Long term
Ultimate Fighting Championship is scheduled to face a welterweight contender Charles Radtke in his retirement game at UFC 334 November 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Thompson has explained his reasoning behind agreeing to fight the unranked welterweight.
Stephen Thompson wants to give Charles Radtke the chance the veterans once gave him
“Wonderboy” explained in an interview with Full Mount MMA that he wants to leave the door open for a new wave of fighters. Thompson believes that he would not have become a permanent fixture in the welterweight rankings if established fighters had not given him similar opportunities early in his career. Now he wants to give Radtke a chance to move up the rankings.
“Why not go out with a chance to give these other guys a chance to step up?” Thompson said. “I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am today, especially being in the Top 5 – Top 10 for so long, if it wasn’t for the guys who contributed to me. Radtke has a lot of potential; he’s good everywhere. Why not give this guy a chance if he beats me to move up the rankings?”
Thompson has won four times since his mutually unsuccessful welterweight title bids Tyron Woodley in 2016-17. He is currently on a three-fight losing streak, with his last victory coming in 2022. Meanwhile, Radtke is 5-2 in the UFC and his losses have come against him. Mike Malott
and Carlos Prates.
🫡 Stephen Thompson says he wanted to make a veteran move and give
Charles Radtke opportunity to rise in the ranking:“Why not go out with a chance to give these other guys a chance to build themselves up.
Radtke has huge potential, he is good everywhere. And when he…
pic.twitter.com/93VJrZmmiS— Full Mount MMA (@MMAFullMount)
30 September 2026
