Oli Thompson

Oliver Thompson (born 2 January 1980) is an English mixed martial artist and retired strongman. Thompson currently competes in MMA’s heavyweight division. He has previously competed for major organisations such as UFC, Bellator, KSW, and BAMMA. In 2006, Thompson won the title of Britain's Strongest Man.

Background Born in East Sussex to a Northern Irish father and an English mother, Thompson grew up playing rugby union at English county level. He has stated his favourite thing about rugby was 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. He has four children, and lives with his wife and daughters.

He is a distant cousin of the comedian Rob Beckett.

Strongman career Thompson's first competition was the 2001 UK's Strongest Man Qualifier. Although he did not qualify, he gained experience and remained focused 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. 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 eighth. 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." 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.

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

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

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

BAMMA Thompson headlined BAMMA 15 against Albanian Heavyweight Gzim Selmani. Thompson lost the fight via technical submission (guillotine choke).

Inoki Genome Federation Thompson entered the Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) World Grand Prix for the vacant IGF Championship and fought in the Quarterfinal against Japanese legend Ikuhisa Minowa whom he defeated by Unanimous Decision at Inoki Genome Fight 3. Thompson next fought Chris Barnett in the Grand Prix semifinal at Inoki Genome Fight 4 to advance to the Championship match. Oli Thompson defeated Fernando Rodrigues, Jr by TKO in the first round to capture the 2015 IGF World GP and the IGF Championship.

Bellator MMA In June 2016, it was announced that Thompson had signed with Bellator MMA. He made his promotional debut against Matt Mitrione on 16 July 2016 at Bellator 158. Thompson lost the back-and-forth fight via TKO in the second round.

In his second fight for the promotion, Thompson faced former training partner Cheick Kongo at Bellator 172 on 18 February 2017. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Post Bellator After going 4-2 fighting around the world, Thompson faced Sergei Kharitonov at MFP Parus Fight Championship on November 7, 2020. He lost the fight via first-round knockout.

After losing two bouts on the Croatian regional scene, Thompson faced Adam Wieczorek on September 24, 2022 at MMA Attack 4, losing via TKO stoppage in the third round.

Thompson faced Aleksei Oleinik at REN TV Fight Club: Oleinik vs. Thompson on May 26, 2023, and won via knock out in the first round.

Thompson faced Josh Barnett at GCW Bloodsport London at the Electric Ballroom on September 28, 2025, losing by way of submission after just under 11 minutes.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Challenge MMA UCMMA Heavyweight Championship (one time) Inoki Genome Federation IGF Championship (one time, last) 2015 IGF World Grand Prix Championship Road FC Road FC Heavyweight Championship (one time) ZT Fight Night ZT Fight Night Heavyweight tournament finalist Fight Exclusive Night FEN Heavyweight Championship (one time)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Darko Stošić TKO (knee and punches) FNC 27

Munich, Germany Loss

Junior Karanta TKO (retirement) 971 FC 2

Dubai, United Arab Emirates Loss

Szymon Kołecki Decision (unanimous) Babilon MMA 50

Ożarów Mazowiecki, Poland Win

Marcin Sianos TKO (punches) Babilon MMA 46

Międzyzdroje, Poland Win

Aleksei Oleinik KO (punch) Ren TV Fight Club Super Series: Oleinik vs. Thompson

Moscow, Russia Loss

Adam Wieczorek TKO (punches) MMA Attack 4

Będzin, Poland Loss

Ivan Vitasović KO (head kick) FNC 6

Karlovac, Croatia Loss

Saša Milinković Decision (split) FNC: Armagedon 2 Finals

Osijek, Croatia Loss

Sergei Kharitonov KO (punch) Modern Fighting Pankration: Parus FC 1

Dubai, United Arab Emirates Win

Szymon Bajor KO (punch) Fight Exclusive Night 28

Lublin, Poland Loss

Ante Delija TKO (punches) |KSW 51

Zagreb, Croatia Win

Kamil Bazelak KO (knee and punch) Sparta Fight Series 4

Eastbourne, England Loss

Tarek Suleiman TKO (punches) UAE Warriors 6

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Roman Wehbe TKO (knees to the body) Abu Dhabi Warriors 5

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Deng Xiaolong TKO (submission to knee to the body) Road FC 047

Beijing, China Loss

Cheick Kongo Decision (unanimous) Bellator 172

San Jose, California, United States Loss

Matt Mitrione TKO (punches) Bellator 158

London, England Win

Fernando Rodrigues Jr. TKO (punches) Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2015

Tokyo, Japan Win

Michal Wlodarek DQ (illegal knee) KSW 32

London, England Win

Chris Barnett Decision (unanimous) Inoki Genome Fight 4

Tokyo, Japan Win

Kamil Bazelak TKO (knee) Macto Championships 1

Milton Keynes, England Win

Ikuhisa Minowa Decision (unanimous) Inoki Genome Fight 3

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Brett McDermott KO (punches) BAMMA 17

Manchester, England Loss

Mariusz Pudzianowski Decision (unanimous) KSW 27

Gdańsk, Poland Loss

Gzim Selmani Technical Submission (guillotine choke) BAMMA 15

London, England Win

Kamil Walus TKO (punches) KSW 25

Wrocław, Poland Win

Kevin Asplund TKO (punches) Global Warrior Challenge: The British Invasion

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Loss

Karol Bedorf Decision (unanimous) KSW 22

Warsaw, Poland Win

Ivan Pioneer TKO (submission to punches) Colosseum Sports MMA: Ultimate Conflict 3

Guildford, England Loss

Phil De Fries Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera

Los Angeles, California, United States Loss

Shawn Jordan TKO (punches) UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann

Sydney, Australia Win

Mark Potter Submission (rear-naked choke) Ultimate Challenge MMA 21

London, England Win

Ben Smith Submission (rear-naked choke) Ultimate Challenge MMA 19

London, England Win

Nikki Kent TKO (punches) ZT Fight Night: Enter the Octagon

Hove, England Win

Tomasz Czerwinski Submission (rear-naked choke) ZT Fight Night: Stand Your Ground

Eastbourne, England Win

Ian Hawkins Decision (unanimous) Ultimate Challenge MMA 13

London, England Loss

Rob Broughton Decision (unanimous)

Loss

Joe Vedepo TKO (punches)

Win

Steve Day KO (punch)

Win

Tomasz Kamienczyk TKO (punches) ZT Fight Night: Night of Champions

Hove, England Win

Ashley Pollard TKO (submission to punches) ZT Fight Night 16

Hove, England Win

Ashley Pollard Submission (arm-triangle choke) ZT Fight Night 15

Hove, England