Following Loss, Thompson Calling it Quits

“I’m a fan of Ben Askren and it was an honor for this to be my last fight,” declared Thompson (Pictured, file photo) at the Bellator 40 postfight news conference.

“I’ve been a fan of his in wrestling; now I’m a fan of him in MMA,” praised Thomson. “As [Bellator CEO] Bjorn [Rebney] and Bellator pointed out, I’ve fought all over the world, fought some of the best guys and beaten some of the best guys. I’ve never been so frustrated in a fight. The last 10 seconds was the only part I felt not-frustrated.”

The 29-year-old finished his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2008, and has subsequently began practice as an attorney in La Crosse, Wisc. Thompson is the current Municipal Court Prosecutor for the City of Onalaska, and specializes in contracts, employment law as well as sports law.

A two-time UFC veteran, Thompson put together a 12-fight winning streak from 2006 to 2008, including his April 2007 defeat of Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez for the Bodog Fight 170-pound title. Thompson earned an EliteXC welterweight title bout against Jake Shields with the Alvarez win, but he fell by first-round submission to the Team Cesar Gracie product.

If it is in fact the end for “The Goat,” Thompson exits MMA on a four-fight losing streak, dropping consecutive bouts to Tim Kennedy, Dan Hornbuckle, Taisuke Okuno and Askren, bringing his career mark to 34-18-1.