The Record

News
Back to the card

Stephen Thompson

17-9-1
43y·6' 0"·75" reach·Orthodox
0:54
Control / 15m
time on top
+1.05
Striking diff.
landed minus absorbed
50%
Finish rate
wins inside the distance
0.8
Power
knockdowns per 100 landed

Tells

Non-traditional predictors we've tested against the record. Only the ones that fire on this fighter show up here.

Chin Decay

Predictive

First KO loss March 2019. Fighters at the same age and mileage lose by KO in 11.3% of fights; after a first KO it runs 17.3%.

Fired again Oct 2024

Read the research

The Odometer

Backwards

Crossed into the heaviest third of head strikes eaten for their age in November 2016, 129 head strikes before that night. Never-yet-stopped fighters carrying that kind of mileage took a first KO in 11.0% of fights; the lightest third ran 15.6%.

Fired again Oct 2024

Read the research

Checked 3 tells for this fighter. 2 fired.

How they fight

Every significant strike they have landed across 22 recorded bouts, 1293 in total. Target and position are two readings of the same strikes, so each adds to 100.

Target
Head 66%Body 24%Legs 10%
Position
Distance 90%Clinch 7%Ground 4%
And how often each lands
Head39%
Body71%
Legs83%
Distance44%
Clinch74%
Ground64%

How fights end

UFC bouts only, so these will not add up to the record above. Counts rather than rates: two knockouts in three wins is not a 67% finisher.

12Wins6 KO · 6 DEC
9Losses2 KO · 1 SUB · 6 DEC

Control, bout by bout

Seconds spent controlling the opponent in each fight, oldest on the left. UFCStats records this per bout and never adds it up; this is what that looks like added up.

0%
Stittgen
5%
Brown
42%
Burrell
39%
Clements
3%
Whittaker
4%
Cote
43%
Ellenberger
0%
Hendricks
7%
MacDonald
10%
Woodley
1%
Woodley
0%
Masvidal
0%
Till
0%
Pettis
1%
Luque
0%
Neal
0%
Burns
6%
Muhammad
4%
Holland
0%
Rakhmonov
0%
Buckley
3%
Bonfim

As the fight goes on

Which measure to show

Significant strikes landed, per minute fought. Every round is measured against round one, except rounds reached by fewer than 3 bouts, which are dimmed and left uncompared.

Landed / minvs R1Bouts
R13.18100%22
R24.23133%18
R34.63146%15
R44.53142%6
R54.80151%5

Only fights that reached a round count towards it, so later rounds are a smaller sample.

Career numbers

Strikes landed / min4.05
Strikes absorbed / min3
Striking accuracyof everything thrown46%
Striking defenceof what comes back, missed54%
Takedowns / 15 min0.23
Takedown accuracyof attempts that land35%
Takedown defenceof attempts stuffed63%
Sub attempts / 15 min0
Pacestrikes landed and absorbed, added together7.05
Average bout lengthhow long their fights actually last, across 22 bouts14.5m

Earned Accuracy

How hard the opponents on this record were to hit at distance, and whether they beat it. Distance strikes only, so nobody gets credit for accuracy they picked up hammering someone already flat on the floor.

44.2%
Landed at range
2,618 thrown over 22 bouts
35.5%
Expected
against these opponents
+8.7pp
Gap
above expected
87.1%
Coverage
from real records
The fine print

Distance strikes only

Nothing thrown in the clinch or on the ground counts. Those land at about 72% and 71%, against 44% at distance, so a blended accuracy mostly measures where a fight happened. Rank the sport that way and its best strikers are all wrestlers.

One pass, not a rating

How much each opponent lets through is taken raw. It isn't adjusted for who they fought, so a fighter whose opponents all had soft schedules comes out looking better here than they are. Running it to convergence is a later job.

Coverage, and who gets ranked

Coverage is how much of the expected number came from the opponents' own records instead of the division average. Under 65% it's mostly the division talking, so the comparison gets hidden. Same for anyone under 5 qualifying bouts, or under 300 distance strikes of their own, which is where an accuracy still moves on a single exchange. Miss any of the three and you'll see what they landed, nothing else, and they stay out of any ranking.

Short records get pulled to the middle

An opponent who hasn't been shot at much gets dragged toward their division's average, and the drag fades as their record fills in. At 60 distance strikes faced, their own record and the division average count for the same.

