UFC’s Stephen Thompson credits success to dad’s guidance

MANILA, Philippines – Fathers play many roles for their children. Some are involved in every aspect of their kids’ lives, while others are engaged only in certain facets.

A father’s passion also often becomes his son’s as well, such as sports. Many professional athletes have groomed their sons to learn their craft and pursue a future in the sporting industry. 

In boxing, many father-and-son tandems have emerged. Despite the lack of common genes between Floyd Patterson and his adopted son Tracy Harris, boxing hooligans watched with mouths agape over their championship conquest.

Aficionados intently followed the Mayweathers’ derisive relationship beyond the ropes. Ditto goes with Julio Cesar Chavez’s bequeathal of his boxing legacy to Julio Cesar Jr and Omar. 

There are only a few father-and-son duos in mixed martial arts (MMA), but up-and-coming fighter Stephen Thompson enjoys the luxury of working side-by-side with his father, Ray, as his head trainer. 

The 33-year-old native of Simpsonville, South Carolina is heavily regarded as the next big thing in MMA today as he occupies the No. 3 seat in the welterweight rankings of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). 

For his ongoing success as a dauntless competitor inside the UFC’s Octagon, Stephen gives credit to his dad. 

“I respect my father. He has trained many world champions in kickboxing. Being able to separate the father-and-son relationship inside and outside the gym is very crucial for this tandem to work. I respect him a lot and listen to what he says,” he told Rappler. 

The Thompson family’s patriarch has been in Stephen’s corner since he first introduced his son to martial arts through karate at an early age.

Ray also guided Stephen in full-contact kickboxing, where the younger Thompson is undefeated in 37 amateur and 20 professional matches. He won 28 of them by knockout. 

Ray confided that martial arts has been a big influence in raising his children, where discipline and character formation are foremost.

“It’s the best way to develop a child’s character. In my household, it was required. It wasn’t optional. The reason is because I understand the benefits that martial arts offers to kids. And the confidence that they may have as they grow up,” Ray said. 

Ray is aware that numerous father-and-son teams did not prosper in sports history. He shared that the partnership with his son achieved success because they have been able to separate the professional and the personal inside and outside the cage.

“I have the ability to separate the father-and-son relationship, especially when we are in a competitive situation. I become his coach and no longer his dad. It took me a while to be able to do this, but he allows me to be that guy,” Ray said. 

Stephen has piled up 6 straight victories since losing to Matt Brown in April 2013, picking up impressive wins over the likes of Chris Clements, Robert Whittaker, and Jake Ellenberger.

“Wonder Boy” solidified his position for title talks when he thumped former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks by first-round technical knockout earlier this month. 

Though there were challenges growing up because of how he and his siblings were raised, Stephen has no regrets.

“Obviously, as a kid when your parents are forcing you to do something, you will rebel a little bit. But I think of it everyday. I thank them for introducing me to martial arts,” he said.

“Martial arts shows you modesty, respect, integrity, self-control, and perseverance. It builds a child’s character. Every kid should learn martial arts.” – Rappler.com