Josh Thomson considering retirement after UFC on FOX 10 loss
CHICAGO – It was a rough night for Josh Thomson.
He lost a close split decision – and a controversial one – to former UFC champ Benson Henderson in the UFC on FOX 10 main event. In a fight that he only took because his title shot with Anthony Pettis went away thanks to a Pettis injury. To make matters worse, a win over Henderson would’ve given him another title shot. And to pile it on, he broke his hand early in the fight.
And oh, by the way, now he might just retire. Thomson’s trip to Chicago is one he probably wants to forget about.
But on the post-fight news conference stage, with his right hand wrapped and arm in a sling, Thomson said even had he won – and gotten that promised title shot again – he still would probably be flying home thinking about hanging up his gloves.
“I’d still be in the same position,†Thomson (20-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) told MMAjunkie following his loss to Henderson (20-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC). “There’s a possibility (I’d turn down the title shot), because what’s the point of winning the title knowing you’re not going to fight much longer? I wouldn’t want to do that to the UFC, either.â€
Thomson took a 48-47 score from one judge, while the other two gave the five-round fight to Henderson, one 49-46 and the other 48-47. Naturally, Thomson disagreed with the result and compared it to a title-fight loss to Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce that he lost by split decision in May 2012.
“The Gilbert fight, that, to me, was a close fight and could’ve gone either way,†he said. “This fight, I feel like I won. And I won with one hand. I beat the former UFC champion, a guy who was there for two years, and I beat him with one hand. That’s what pisses me off.â€
Thomson told MMAjunkie the retirement talk was not a guarantee. But he’s also starting to think about other ways he could be involved in the sport – without fighting.
“I’ve got to sit down with (my team and the UFC) and talk about the direction of how this all wants to go,†he said. “I love this sport, I love being around these guys, I love being in the back. Everyone in my locker room knows, I was back there with smiles … this is great. I love it. This is the best. Honestly, I’d love to work for FOX and do some commentating – I just want to be a part of it.â€
Thomson returned to the UFC in April 2013 and knocked out Nate Diaz with a head kick. After a few months off, he was offered a title shot against Pettis. But Pettis went down with a knee injury and surgery – and a thought about retiring that was in Thomson’s head before the title fight came to be started creeping back.
It was kind of coming up before the title fight was offered,†he said. “There was a lot of time in between, and didn’t know what the direction the UFC wanted to take me. It’s frustrating when you’re offered a title shot and it’s taken away. I understand why – he’s injured. That’s not a problem. It’s just you’re on Cloud 9 and it doesn’t happen, and it kind of hurts.â€
Thomson said the stress and strain of the sport has started to take its toll on him, and he said he doesn’t want to overstay his welcome in the sport.
“I love the sport. I don’t want to stop,†Thomson said. “I still want to be around it. But everybody needs to know that their time has come. Maybe it’s not mine right now, but I also don’t want to be that person who fights until they don’t know when it’s time to quit.â€
UFC on FOX 10 took place at United Center in Chicago. The Thomson-Henderson main event aired on FOX following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