Bout log

LGabriel BonfimJul 2025S-DEC0:28 ctrl42 str0 td
Significant strikes
42 of 92 · 46%
Total strikes
78 of 135 · 58%
Takedowns
0 of 2 · 0%
Control
0:28
Knockdowns
0
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
1
Ended
Split decision, 3 rounds
Target
Head 50%Body 33%Legs 17%
Position
Distance 88%Clinch 7%Ground 5%
This fight on UFCStats
LJoaquin BuckleyOct 2024KO R30:03 ctrl49 str0 td
Significant strikes
49 of 106 · 46%
Total strikes
63 of 121 · 52%
Takedowns
0 of 0
Control
0:03
Knockdowns
0
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
KO / TKO, R3 2:17
Punch to Head At Distance
Target
Head 78%Body 14%Legs 8%
Position
Distance 73%Clinch 27%Ground 0%
This fight on UFCStats
LShavkat RakhmonovDec 2023SUB R20:00 ctrl16 str0 td
Significant strikes
16 of 25 · 64%
Total strikes
26 of 37 · 70%
Takedowns
0 of 0
Control
0:00
Knockdowns
0
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
Submission, R2 4:56
Rear Naked Choke
Target
Head 38%Body 44%Legs 19%
Position
Distance 81%Clinch 6%Ground 13%
This fight on UFCStats
WKevin HollandDec 2022KO R40:47 ctrl163 str0 td
Significant strikes
163 of 260 · 63%
Total strikes
178 of 278 · 64%
Takedowns
0 of 0
Control
0:47
Knockdowns
0
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
KO / TKO, R4 5:00
to Corner Stoppage
Target
Head 63%Body 26%Legs 11%
Position
Distance 92%Clinch 8%Ground 0%
This fight on UFCStats
LBelal MuhammadDec 2021U-DEC0:52 ctrl19 str0 td
Significant strikes
19 of 32 · 59%
Total strikes
51 of 67 · 76%
Takedowns
0 of 1 · 0%
Control
0:52
Knockdowns
0
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
Unanimous decision, 3 rounds
Target
Head 74%Body 26%Legs 0%
Position
Distance 89%Clinch 5%Ground 5%
This fight on UFCStats
LGilbert BurnsJul 2021U-DEC0:00 ctrl19 str0 td
Significant strikes
19 of 53 · 36%
Total strikes
59 of 98 · 60%
Takedowns
0 of 0
Control
0:00
Knockdowns
0
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
Unanimous decision, 3 rounds
Target
Head 74%Body 11%Legs 16%
Position
Distance 100%Clinch 0%Ground 0%
This fight on UFCStats
WGeoff NealDec 2020U-DEC0:00 ctrl171 str0 td
Significant strikes
171 of 406 · 42%
Total strikes
191 of 428 · 45%
Takedowns
0 of 0
Control
0:00
Knockdowns
0
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
Unanimous decision, 5 rounds
Target
Head 73%Body 24%Legs 4%
Position
Distance 96%Clinch 4%Ground 0%
This fight on UFCStats
WVicente LuqueNov 2019U-DEC0:11 ctrl138 str0 td
Significant strikes
138 of 242 · 57%
Total strikes
138 of 242 · 57%
Takedowns
0 of 0
Control
0:11
Knockdowns
1
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
Unanimous decision, 3 rounds
Target
Head 80%Body 15%Legs 4%
Position
Distance 91%Clinch 2%Ground 7%
This fight on UFCStats
LAnthony PettisMar 2019KO R20:00 ctrl47 str0 td
Significant strikes
47 of 107 · 44%
Total strikes
47 of 107 · 44%
Takedowns
0 of 0
Control
0:00
Knockdowns
0
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
KO / TKO, R2 4:55
Punch to Head At Distance
Target
Head 60%Body 19%Legs 21%
Position
Distance 100%Clinch 0%Ground 0%
This fight on UFCStats
LDarren TillMay 2018U-DEC0:00 ctrl30 str0 td
Significant strikes
30 of 126 · 24%
Total strikes
31 of 127 · 24%
Takedowns
0 of 1 · 0%
Control
0:00
Knockdowns
0
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
Unanimous decision, 5 rounds
Target
Head 27%Body 43%Legs 30%
Position
Distance 97%Clinch 3%Ground 0%
This fight on UFCStats
WJorge MasvidalNov 2017U-DEC0:03 ctrl70 str0 td
Significant strikes
70 of 156 · 45%
Total strikes
70 of 156 · 45%
Takedowns
0 of 0
Control
0:03
Knockdowns
1
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
Unanimous decision, 3 rounds
Target
Head 70%Body 24%Legs 6%
Position
Distance 100%Clinch 0%Ground 0%
This fight on UFCStats
LTyron WoodleyMar 2017M-DEC0:19 ctrl53 str0 td
Significant strikes
