Veteran UFC welterweight contender Stephen `Wonderboy` Thompson is gearing up for a critical showdown this weekend at UFC Nashville. Standing across the Octagon will be Gabriel Bonfim, a promising Brazilian prospect boasting an impressive 17-1 professional record. For Thompson, who at 42 is facing the possibility of a third consecutive loss following defeats to Shavkat Rakhmonov and Joaquin Buckley, this fight carries significant weight.
To prepare for the challenge posed by the well-rounded Bonfim, Thompson has enlisted assistance from an unexpected source: a retired legend and former adversary, Rory MacDonald.
A Reunion Years in the Making
MacDonald, a former multi-promotional title challenger known as `The Red King`, shared the Octagon with Thompson nearly a decade ago. Their high-stakes five-round main event clash at UFC Ottawa in June 2016 saw Thompson emerge victorious via unanimous decision. That fight marked MacDonald`s final appearance in the UFC before he went on to capture the Bellator welterweight championship and later compete in the PFL, ultimately retiring in 2022 with notable wins over fighters like Tyron Woodley, BJ Penn, Nate Diaz, and Demian Maia.
Despite being retired for close to three years, MacDonald made the journey to Upstate Karate in South Carolina to lend his expertise to Thompson`s training camp. This collaboration between former rivals quickly garnered attention and praise from figures within the MMA community, including Thompson`s head coach (and father) Ray Thompson, who expressed gratitude for MacDonald`s “amazing help and insight,” and coach Tim Welch, who simply labeled them “Legends.” Fans also reacted positively, expressing pleasure at seeing MacDonald involved in training.
Adapting to an Evolving Game
Thompson, celebrated throughout his career for his unique karate-based striking, is acutely aware that the landscape of mixed martial arts is constantly shifting. As he himself noted during UFC Nashville media day, the era of pure specialists is fading.
“From when I started the game is evolving every year,” Thompson stated. “I step out, everybody’s getting good… Everywhere. I come from an era of just specialists where you had the striking specialist in Anderson Silva, you had the jiu-jitsu specialist in Demian Maia…”
He recalled a time when Rory MacDonald was highlighted precisely because he *wasn`t* just a specialist, training exclusively for MMA under the guidance of Georges St-Pierre`s coach Firas Zahabi to become a remarkably complete fighter.
“I remember back in the day,” Thompson continued, “all the talk was Rory MacDonald and how good he was everywhere… [Now] everybody’s good everywhere. It’s not just one or two people.”
This realization underscores the strategic value of MacDonald`s presence in camp. Bonfim, with his high finish rate and well-rounded skillset, represents the modern archetype Thompson feels he is still “playing catch-up” with at 42 years old. MacDonald`s understanding of combining different disciplines could be invaluable in preparing Thompson to handle a fighter who poses threats both on the feet and on the ground.
A Focus on Preparation, Not Comeback
While the sight of `The Red King` back in a training environment might stir speculation, MacDonald has reportedly maintained that he has no plans for a return to active competition, particularly in the UFC. His involvement appears to be solely focused on assisting a former rival in a crucial stage of his career, a testament to the respect developed between the two athletes over the years.
The alliance between Stephen Thompson and Rory MacDonald represents a fascinating dynamic: two seasoned veterans, one still actively competing and seeking to extend his career against rising talent, the other retired but returning temporarily to lend his experience. For Thompson, this unique training camp with a fighter he once defeated could provide the crucial edge needed to navigate the evolving challenges of the sport and secure a vital win at UFC Nashville.
