Stephen Thompson and the UFC: Settling the Score After UFC 291 Cancellation

Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson, a two-time welterweight title challenger, recently found himself in a precarious situation when his scheduled fight with Michel Pereira at UFC 291 was canceled due to Pereira's weight miss. Now, as he prepares for his UFC 296 bout with Shavkat Rakhmonov, Thompson has shared an update on the situation.

"After Pereira missed weight for the welterweight tilt in July, I opted not to take the fight, and thus, I wasn't paid for making weight myself," Thompson explained.

But what transpired after the cancellation has brought Thompson a sense of closure and contentment. He shared the good news on "The MMA Hour" with Ariel Helwani, saying,

"That was all wild and crazy, but me and the UFC, and my management, we've settled everything. So everything's great. We settled with something we were both happy with, and that was it."

While the exact financial details weren't disclosed, the 40-year-old fighter expressed his satisfaction with the resolution and a sense of understanding regarding the delays due to the UFC's busy schedule. Thompson's optimism has been well-founded, as he now gears up for a pivotal divisional contest against Shavkat Rakhmonov on a stacked year-end pay-per-view card.

Thompson's journey from the canceled fight in July to the upcoming clash with Rakhmonov has been a rollercoaster. He had hoped for a matchup with former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman but ended up with a fight against the surging contender Rakhmonov, who's known for his undefeated record and a 100 percent finish rate.

Reflecting on the past few months, Thompson shared,

"It has been pretty crazy with a lot of things that could've happened but didn't. The UFC, or at least Kamaru Usman, had different plans, so I was kind of left with nobody, and then they offered me Shavkat."

For Stephen Thompson, the upcoming bout with Shavkat Rakhmonov is more than just a chance to put the past behind him—it's a golden opportunity to take a big step toward one last shot at a world title. With his signature striking and unwavering determination, Wonderboy continues to carve his path in the fiercely competitive world of mixed martial arts, settling scores, and chasing dreams.