53 of 146 · 36%
Total strikes
66 of 159 · 42%
Takedowns
0 of 0
Control
0:19
Knockdowns
0
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
Majority decision, 5 rounds
Target
Head 57%Body 32%Legs 11%
Position
Distance 98%Clinch 2%Ground 0%
This fight on UFCStats
DTyron WoodleyNov 2016M-DEC2:28 ctrl43 str0 td
Significant strikes
43 of 161 · 27%
Total strikes
60 of 181 · 33%
Takedowns
0 of 1 · 0%
Control
2:28
Knockdowns
0
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
Majority decision, 5 rounds
Target
Head 60%Body 26%Legs 14%
Position
Distance 98%Clinch 0%Ground 2%
This fight on UFCStats
WRory MacDonaldJun 2016U-DEC1:47 ctrl110 str0 td
Significant strikes
110 of 259 · 42%
Total strikes
124 of 274 · 45%
Takedowns
0 of 0
Control
1:47
Knockdowns
0
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
Unanimous decision, 5 rounds
Target
Head 65%Body 21%Legs 15%
Position
Distance 88%Clinch 7%Ground 5%
This fight on UFCStats
WJohny HendricksFeb 2016KO R10:00 ctrl24 str0 td
Significant strikes
24 of 46 · 52%
Total strikes
25 of 47 · 53%
Takedowns
0 of 0
Control
0:00
Knockdowns
1
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
KO / TKO, R1 3:31
Punch to Head In Clinch
Target
Head 71%Body 25%Legs 4%
Position
Distance 79%Clinch 13%Ground 8%
This fight on UFCStats
WJake EllenbergerJul 2015KO R11:56 ctrl20 str1 td
Significant strikes
20 of 35 · 57%
Total strikes
29 of 47 · 62%
Takedowns
1 of 3 · 33%
Control
1:56
Knockdowns
2
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
KO / TKO, R1 4:29
Kick to Head At Distance Wheel Kick
Target
Head 85%Body 10%Legs 5%
Position
Distance 60%Clinch 5%Ground 35%
This fight on UFCStats
WPatrick CoteSep 2014U-DEC0:39 ctrl64 str0 td
Significant strikes
64 of 134 · 48%
Total strikes
67 of 138 · 49%
Takedowns
0 of 0
Control
0:39
Knockdowns
1
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
Unanimous decision, 3 rounds
Target
Head 72%Body 14%Legs 14%
Position
Distance 81%Clinch 13%Ground 6%
This fight on UFCStats
WRobert WhittakerFeb 2014KO R10:07 ctrl38 str0 td
Significant strikes
38 of 80 · 48%
Total strikes
39 of 81 · 48%
Takedowns
0 of 0
Control
0:07
Knockdowns
1
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
KO / TKO, R1 3:43
Punches to Head In Clinch
Target
Head 74%Body 18%Legs 8%
Position
Distance 66%Clinch 16%Ground 18%
This fight on UFCStats
WChris ClementsSep 2013KO R22:32 ctrl23 str2 td
Significant strikes
23 of 39 · 59%
Total strikes
36 of 53 · 68%
Takedowns
2 of 2 · 100%
Control
2:32
Knockdowns
2
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
KO / TKO, R2 1:27
Punch to Head At Distance
Target
Head 61%Body 22%Legs 17%
Position
Distance 87%Clinch 4%Ground 9%
This fight on UFCStats
WNah-Shon BurrellMay 2013U-DEC6:17 ctrl65 str2 td
Significant strikes
65 of 134 · 49%
Total strikes
87 of 158 · 55%
Takedowns
2 of 4 · 50%
Control
6:17
Knockdowns
0
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
Unanimous decision, 3 rounds
Target
Head 46%Body 43%Legs 11%
Position
Distance 75%Clinch 25%Ground 0%
This fight on UFCStats
LMatt BrownApr 2012U-DEC0:48 ctrl67 str0 td
Significant strikes
67 of 133 · 50%
Total strikes
78 of 146 · 53%
Takedowns
0 of 0
Control
0:48
Knockdowns
0
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
1
Ended
Unanimous decision, 3 rounds
Target
Head 79%Body 18%Legs 3%
Position
Distance 91%Clinch 4%Ground 4%
This fight on UFCStats
WDan StittgenFeb 2012KO R10:01 ctrl22 str0 td
Significant strikes
22 of 38 · 58%
Total strikes
22 of 38 · 58%
Takedowns
0 of 0
Control
0:01
Knockdowns
1
Sub attempts
0
Reversals
0
Ended
KO / TKO, R1 4:13
Kick to Head At Distance
Target
Head 41%Body 32%Legs 27%
Position
Distance 91%Clinch 0%Ground 9%
This fight on UFCStats

Numbers from UFCStats. Control time and strike placement are summed from each bout, everything else is as published.