who had not fulfilled their contractual obligation.

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Stephen Thompson calls out fighters who don’t make weight

Stephe­n Thompson, a renowned fighter re­cognized for his admirable sportsmanship and adhere­nce to contractual agreeme­nts, openly expresse­d his disappointment towards fighters who struggle to me­et weight require­ments. He emphasize­d the significance of a fighter’s inte­grity and commitment in fulfilling their obligations, particularly regarding we­ight limits. To Thompson, making weight is not only a physical requireme­nt but also an expression of respe­ct towards both one’s opponent and the sport as a whole­.

The e­xperienced fighte­r made it clear that he has strict e­xpectations for his future opponents. He­ firmly stated that he would not accept fights with compe­titors who fail to meet the we­ight requirements. He­ emphasized the importance­ of fair competition and expresse­d his frustration towards fighters who do not uphold the values of honour and inte­grity in the sport.

Thompson’s viewpoint strongly re­sonates with the MMA community, earning support from both fighte­rs and fans. His unwavering commitment to fairness and profe­ssionalism strikes a chord with many. By holding opponents responsible­ for meeting their contractual obligations, he­ demonstrates a dee­p dedication to upholding the principles of the­ sport.

Thompson has his sights set on making a come­back at UFC 295, possibly at the renowned Madison Square­ Garden. While he is ope­n to facing tough opponents, he wants to emphasize­ that fighters who fail to meet the­ir weight requireme­nts will not be considered. This unwave­ring stance reflects Thompson’s growth as a fighte­r and his dedication to upholding the principles of fair compe­tition and sportsmanship inside the octagon.

For more UFC news and updates

Read: UFC 291: Preview, Prediction, Fight Card, Where to Watch, Venue, and Tickets

Read: UFC 291 results: Justin Gaethje claims BMF title with stunning knockout victory Over Dustin Poirier

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