Oli Thompson

Competition record
Strongman
Competitor for  United Kingdom
World's Strongest Man
Qualified	2008 World's Strongest Man
IFSA Strongman World Championships
8th	2006
Europe's Strongest Man
Qualified	2004 Europe's Strongest Man
Competitor for  England
Britain's Strongest Man
3rd	Britain's Strongest Man 2004
1st	Britain's Strongest Man 2006
IFSA British Championships
2nd	IFSA British Championships 2005
IFSA England's Strongest Man
3rd	IFSA England's Strongest Man 2005

Oliver Thompson (born 2 January 1980) is a British strongman, mixed martial artist and former holder of the title Britain's Strongest Man. Thompson is a member of Wolfslair MMA Academy. He is a former UCMMA Heavyweight Champion and has competed for the UFC and KSW. He has competed as a Heavyweight for his entire career.

Early life

Thompson is from East Sussex. He played rugby union at English county level and decided to try weight training. Thus, when he was 19 he joined Physiques gym in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex and within a matter of weeks he had broken the gym record for dead-lifting with a 260 kg lift. This prompted him to start to focus more on a strict routine of weight and strength in order to become a strength athlete.

Strongman career

Thompson's first competition was the 2001 UK's Strongest Man qualifier. Although he did not qualify, he gained experience and remained focussed on only competing in professional level events. In 2002 he won Kent's Strongest Man, taking first place in 5 out of 6 events. He went on to qualify in 2003 for Britain's Strongest Man ("BSM"), and in 2004 surpassed all expectations when he came third. This earned him the right to compete alongside the top strength athletes in the world at the Moscow Super Series 2004 (known as the 2004 Russia Grand Prix, although in 2004 this was not part of the WSM Super Series and again later in the year at Europe's Strongest Man in Poland).

In 2005 he opted to compete in the IFSA British Championships which was set up in direct rivalry with the BSM after IFSA parted company with the BSM and World's Strongest Man competition organiser TWI. He finished second in that competition to Mark Felix.^[1] Like many British strongmen he returned to the TWI British circuit in 2006 and won Britain's Strongest Man that year. He also competed in the 2006 IFSA World Championship where he made the final and came 8th.^[2] Disaster struck in February 2007, whilst he was training for the Mohegan Sun Super Series. He was deadlifting and he tore his biceps. Reportedly, he said that it did not hurt. He went on to say "No, there are no nerves in there, it didn’t hurt. I just heard it snap and I was just aware of it. You can feel it come up, but there’s no pain."^[2] Although the biceps was repaired Thompson has reported that it feels different and that "it’s just not quite as smooth." Although he has said that he does not think it will ever be the same, he has also said that: "When I get to a competition, I won’t be holding back because of my arm. I’ve already won Britain’s Strongest Man - you don’t want to go down - you’ve got to try and win Britain’s Strongest Man again or it’s pointless. So I’ve got to win it really. That’ll be how I judge where I go from there - if I win it or not. Second place isn’t something I’ll be chuffed with."^[2] Thompson trained intensively with training partner Scott Reid, the 2007 Britain’s Strongest Man in the 105 kg weight class. He went on to qualify for the finals of Britain's Strongest Man in 2008 and won his heat in the process. However, the injury was too proximate for him to fully challenge for the title in a field that was widely reported to have been one of the strongest ever.

Thompson had been closely associated with IFSA in the past but states that he always did what he wanted to do. Prior to the BSM 2008 he stated that "If I don’t qualify for Britain’s Strongest Man I may well end up doing the IFSA World Championships.".^[2]

As well as Thompson's successful British finals, he also won the South England Strongest Man title three times (2003, 2004 and 2006) and Sussex Strongest Man on three consecutive occasions from 2003 to 2005. He has also competed in a number of Grand Prix events in Dubai, Latvia, Hungary.^[2] Thompson, who is 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) tall and weighs 20 stone (127 kg), is now in training for the world title in Helsinki in November. He is following in the footsteps of former British and Olympic shot-put champion Geoff Capes who twice won the world strongman title.

MMA career

Oli Thompson made his MMA debut on 3 February 2009, defeating Ashley Pollard by a second round arm triangle choke. He has continued to fight since then, On 26 March 2011, after amassing a record of 7-2, with his only losses coming to future UFC heavyweight Rob Broughton and former UFC fighter Joe Vedepo, Thompson took on defending UCMMA champion Ben Smith at UCMMA 19. Thompson won via second round rear naked choke, becoming the new UCMMA Heavyweight Champion.^[3] He then defended his title at UCMMA 21 - Stand Your Ground against boxer-turned mixed martial artist Mark Potter, again winning by rear naked choke, this time in the first round.^[4]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Thompson signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and was expected to make his debut against Philip De Fries at UFC 138.^[5] However, Thompson was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Rob Broughton.^[6]

Thompson made his official debut against UFC newcomer Shawn Jordan at UFC on FX 2. He lost the fight via TKO in the 2nd round after a back and forth fight.^[7]

Thompson fought Phil De Fries at UFC on FOX 4, in his second UFC outing.^[8] He lost via submission in the second round and was subsequently released from the promotion.

Championships and Accomplishments

• Ultimate Challenge MMA
  • UCMMA Heavyweight Championship (1 Time)

Mixed martial arts record

References

External references

• UFC Profile
• IFSA Strongman rankings
• Pro Muscle Mag interview
• http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/sport/Thompson-set-for-Ultimate-Challenge.4905400.jp
• Sherdog MMA Profile