Stephen Thompson confirms his November 14 fight with Charles Radtke will end his UFC career

Stephen Thompson has confirmed that his November 14 welterweight bout with Charles Radtke at UFC 334 will be the last fight of his UFC career, according to interviewer James Lynch, whose report was relayed by MiddleEasy on November 5. The fight is the final bout on Thompson's current UFC contract, and he has not signed a new one.

The bout is officially on the UFC 334 card at Madison Square Garden in New York, which Thompson specifically requested as the site for his send-off. He told MMA Junkie in August, in comments later cited by Heavy.com, that he was in talks with the promotion about closing out his career at the Garden on that date.

Thompson, 43, is a former two-time UFC welterweight title challenger, drawing with and then losing to Tyron Woodley in back-to-back championship fights in 2016 and 2017. He has not fought for the belt since and enters the Radtke bout on a three-fight losing streak, having lost to Gabriel Bonfim by split decision in July 2025, to Joaquin Buckley by third-round knockout in October 2024, and to Shavkat Rakhmonov by second-round submission in December 2023. His professional record stands at 17-9-1.

Thompson tied his decision to retire to the birth of his daughter roughly four months ago. "When you have a little one that comes in, it's such a big responsibility," he said, in comments reported by MMA Sucka on October 1.

He has also said he picked Radtke, an unranked welterweight, on purpose. Thompson told Full Mount MMA, in comments reported by BoxingNews.com, that he wanted to give a less established fighter the kind of opportunity veterans once gave him on his way up, and that Radtke is well rounded with real potential. MiddleEasy's report also noted that Thompson has not ruled out competing in Real American Freestyle wrestling after he steps away from MMA, though no such move has been announced or booked.