American mixed martial artist, karateka, and model Stephen Thompson now fights for the UFC in the welterweight division. The son for former kickboxer Ray Thompson, who also owned a karate school, Thompson received his early training from his father. Apart from mastering American kickboxing, he later gained expertise in Tetsushin-ryū Kempo, jiu-jitsu, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, too. Initially an amateur full-contact kickboxer, he won 16 amateur kickboxing championships between 1999 and 2005. Now considered one of the best strikers in the UFC, he has won the UFC Fight of the Night thrice, the Knockout of the Night once, and the Performance of the Night 4 times. Apart from being a successful MMA fighter, he has also been signed to IMG Models and has appeared in the Netflix martial arts series Cobra Kai. He has also bagged numerous brand endorsements and has been featured in multiple top-notch martial arts magazines.
