Thompson vs Bonfim Prediction
👊 UFC veteran Stephen Thompson, at 42, is set to face off against 27-year-old prospect Gabriel Bonfim. Their bout will serve as the co-main event at the UFC on ESPN 70 mixed martial arts tournament, taking place overnight from July 12 to 13 in Nashville, USA. Can the former UFC welterweight title challenger halt the momentum of the rising Brazilian? Check out the upcoming fight prediction from the Scores24 editorial team.
H2H Stats Fights and Previous Results
Stephen Thompson Player Overview
Thompson is nearing the twilight of his career. The American currently serves as a gatekeeper. UFC matchmakers are actively pitting him against young and hungry fighters: in December 2023, he faced Shavkat Rakhmonov and was submitted in the second round, and last October, he was knocked out by Joaquin Buckley. Now, he's set to share the octagon with a third consecutive prospect.
Thompson holds a mixed martial arts record of 17-8-1 and is ranked 12th in the UFC welterweight division.
Match Results: Stephen Thompson
Gabriel Bonfim Player Overview
Bonfim has fought in 18 professional bouts, winning 17 of them. Two years ago, the Brazilian suffered the first defeat of his career, losing by technical knockout in the second round to Nicolas Dalby. However, Gabriel has since found his stride, securing a unanimous decision victory over Ange Loosa in July 2024 and submitting Khaos Williams in the second round this February.
Currently, Bonfim is not ranked in the top 15 of the UFC welterweight division. Nonetheless, his prospects look promising. His skills and age position him well to contend for a top-5 spot in the division in the coming years.
Match Results: Gabriel Bonfim
Editorial Prediction
Stephen Thompson has faced setbacks in four of his last five fights, entering the Nashville event on a two-fight losing streak with little indication of a turnaround. The veteran, with a kickboxing background, faces a particularly challenging opponent…
Bonfim's strength lies in his ground game, rooted in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, with 13 of his 17 victories coming by submission. We anticipate that Gabriel, with his style, is the clear favorite in this matchup. He is expected to be aggressive, constantly pressing forward, seeking clinches and takedowns, which will be key to overcoming the veteran.
