This weekend, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson had an unfortunate turn of events during UFC 291 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Originally scheduled to face the flashy Brazilian striker, Michel Pereira, on the pay-per-view main card, Thompson missed out on the action after Pereira failed to make the 171-pound welterweight limit by three pounds.
Despite efforts to salvage the bout, Thompson and the promotion couldn’t reach an agreement, leading to the decision not to proceed with the fight. As a result, the two-time title challenger hasn’t received his show money for the weight-cutting efforts he had made.
Stephen Thompson reveals UFC hasn’t paid him for canceled fight
“At this point, my management is talking with the UFC,” Thompson said of his pay on The MMA Hour. “[I’ve been paid] nothing yet. I know [UFC President] Dana White’s on vacation. That guy’s a workaholic, so well deserved, but I feel like the UFC is going to do right by me. I’ve done everything that I am supposed to do,” he continued.
In 2023, “Wonderboy” has been absent from the Octagon since his thrilling headliner victory over Kevin Holland in late 2022. The fourth-round technical knockout (doctor’s stoppage) triumph marked Thompson’s return to the winning track after experiencing consecutive losses against Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad.
However, there’s uncertainty surrounding Thompson’s payment for UFC 291, and if he doesn’t receive compensation, it’s understandable that he will be disappointed.
“100 percent, yes, I’ll be disappointed,” Stephen Thompson said. “Who wouldn’t be? When you show up and you’re on point, and you have done nothing wrong and your opponent has. It would just really stink if that was the case
“But, me being the positive guy that I am, I feel like they’re going to do right by me,” he concluded. “That’s why I’m still smiling right now.”
Stephen Thompson admits he will be "disappointed" if the UFC does not pay him for UFC 291. #TheMMAHour
"I’ve done what they’ve wanted of me and I feel that they’re gonna do right by me. Things are still in talks."
▶️ https://t.co/kRJv9QPzeB pic.twitter.com/Foo2WfV9Hp
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) July 31, 2023
Why did Stephen Thompson turn down Michel Pereira bout?
The fight between Stephen Thompson and Michel Pereira was canceled when Pereira weighed in at 174 pounds, exceeding the agreed-upon weight limit. Stephen Thompson chose not to face Pereira and provided a lengthy statement explaining his decision.
Thompson’s statement read:
“I’m gutted for my coaches, my family and all the people who helped me throughout camp to be ready and prepared to go to battle. I made weight this morning as I have done every fight during my 11+ year UFC career. My opponent did not.
This isn’t the first time I’ve had an opponent miss weight and given how that played out previously, myself and my team felt that it’s ultimately not smart for us to move forward with this fight.”
What are your thoughts regarding this? Let us know in the comment section below.
