James Thompson (fighter)

James Thompson
Born 16 December 1978
Rochdale, England, United Kingdom
Other names The Colossus, Megapunk, Ironjaw McGraw[1]
Residence Bristol, England
Nationality English
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 260 lb (118 kg; 18 st 8 lb)
Division Heavyweight (265 lb)
Super Heavyweight (265+ lb)
Reach 77 in (196 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of London, England, United Kingdom
Team Xtreme Couture[2]
London Shootfighters
Team Trojan[3]
Olympians MMA
Years active 2003-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 35
Wins 20
By knockout 11
By submission 7
By decision 2
Losses 14
By knockout 11
By submission 2
By decision 1
No contests 1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

James Thompson (born 16 December 1978) is an English professional mixed martial artist. He fights as a Heavyweight and has also fought at Super Heavyweight. Over his career he has competed in Pride FC, Cage Rage, EliteXC, Sengoku, Dream, KSW, SFL and Bellator.

Background

Thompson was born and raised in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Thompson was raised by his mother, having never met his father, who is now deceased. Growing up, Thompson was a talented rugby player, and then worked as a bouncer and a debt collector.[4] He also pursued a career in bodybuilding.[5] Thompson took up the sport of wrestling and competed in a several matches before seeing an MMA match featuring Don Frye (whom he would later fight and beat at Pride 34: Kamikaze), which ultimately inspired him to pursue a career in MMA. He started watching DVDs on boxing, wrestling, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Thompson began his mixed martial arts career fighting in the British promotion Ultimate Combat (UC). He developed a rivalry with Mark "The Shark" Goddard after their bout in Ultimate Combat 6: Battle in the Cage. Thompson won the bout by referee stoppage, but Goddard disputed the result, saying that Thompson had tapped earlier to one of his armbar attempts. A rematch at Ultimate Combat 8: Retribution resulted in an 18-second knockout victory for Thompson. After five straight victories, he faced his first loss to Georgian Tengiz Tedoradze at Ultimate Combat X. Tedoradze managed to stop Thompson's initial charge and won by doctor stoppage after the second round. Thompson bounced back with a UC Championship bout against Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Dan Severn at Ultimate Combat 11: Eyes of the Beast.

Entry into Pride

After defeating Severn, Thompson made his Pride Fighting Championship debut at PRIDE 28 to face Alexander Emelianenko at Pride 28: High Octane. Despite losing the fight in only eleven seconds, he remained with the organization, earning quick victories over Henry Armstrong Miller and Giant Silva. Thompson became known to Pride fans for his penchant for rushing at opponents at the opening bell, which became known as 'Gong and Dash'. During this time, Thompson alternated appearances in Japan with fights in British organisations such as Cage Rage.

Thompson's career took a downturn with three consecutive losses to Kazuyuki Fujita, Rob Broughton and Jon Olav Einemo. However, he followed up with an upset victory over Olympic judo gold medalist Hidehiko Yoshida at PRIDE Shockwave 2006. He next suffered a quick KO at the hands of super heavyweight boxer Eric 'Butterbean' Esch at Cage Rage 20. In his final appearance in Pride, Thompson dominated against UFC veteran Don Frye to a first round stoppage at Pride 34. Thompson followed up with his final appearance in Cage Rage, losing to Neil "Goliath" Grove by knockout in just 10 seconds. Thompson cited a lack of quality heavyweight training partners for his poor performances, and switched training camps to join Randy Couture's Xtreme Couture.[2]

Entry into EliteXC

Thompson made his EliteXC debut against undefeated 8 - 0 fighter Brett Rogers at the EliteXC: Street Certified on 16 February 2008. Rogers knocked Thompson out in the first round. Despite this loss, Thompson followed up with a headlining appearance at EliteXC: Primetime against streetfighter Kimbo Slice. Entering the fight with a considerably swollen cauliflower ear, Thompson managed to control the first two rounds with effective ground and pound.[6] However, both fighters came into the third round substantially winded. Slice landed several unanswered blows to Thompson's face whilst on his feet, one of which burst his cauliflower ear, prompting the referee to stop the fight and declare a TKO in Slice's favour. The stoppage caused a great deal of controversy.[7]

