Gabriel Bonfim Edges Stephen Thompson by Split Decision
Gabriel Bonfim earned the biggest win of his UFC career by defeating former title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson by split decision at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Teixeira in Nashville on July 12, 2025. The welterweight co-main event went the full three rounds, with two judges scoring it 29-28 for Bonfim and one giving Thompson a 29-28 card.
A competitive three-round co-main event
The matchup paired Bonfim, a Brazilian welterweight whose game includes dangerous submission skills, with Thompson, a veteran known for karate-based striking and movement. Their contrasting styles made the bout a compelling test: Bonfim needed to find ways to turn exchanges into opportunities, while Thompson aimed to use distance and timing to make the younger fighter pay for entries.
Rather than ending in a finish, the fight became a full 15-minute contest. Both athletes had stretches of success, and the judges’ disagreement reflected how closely the rounds were contested. The official scorecards were 28-29, 29-28 and 29-28, awarding Bonfim the split decision. Thompson therefore received one judge’s 29-28 score, but the other two saw the fight for Bonfim.
Bonfim earns a career-defining result
Beating a long-established name such as Thompson gave Bonfim a significant addition to his record. It was a close win rather than a dominant shutout, but going the distance against a seasoned opponent and leaving with the official decision showed composure across three rounds.
For Thompson, the loss came by the narrowest margin available in a split decision. The 42-year-old remained competitive throughout the co-main event, but one card was not enough to swing the result his way. The official outcome does not erase his long record of high-level performances; it records a close defeat in a difficult matchup against a younger opponent.
What the scorecards say
The numbers are worth stating clearly for anyone searching the UFC Nashville result: Gabriel Bonfim defeated Stephen Thompson by split decision, 28-29, 29-28 and 29-28. There was no knockout or submission, and the fight lasted all three scheduled rounds.
The official UFC recap described the co-main event as an entertaining battle and identified the victory as the biggest of Bonfim’s career at the time. His post-fight interview is embedded above. The Nashville performance gave Bonfim a notable step forward in the welterweight division, while Thompson left with a close decision loss and another demanding contest on his résumé.
