Top 100 Quotes & Sayings by Stephen Thompson

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an American athlete Stephen Thompson.

Last updated on December 3, 2024.

Stephen Thompson is an American professional mixed martial artist and model. Thompson currently competes in the Welterweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a former full-contact kickboxer and was undefeated through 37 amateur and 20 professional kickboxing matches. Thompson is regarded as one of the most accomplished strikers in the UFC, as well as one of most respectful fighters in the sport. As of April 12, 2022, he is #7 in the UFC welterweight rankings.

American - Athlete | Born: February 11, 1983

Source: Wikipedia

You never know what the UFC's going to bring.

Stephen Thompson

You can defend a single-leg takedown a little bit easier than you could a double-leg takedown.

Stephen Thompson

I've never really had any beef with anybody yet, so I think that's a good thing.

Stephen Thompson

I love Montreal. I love the people, I love the history.

Stephen Thompson

Demian Maia, he's a tough, scary guy.

Stephen Thompson

Of course I've been called everything; Wonder Wonder Woman, Wonder Bra, Wonder Bread.

Stephen Thompson

I understand it's part of the sport, part of the game to have people who like you and people who don't.

Stephen Thompson

The average MMA guys have a boxer's stance which makes it easier for a wrestler when they try and take you down. I tend to stand sideways and that gives them only one leg to shoot for, it tends to make it more difficult to try and take me down.

Stephen Thompson

A lot of people look down on people who are successful, but Conor McGregor is successful because he runs his mouth and he knows how to put on a show. I mean, look at his press conferences. I mean, come on. People show up just to see him just act nuts. Hats off to that guy, he's a very intelligent, very smart guy.

Stephen Thompson

A lot of people think martial arts are just fighting, but it's character-building, too, and I want to give back.

Stephen Thompson

It's difficult when you step out there with somebody like me and my offense.

Stephen Thompson

My dad grew up in a little place near Charleston called Moncks Corner.

Stephen Thompson

I try my best not to get hit. I don't like getting hit.

Stephen Thompson

You see this with fighters all the time, if you're not staying active, you're kinda put on the shelf a little bit.

Stephen Thompson

After my last fight with Woodley, I ended up hurting my knee so I was out for almost six months.

Stephen Thompson

I'm going to give it my all to get that title. And whether I make it or not, I'll know I've competed with the best. And that's enough for me.

Stephen Thompson

I'd fight for free to be honest with you.

Stephen Thompson

I know what martial arts have done for me. They've taught me integrity, self-control, perseverance and an indomitable spirit.

Stephen Thompson

From what I've seen he keeps his right side forward, he throws his left hand, throws his left leg and likes to throw a few elbows, but to be honest with you, I'm not very impressed by Darren Till - I think Masvidal is a better fighter. I think he brings more to the table than Darren Till.

Stephen Thompson

To be honest with you, getting knocked out isn't that bad. It's not what everybody makes it out to be.

Stephen Thompson

I've been fighting since I was 15 years old, so I've had pretty much everything that could be said, said to me.

Stephen Thompson

All I want to do is what I do best: go out there and put a hand or a foot upside somebody's head.

Stephen Thompson

When I was 15, I fought a guy who was 26 and he was 20-0, undefeated. It was a way for my dad to show me that I was better than I thought. I ended up beating the brakes off this 26-year-old guy. After the fight, the announcer asked my opponent how it felt. He answered, 'I wonder why I stepped in the ring with that boy.'

Stephen Thompson

When you're out there in the octagon and you've got thousands of people, millions across the world, either cheering for you to win or cheering for you to get knocked out, the adrenaline is going, so it doesn't hurt while you're out there. Now fast forward to about an hour and a half to two hours after the fight? Oh yes. It's pretty painful.

Stephen Thompson

Conor has taken the UFC to a whole new level. It's his whole demeanor that appeals to me. He's a fighter, he's a Viking, and on top of that, he's got the gift of gab.

Stephen Thompson

No matter how much it hurts, you gotta stay focused on what you're there for and your goals, just don't give up.

Stephen Thompson

I've been called all kinds of stuff, it's part of the game. You take it personal, then you're in trouble. It will affect you, your training. It comes with the territory.

Stephen Thompson

If you're strong mentally, you can do anything.

Stephen Thompson

I just want to be able to say I fought the best fighters in the world.