Strike Box/Titans Fighting incident

On 6 February 2009, Thompson fought Steve Bossé at Strike Box/Titans Fighting's inaugural event in Quebec, Canada. The event was originally scheduled to be under Strike Box's own rules where only boxing, takedowns and standing submissions were allowed, but the rules were not accepted by the province's athletic commission in time for the event. It was therefore conducted under MMA rules instead. Before the event some fighters agreed to fight under Strike Box's proposed rules as a gentleman's agreement, though the referee in charge would not have any choice but to allow ground fighting were it to happen. Thompson, who later claimed to be unaware of the agreement, proceeded to take down, mount and ground and pound Bosse - as allowed under MMA rules - after Bosse went for a standing guillotine choke at the start of the fight. This caused the audience to boo Thompson and the referee, unaware of that the fight was being conducted under MMA rules. Beer cans and eventually chairs were then thrown into the ring, prompting referee Yves Lavigne to stop the match. Although it was originally declared a no contest[8][9] the fight and its result doesn't appear on either fighter's official fight records.

Sengoku

Thompson's fought on 20 March at Sengoku 7 against New Zealand fighter Jim York, which he lost by KO.[10]

Dream

Thompson lost a fight with Alistair Overeem on 25 October 2009 at Dream 12[11]

Strikeforce

Thompson revealed at the Dream 12 press conference that he has three more fights for his Strikeforce contract.

ZT Fight Night - The Tournament

Thompson competed in the ZT Fight Night Tournament for £10,000 along with 7 other fighters on 30 January 2010. He avenged his first career loss against Tengiz Tedoradze in the quarterfinals, his first win in nearly three years, breaking a five-loss streak. He was then knocked out by the eventual tournament winner, Rob Broughton.[12]

Dream return

Rumours that Thompson could face Ikuhisa Minowa at Dream 16 surfaced.[13] However it was later revealed that Minowa would face Satoshi Ishii at Dream 16.[14][15] Thompsony instead fought DEEP veteran Yusuke Kawaguchi and lost via a controversial Split Decision. Many believed the two majority decision judges were biased towards the Japanese home country fighter after Thompson retained top position and did much more damage at the end of the first and throughout the second round.[16]

Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki

Thompson fought five-time "World’s Strongest Man" Mariusz Pudzianowski at KSW XVI on 21 May 2011.[17] He won the fight via submission in the second round.

In the rematch at KSW XVII, Thompson lost a controversial decision. After the fight, he launched a profane verbal assault directed at the promotion. Two days later the promotion changed the result to a No Contest, claiming an error in scorecard tallying. Thompson, however, has not participated in any subsequent KSW events.

Super Fight League

Thompson fought in the main event of the Super Fight League's inaugural event, SFL 1, against Bob Sapp. He won the fight when Sapp injured his leg as he was being taken down by Thompson, forcing him to tap out to the injury.[18]

He next competed at Super Fight League 3 against Bobby Lashley.[19] The outcome was yet another close and controversial decision, this time going unanimously in Thompson's favor, giving him his first winning streak since 2005.

Underdog promotions

Thompson returned to action once his orbital bone healed from his previous war with Lashley on 1 March 2014 against UFC veteran Colin Robinson as part of the Underdog Promotions card at the Odyssey Arena, Northern Ireland. He won via arm triangle choke in the second round.

Bellator MMA

It was announced on 23 May that Thompson had been signed by Bellator Fighting Championship and would make his promotional debut against Eric Prindle in the headlining bout of Bellator 121 on 6 June 2014. Thompson dominated Prindle and won by TKO in the first round at 1:55 minutes.

