"Ellen DeGeneres of MMA" - UFC star claims Stephen Thompson only pretends to be nice but is actually an "a**hole," 'Wonderboy' responds
A UFC welterweight contender recently alleged that Stephen Thompson's amiable public persona is a facade and that 'Wonderboy' is a completely different person behind the scenes.
Trash-talking, be it on social media or in person, has become a staple in MMA. However, Thompson has always steered clear of this behavior. Known for his courteous demeanor, he is often praised by other fighters as one of the most respectful competitors in the UFC.
Joaquin Buckley claims that contrary to his perceived persona, 'Wonderboy' merely plays a character, acting nice only when it suits him. During a recent interview with Parry Punch, 'New Mansa' recounted an interaction with the former 170-pound title challenger at UFC's International Fight Week last month:
"I’m not even trolling on this one, but I really feel like 'Wonderboy' be putting on a role. He ain’t as nice as everybody tries to claim him to be. I feel like 'Wonderboy' gave me different kinds of vibes... I feel like 'Wonderboy' is the Ellen DeGeneres of MMA. Seems like the nice guy on camera, but behind closed doors, that motherf**ker’s an a**hole, for sure."
Check out Joaquin Buckley's comments below:
Thompson took to the comments section of Parry Punch's X post to refute Buckley's claims and provided his account of their interaction:
"Must’ve forgotten that time he asked me for technique advice, and I happily gave it to him. That was like a month ago. Keep talking, though."
Check out Stephen Thompson's comment below:
Thompson is currently enduring a challenging period in his career, having gone 1-3 in his last four fights. 'Wonderboy' most recently competed at UFC 296 in December 2023, where he suffered a second-round submission defeat at the hands of Shavkat Rakhmonov.
When Joaquin Buckley said Stephen Thompson wouldn't show up for Shavkat Rakhmonov bout
During an interview with MiddleEasy last November, Joaquin Buckley said that Stephen Thompson would not show up for his scheduled bout against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 296. Buckley even volunteered to step in on short notice to replace 'Wonderboy':
"We are looking at Shavkat and ‘Wonderboy’ fight. I mean no disrespect to ‘Wonderboy.’ He’s always been a tough guy and always willing to take a fight, but for some reason, it’s telling me he ain’t going to show up to that. Something tells me that ‘Wonderboy’ ain’t going to show up to that one, so let’s get ready."
Check out Joaquin Buckley's comments below (1:30):