Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson made weight for his scheduled fight at UFC 291, but his opponent, Michel Pereira, failed to do so, coming in three pounds over the welterweight limit. As a result, Thompson declined to have a catchweight fight, and the bout was eventually canceled from the card. However, despite the cancellation, Thompson has not received any compensation from the UFC. He is currently in talks with the organization through his management, hoping that he will be paid for the canceled fight in the near future.
Thompson expressed his belief that the UFC will do right by him, given that he has always followed the terms of his contracts and complied with their requests. He acknowledges that UFC President Dana White was on vacation during this time, and he expects to hear more about the potential compensation once White returns.
While waiting for a final decision, Thompson admits that he would be disappointed if the UFC chooses not to offer any form of compensation, especially since he did nothing wrong, and it was his opponent who failed to make weight. Despite that, Thompson remains positive and optimistic that the UFC will treat him fairly.
To prevent similar issues in the future, Thompson suggests that the UFC should include a clear provision in the fight contracts that protects fighters facing such situations. He points out that preparing for a fight involves significant financial investment, including training camp costs, coaches, nutritionists, and physical therapy. Having to cover these expenses when a fight gets canceled due to an opponent’s failure to make weight can be a considerable burden for fighters. Thompson hopes that the UFC will take this into account and provide better protection for athletes in such circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about compensation
Q: What happened with Stephen Thompson’s fight at UFC 291?
A: Stephen Thompson’s opponent, Michel Pereira, failed to make weight, coming in three pounds over the welterweight limit. As a result, Thompson declined a catchweight fight, and the bout was canceled from the card.
Q: Did Stephen Thompson receive any compensation for the canceled fight?
A: As of now, Stephen Thompson has not received any compensation from the UFC for the canceled fight. His management is in talks with the organization to address the issue.
Q: Is Stephen Thompson hopeful of receiving compensation?
A: Yes, Stephen Thompson remains hopeful that the UFC will do right by him and provide fair compensation for the canceled fight once UFC President Dana White returns from vacation.
Q: Why does Stephen Thompson believe he deserves compensation?
A: Stephen Thompson states that he has always followed the terms of his contracts and has done everything the UFC asked of him. Since his opponent’s weight issue caused the cancellation, he believes he should be compensated for the expenses incurred during his training camp.
Q: What does Stephen Thompson suggest to prevent similar issues in the future?
A: Stephen Thompson suggests that the UFC should include a clear provision in fight contracts to protect fighters facing situations like this, ensuring they are covered financially if a fight gets canceled due to an opponent’s failure to make weight.
More about compensation
- MMA Junkie – Stephen Thompson ‘in talks’ with UFC on compensation for cancelled fight, but ‘nothing’ paid yet
- UFC Official Website
- UFC Rankings
- UFC Fighter Profile: Stephen Thompson
- UFC Fighter Profile: Michel Pereira
- UFC 291 Event Details
- UFC President Dana White’s Twitter