Thompson was expected to face UFC veteran Houston Alexander in the co-main event on 17 October 2014 at Bellator 129. However on 10 October 2014 it was announced that Thompson was pulled from the fight due to injury.[20]

Thompson was scheduled to face Bobby Lashley in a rematch at Bellator 134 on 27 February 2015.[21] However, Lashley pulled out of the fight due to injury.[22] The fight has been rescheduled for June 19, 2015 at Bellator 138.[23]

Championships and accomplishments

Film

In April 2012, Thompson was cast for the role of The Berserker in Outpost: Rise of the Spetsnaz.[24]

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 20–14 (1) Eric Prindle TKO (punches) Bellator 121 June 6, 2014 1 1:55 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 19–14 (1) Colin Robinson Submission (arm-triangle choke) Underdog Xtreme Championships 2 March 1, 2014 2 2:47 Belfast, Northern Ireland
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 18–14 (1) Bobby Lashley Decision (unanimous) Super Fight League 3: Lashley vs. Thompson May 6, 2012 3 5:00 Delhi, India
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 17–14 (1) Bob Sapp Submission (injury) Super Fight League 1: Thompson vs. Sapp March 11, 2012 1 3:17 Mumbai, India
style="background-color: #c5d2ea; text-align:center" |NC 16–14 (1) Mariusz Pudzianowski No Contest KSW XVII November 26, 2011 2 5:00 Lódz, Poland Original decision loss; result overturned due to a judging error.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 16–14 Mariusz Pudzianowski Submission (arm-triangle choke) KSW XVI May 21, 2011 2 1:06 Gdansk, Poland
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 15–14 Yusuke Kawaguchi Decision (split) Dream 16 September 25, 2010 2 5:00 Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 15–13 Miodrag Petkovic KO (punch) Milenium Fight Challenge 4 June 4, 2010 1 1:01 Split, Croatia, Croatia
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 15–12 Rob Broughton KO (punch) ZT Fight Night: Heavyweights Collide January 30, 2010 2 2:28 Hove, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15–11 Tengiz Tedoradze TKO (punches) ZT Fight Night: Heavyweights Collide January 30, 2010 2 2:55 Hove, England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 14–11 Alistair Overeem Submission (guillotine choke) Dream 12 October 25, 2009 1 0:33 Osaka, Osaka, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 14–10 Jim York KO (punch) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 7 March 20, 2009 1 4:33 Tokyo, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 14–9 Kimbo Slice TKO (punches) EliteXC: Primetime May 31, 2008 3 0:38 Newark, New Jersey, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 14–8 Brett Rogers KO (punches) EliteXC: Street Certified February 16, 2008 1 2:24 Miami, Florida, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 14–7 Neil Grove KO (punch) Cage Rage 22 July 14, 2007 1 0:10 London, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14–6 Don Frye TKO (punches) Pride 34 April 8, 2007 1 6:23 Saitama, Saitama, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 13–6 Eric Esch KO (punches) Cage Rage 20 February 10, 2007 1 0:43 London, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 13–5 Hidehiko Yoshida TKO (punches) Pride FC - Shockwave 2006 December 31, 2006 1 7:50 Saitama, Saitama, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 12–5 John-Olav Einemo Submission (armbar) 2H2H: Pride & Honor November 12, 2006 1 4:18 Netherlands
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 12–4 Rob Broughton KO (punches) Cage Rage 17 July 1, 2006 3 5:00 London, England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 12–3 Kazuyuki Fujita KO (punch) Pride FC - Total Elimination Absolute May 5, 2006 1 8:25 Osaka, Japan Pride 2006 Openweight Grand Prix opening round
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12–2 Giant Silva TKO (kicks) Pride FC: Shockwave 2005 December 31, 2005 1 1:28 Saitama, Saitama, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11–2 Alexandru Lungu TKO (knees and punches) Pride 30: Fully Loaded October 23, 2005 1 2:13 Saitama, Saitama, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10–2 Andy Costello TKO (punches) Cage Rage 13 September 10, 2005 1 2:33 London, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9–2 Autimio Antonia KO (punch) Urban Destruction 2 July 30, 2005 1 0:54 Bristol, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8–2 Henry Armstrong Miller KO (punch) Pride: Bushido 8 July 17, 2005 1 1:21 Nagoya, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–2 Nikolajus Cilkinas TKO (punches) Urban Destruction 1 April 10, 2005 1 1:04 England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 6–2 Alexander Emelianenko KO (punch) Pride 28 October 31, 2004 1 0:11 Saitama, Saitama, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–1 Dan Severn Decision (unanimous) UC 11: Wrath of the Beast September 12, 2004 5 5:00 Bristol, England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 5–1 Tengiz Tedoradze TKO (corner stoppage) Ultimate Combat X June 20, 2004 2 5:00 England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–0 Aaron Marsa Submission (neck injury) UC 9: Rebellion March 28, 2004 1 0:20 Bristol, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–0 Marc Goddard KO (knee) UC 8: Retribution November 30, 2003 1 0:18 Chippenham, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–0 Richie Cranny Submission (arm-triangle choke) UC 7: World Domination September 6, 2003 1 1:34 Chippenham, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–0 Marc Goddard Submission (strikes) UC 6: Battle in the Cage June 14, 2003 2 0:47 Chippenham, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 Will Elworthy Submission (forearm choke) Ground & Pound 2 January 25, 2003 1 4:22 England

