Stephen Thompson’s been in the UFC game a long time, and he’s not afraid to call things out. The welterweight veteran, known as Wonderboy, spoke up in an MMA Fighting interview about Islam Makhachev’s plan to jump from lightweight to welterweight. After vacating his lightweight title, Makhachev called out new welterweight champ Jack Della Maddalena instead of a top five contender. Thompson thinks it’s a tough fight but says it’s unfair to the division’s veterans.
Stephen Thompson’s UFC Journey
Stephen Thompson is a welterweight standout with a 17-7-1 record. Known for his karate style and sharp striking, he joined the UFC in 2012. He knocked out fighters like Robert Whittaker and Johny Hendricks and fought for the welterweight title twice, losing to Tyron Woodley at UFC 205 in 2016 and drawing in their 2017 rematch at UFC 209. His recent run has been tough, with a 2-3 record in his last five fights, including a submission loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 307 on October 5, 2024.
Islam Makhachev, with a 27-1 record, won the UFC lightweight title in 2022 by submitting Charles Oliveira at UFC 280. He defended it four times, including wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Dustin Poirier, before vacating it in May 2025 to challenge for the welterweight title. Jack Della Maddalena, with an 18-2 record, won the welterweight title by defeating Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision at UFC 315 on May 10, 2025, and is ranked No. 9 pound-for-pound. Makhachev called him out post fight.
Thompson Calls Out Makhachev’s Move
Thompson didn’t hold back.
“Well, number one, if I was in the top-five, I would be very upset that this guy who just got the title is already looking at somebody from a different division,” he told MMA Fighting. “If it was me who, if I’m in the top-five, more deserving than this guy coming up, like I’ve been waiting here.”
He believes welterweight contenders like Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Machado Garry, or Kamaru Usman, ranked No. 1, 2, and 3, should get the next shot.
Still, Thompson sees the fight as a challenge.
“Now, I think it’s a good fight,” he said. “I think it’s a very tough fight for Islam Makhachev coming up. Jack Della Maddalena’s a bigger guy, a guy with great takedown defense, and a guy who just won the title from somebody very similar to himself in Belal Muhammad. Cardio for days, strong grappling background.” He added, “I do believe that Islam has a better striking than Belal does, so I think that would be interesting, but I think it’s a very tough fight for Islam, for sure.”
Makhachev’s move to welterweight is big news. After dominating lightweight, he vacated his title to avoid holding up the division. His callout of Della Maddalena, who’s on a seven fight win streak with knockouts over Gilbert Burns and Kevin Holland, surprised many. Della Maddalena’s size and striking make him dangerous, but his lack of welterweight experience fuels Thompson’s concern. Makhachev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, insists the fight will happen in 2025, possibly in November at Madison Square Garden.
The welterweight division is stacked. Rakhmonov (19-0), Garry (16-1), Brady (18-1), and Usman (21-4) are waiting. Thompson, ranked No. 8, wants to fight again in 2025 despite his recent loss.
Thompson’s comments point to a bigger issue, who gets a title shot. Makhachev’s skills, honed under Khabib Nurmagomedov, make him a threat, but skipping welterweight contenders feels wrong to Thompson. Della Maddalena welcomed the callout, saying he believes he can outstrike Makhachev. The fight isn’t confirmed, but November 2025 in New York is a likely target.
Thompson’s planning his own comeback. At 42, he’s still chasing a title shot, hoping a win could put him back in the mix. His voice carries weight in a division full of talent.
