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LAS VEGAS, NV - FEBRUARY 03: (L-R) Opponents Dan Stittgen and Stephen Thompson face off after weighing in during the UFC 143 official weigh in at Mandalay Bay Events Center on February 3, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.|2:55:8 (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dan Stittgen; Stephen Thompson; Dana White

Stephen Thompson

TRAINING: My days are long in that I train two, sometimes three, times a day and also train my Kempo students on top of that. My training starts at 9am three days a week. That is when I do my S&C with Coach Tim Mullany or mitt work with Mr. T (my dad). Two days a week at noon I am doing wrestling with Coach Tom Lee and two days on RCJ Machado BJJ with pro MMA fighter, Joseph Corneroli. I travel to Dallas, when possible, to train with Prof. Carlos Machado on my BJJ, and while there I train with my brother Evan on MMA and kickboxing. I do the majority of my MMA sparring on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Thoughts on opponent, Besam Yousef? I think this will be a good fight for me. He is shorter than me, so I figure his ONLY chance is to do what he is good at and that is move in, clinch, and TRY and take me down and GnP. That being said, I know exactly what he is going to do and I am prepared!! If he tries to stand with me he will do battle in my area of expertise: striking.

When and why did you start training for fighting? When I was three years old. My father was a professional fighter and owned a Karate school. All the kids in our family started training at age three.

What ranks and titles have you held? Five-time world champion kickboxer, black belt in kempo karate, black belt in Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, black belt in kickboxing, blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Do you have any heroes? None

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? I want to fight the best in the world and I want to be a champion, so being the in the UFC is a dream come true.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? No

What was your job before you started fighting? I've worked at my family's karate academy, doing everything from cleaning bathrooms to what I do now as the head kids’ instructor.

Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? 37-0, 16 amateur kickboxing titles:
1.    1999 ISKA Georgia State Middleweight Amateur Champion
2.    2000 ISKA Southeast Middleweight Amateur Champion
3.    2000 IKF East Coast Middleweight Amateur Champion
4.    2000 PKC National Light Middleweight Amateur Champion
5.    2000 IKF National Middleweight Amateur Champion
6.    2000 USAKBF North American Middleweight Amateur Champion
7.    2001 IKF National Light Heavyweight Amateur Champion
8.    2001 PKC National Light Heavyweight Amateur Champion
9.    2001 USAKBF World Light Heavyweight Amateur Champion
10.    2001 WPKA World Light Heavyweight Amateur Champion
11.    2002 IKF National Light Heavyweight Amateur Champion
12.    2002 IKF North American Light Cruiserweight Amateur Champion
13.    2003 U.S. National Martial Arts Team World Cup Light Heavyweight Champion
14.    2003 KICK North American Cruiserweight Champion
15.    2003 I.A.K.S.A. World Champion
16.    2003 IKF FCR Amateur Light Cruiserweight World Champion

Specific accomplishments in pro competition? Undefeated - competed in the Chuck Norris World Combat League

Favorite grappling technique: RNC

Favorite Striking technique: Spinning Backfist