Wonderboy Questions UFC 307 Prelim Placement
Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson was surprised when organizers put his matchup with Joaquin Buckley on the preliminary card in Salt Lake City. The former two-time welterweight title challenger said he expected the contest to receive main-card billing. Instead, it closed the prelims at the October 5, 2024 event. According to MMA Junkie’s report, it was Thompson’s first preliminary-card appearance since 2014.
Why the placement stood out
Before the fight, Thompson called the placement unusual and said he thought the matchup would attract more attention on the main card. Thompson and Buckley were the final preliminary bout, placing their fight directly before the pay-per-view lineup.
Buckley’s knockout settled the matchup
At the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Buckley stopped Thompson with a right hand at 2:17 of the third round. The official event results record the knockout. Thompson had wanted a higher card position, but the bout’s lasting result was Buckley’s finish, not the debate over placement.
Thompson’s later and final scheduled fights
Thompson returned in July 2025 to face Gabriel Bonfim in the co-main event in Nashville. Bonfim won by split decision: two judges scored it 29–28 for him, while the third gave Thompson a 29–28 score. The official scorecards show how close the decision was.
As of October 29, 2026, Thompson is scheduled to meet Charles Radtke at Madison Square Garden on November 14. MMA Fighting reports that Thompson has called it his retirement bout. The announced contest would be Thompson’s final fight. Buckley’s knockout remains the decisive result from their Salt Lake City matchup.