Stephen Thompson

Everyone in the UFC is good. If you're at the lowest end or the highest end, you have a chance to get knocked out and put to sleep.

Stephen Thompson

Anybody in the division's top 15 I would love to fight.

Stephen Thompson

Constantly moving, from side to side. Keeping your opponent guessing. If you stand still long enough, a wrestler is going to shoot for your legs. He's going to see where your legs are at. But, if you keep him constantly guessing, they can't get a bead on those legs. So, constant movement is probably one of the best takedown defenses you could use.

Stephen Thompson

I've always been a fan of those guys. My dad was in military school and I have a bunch of buddies that are Marines, and I just kind of want to give back to those guys that gave more than enough for us.

Stephen Thompson

Everybody wants to see somebody get knocked out. I'm sorry but it's the fight game and that's what they want to see.

Stephen Thompson

In kickboxing, if I walked around at 185 pounds, I fought at 185 pounds.

Stephen Thompson

You see a lot of fighters who just got into the UFC getting a lot more recognition than the people who have been in there.

Stephen Thompson

Everybody asks 'would you fight Conor McGregor?' - of course I'd fight Conor McGregor but it's not because of the money. It's because he's such a huge martial artist and everybody considers themselves the best if you fight Conor McGregor, if you beat Conor McGregor. I look at it like that.

Stephen Thompson

People want to see fighters get punched in the face.

Stephen Thompson

A lot of people think you're not the champion until you defend it one time.

Stephen Thompson

I believed I could knock out Rory MacDonald, Johny Hendricks and Jake Ellenberger, and sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't, but I know I can knock these guys out.

Stephen Thompson

Whenever I fight, whenever you see me fight, I work a lot off of angles, using my kicks a lot.

Stephen Thompson

From what I've seen of Darren Till, he's very durable. He likes to throw that left hand so he has a chance to knock people out.

Stephen Thompson

Magny is a dangerous guy. He's a good fighter.

Stephen Thompson

I believe that God gave us gifts to help serve Him and He gave me the gift. I'm a people person. I'm also an instructor at Upstate Karate, but I've got the gift of fight, man. After every fight, I try to give all the glory to Him. I believe He gave us, like I said, the abilities to do that.

Stephen Thompson

You know I tore my MCL in the fight with Till. We did an MRI and thankfully nothing else was damaged.

Stephen Thompson

Elvis was a seventh-degree black belt in karate. My dad knew that he couldn't dance like Elvis or sing like him, but he thought maybe he could try karate, and he fell in love with it.

Stephen Thompson

Striking is what I do.

Stephen Thompson

You never go into the ring feeling 100 percent.

Stephen Thompson

I spent some time with Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida when they were training at Blackhouse in California. This was before I was in the UFC.

Stephen Thompson

I rage playing video games. I think that's the only time you will ever hear me say a cuss word.

Stephen Thompson

Me coming from a karate and kickboxing background, Anderson Silva was like my idol, and so was Machida, especially with his karate background.

Stephen Thompson

As a fighter my goal is not to get hit and frustrate my opponent. Once I get you frustrated then I got you.

Stephen Thompson

Matt Brown did exactly what he said he was going to do. He kicked my butt. But it was a war. I would love to do it again. Matt Brown's a good dude and a great fighter. He's made it up to the top and man, he's a monster.

Stephen Thompson

I do respect everybody who I step in the Octagon with.

Stephen Thompson

Robert Whittaker is definitely a different fighter from when I fought him last. His takedown defense is ridiculous - ridiculous - and his cardio is out there. Like, the guy does not get tired.

Stephen Thompson

You just have to put in the work. Work really hard, get a good coach and a good gym. You have to have the right mindset to be a champion. Don't make excuses on going to the gym like your ankle is sore or what.

Stephen Thompson

I was like 'You know what? I'm training with these champions. Guys like Georges St-Pierre, Rashad Evans, Nate Marquardt... Let me give this MMA thing a shot.'

Stephen Thompson

During the fight, if you feel something, you know it's pretty bad, because normally you don't feel anything. You get punched and elbowed in the face, you don't feel it until after the fight.

Stephen Thompson

I'm constantly working my wrestling and jiu-jitsu, which is going to make me more confident in the Octagon.

Stephen Thompson

Thank goodness I was blessed with a hard head.

Stephen Thompson