Jul 12, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, United States; Stephen Thompson (red gloves) fights Gabriel Bonfim (blue gloves) in a welterweight bout during UFC Fight Night at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

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“Split To The Bone” – Stephen Thompson Breaks Silence After UFC Nashville Loss

Stephen Thompson issues statement after loss to Brazil's Gabriel Bonfim at the co-main event of UFC Nashville!

Stephen Thompson has seen better days in the octagon. The 42 year old welterweight veteran has been through the wars during his long UFC career. He’s fought for titles twice and faced some of the division’s toughest competitors. But his recent run hasn’t been kind to the karate specialist from South Carolina.

Thompson stepped into the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Saturday night looking to snap a two fight losing streak. The crowd was behind him, and he seemed ready to remind everyone why he earned his ‘Wonderboy’ nickname. He faced Gabriel Bonfim in what many expected to be a showcase fight for the experienced striker. Instead, Thompson walked away with another loss and a gruesome injury.

Stephen Thompson Issues Statement After The Fight

Thompson showed flashes of his old self with excellent takedown defense and sharp striking. His years of experience were evident as he moved around the octagon with purpose. The crowd could feel something building each time he found his range and started letting his hands go.

But MMA has a way of humbling even the most skilled fighters. Bonfim proved he belonged in there with a former title contender. The Brazilian pressed forward and made it a dogfight when Thompson might have preferred to keep things at distance. The judges saw enough from Bonfim to award him a split decision victory, though many observers felt Thompson had done enough to win.

The real damage came in the form of a checked kick that split Thompson’s shin down to the bone. Thompson took it in stride, though, posting on social media about how the UFC doctors had to stitch him up. He thanked everyone from his team to his father while acknowledging the reality of his situation with typical good humor.

”Nashville you are amazing! To my fans, I love y’all!! Thank you for your love and support always. Pops, thank you for always being in my corner, love you…Also, shout to the @ufc Docs for stitching me up! Shin is split to the bone so time to focus on healing up!”

Nashville you are amazing! To my fans, I love y'all!! Thank you for your love and support always ❤️

Pops, thank you for always being in my corner, love you!

To my team back home, thank you for all of your help for this fight camp. I felt great out there 🙏

Thank you to my… pic.twitter.com/Hem8MVqYXg
— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) July 13, 2025

The shin injury will keep him out for a while, giving him time to heal and reflect. When he does return, fans will be watching to see if Wonderboy has another chapter left in his story. He has given a lot to this sport already, and he may be looking to say goodbye sooner than later.

(Image Credit: Steve Roberts – Imagn Images)

Gabriel Bonfim

Stephen Thompson

UFC Nashville

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!