Stephen Thompson targets Madison Square Garden for UFC retirement

Stephen Thompson has identified Madison Square Garden on November 14 as his preferred location for his final UFC appearance. The 43-year-old veteran is currently in discussions with the promotion to secure this retirement bout.

Thompson has only one fight remaining on his current contract and is unlikely to sign an extension with the organization. He expressed a desire to find an exciting opponent for this final outing to conclude his career effectively. This follows a period of inactivity for the former welterweight title challenger, who has not competed since July.

His last outing resulted in a split decision loss to Gabriel Bonfim. That defeat marked a difficult stretch for Thompson, representing his third consecutive loss and his fifth loss in his last six matches. While UFC President Dana White previously expressed hope that Thompson would not retire following the Bonfim fight, the veteran is now planning his exit.

Madison Square Garden holds significant history for Thompson, who has competed at the venue three times. His debut at the arena took place during UFC 205, where he challenged Tyron Woodley for the title on the Conor McGregor undercard. He had previously considered fighting at the UFC White House event but was not included on that card.

Thompson is currently the oldest fighter on the UFC roster. He has not held a ranking for over a year, and his final fight is not expected to be a ranked contest. He is currently working to finalize the details of his final appearance in the octagon.