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ "Hungry for a good fight? SFL is here". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2013-01-17.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "James Thomspon Joins Team Xtreme Couture". FightersOnlyMagazine.com. 9 February 2007. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  3. ↑ http://sherdog.com/fightfinder.php?search=yes&association=Team%20Trojan
  4. ↑ "James Thompson - 'The Colossus' - MMA Fighter Profile". ProElite.com. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  5. ↑ Carpinello, Dave. "Exclusive: James Thompson: The "Colossus" Returns". PunchDrunkGamer.com. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  6. ↑ "EliteXC "Primetime" Play-by-Play". Sherdog.com. 31 May 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  7. ↑ Hunt, Loretta (28 July 2008). "EliteXC-CBS Ratings Down 43 Percent". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  8. ↑ Phan, Kage. "Chaos at Strike Box in Montreal: Fans nearly Riot". MMATraining.com. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  9. ↑ Shnerer, Ariel. "James Thompson Responds to Near Riot at Titans Fighting". TheFightNetwork.com. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  10. ↑ http://mmajunkie.com/news/14047/four-new-gp-participants-thomspon-vs-york-set-for-march-20-sengoku.mma
  11. ↑ "Alistair Overeem vs. James Thompson official for Sunday's DREAM.12 event". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  12. ↑ http://www.ztfightnight.com/
  13. ↑ https://twitter.com/SchiavelloVOICE/status/21864815890| SchiavelloVOICE Twitter
  14. ↑ "仰天カード実現!!　9・25『DREAM.16』日本ガイシホール大会追加対戦カード発表!!". dreamofficial.com. 2010-09-22.
  15. ↑ http://www.mmafighting.com/2010/09/22/ikuhisa-minowa-to-face-satoshi-ishii-at-dream-16/
  16. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIngeSi57fg
  17. ↑ "Pudzianowski-‘Colossus’ Announced for May 21 KSW Card". Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki. 2011-05-08.
  18. ↑ "Weekend Rundown-Leg Injury Forces Bob-Sapp to Submit to James Thompson in India". Sherdog.com. 2012-03-11.
  19. ↑ http://mmajunkie.com/news/28185/bobby-lashley-vs-james-thompson-to-headlined-super-fight-league-3-on-may-6.mma?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
  20. ↑ "James Thompson out of Bellator 129 fight with Houston Alexander due to injury".
  21. ↑ "Bellator 134 Fight Card". bellator.com.
  22. ↑ Ariel Helwani (13 January 2015). "Bobby Lashley out of James Thompson fight; Muhammed Lawal volunteers to step in". mmafighting.com.
  23. ↑ Brent Brookhouse (April 13, 2015). "Bobby Lashley vs. James Thompson rematch set for Bellator 138 in St. Louis". mmajunkie.com.
  24. ↑ "Production Begins on Outpost: Rise of the Spetsnaz". Dread Central. Retrieved 23 April 2012.

External links

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