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USA Today
14-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Josh Thomson shares biggest issue with modern-day fighters compared to his era
In a lot of ways, look: Josh Thomson is just gettin' to that stage of life. Thomson turned 46 this past fall. There's a stereotype that exists of the generation ahead complaining about the generation behind. And conversely, the younger generation is pigeon-holed as having it all figured out compared to the geezers before them. Thomson just passed eight years since his final fight at Bellator 172. He's now spent more time as an MMA analyst and in the broadcast booth since he retired than the average length of most MMA careers. Add to that a 16-year fighting career, a major-promotion title and more than 30 fights, and Thomson has enough bona fides, by far, to have some opinions. When he sees the fighters coming up, there's one thing that stands out to him. 'For me, it's the entitlement,' Thomson recently told MMA Junkie Radio. 'It's the entitlement of they 'deserve' more money. They 'deserve' things most of them haven't really earned yet. They just feel it should be handed to them. I think everyone needs to earn it.' Thomson started his pro career in 2001 and was in the UFC by his sixth fight. His disclosed pay for that bout, a first-round knockout of Gerald Strebendt, was $4,000 – $2,000 to show with a $2,000 win bonus. Things have changed plenty in nearly a quarter-century, of course. Starting pay is four, five, six times higher than that now at the base level. But the internet was barely a thing when Thomson started – forget about social media. Thomson wonders if the current generation could do more to not take for granted the luxuries they have now. And what's worse, as an analyst he said he often sees fighters taking the safe and easy way out. 'Beyond me, the BJ Penns, the Randy Coutures, the Frank Shamrocks, all those guys laid the way, but they were getting paid peanuts,' Thomson said. 'Now a lot of (fighters) just feel that they deserve it. 'It's hard because I look at guys and I think to myself they could fight so much harder. They could leave it all out there. A lot of them are looking for ways out and sometimes are not fighting to their potential. That's the hard part as a fighter is just knowing that they have it. I can't say what it is.' Check out Thomson's full interview in the video above.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Josh Thomson urges PFL to 'get their sh*t together'
Josh Thomson worries about the state of PFL, and there's one recent moment he experienced with PFL co-found Donn Davis that understates why. "Let me give you an example," Thomson told MMA Junkie Radio. "I worked the (Battle of the Giants) Riyadh show for them. Donn Davis literally walked up to me, 'Hey, man, love watching your fights. I'm pumped to watch your fight tomorrow night.'" Thomson, a former Strikeforce champion, hasn't competed since Bellator 172 – in 2017. "I just shrugged it off," he said. Thomson, who co-hosts the "Weighing In" podcast with John McCarthy, said the PFL has been a mess since their acquisition of Bellator, for which he fought and worked as a commentator. Many fighters, such as Patricio Freire, Aaron Pico, and Patchy Mix have wanted out due to being shelved, with former champion Freire recently getting his wish. Thomson thinks it's important for fighters to have options outside of the UFC and doesn't like what he's seeing out of PFL. He was particularly critical of Davis and PFL CEO Peter Murray. "I wish PFL would get their sh*t together," Thomson said. "The bottom line is we need another promotion (other than the UFC). We need another promotion that has access and can build upcoming talent. I don't know if they can build it. Mike Kogan is there so, I know that there's a potential for the athletes to be built. Do I have faith in Donn Davis and Pete Murray? I have absolutely no faith in them in being able to get the job done. They don't watch the sport, they don't know the sport, they don't know their athletes. ... "If you don't know, you don't know. So, if you're not following the sport – (Davis has) come out and said 'I don't watch fights, I don't know everything that's going on.' That's not how you build stars. You've got to know who they are." The PFL ditched its regular season format and instead this year is running eight separate division tournaments, with the brackets announced Tuesday. As of now, it's unclear what the PFL plans for its prized signing, Francis Ngannou, who debuted for the promotion last October. Also, when will Jake Paul, who signed a deal with the PFL in January 2023, make his promotional debut – if ever? While Thomson is skeptical of the original PFL brass, his faith remains in Kogan, the former Bellator matchmaker who worked for Scott Coker and was retained by PFL during the acquisition. "Mike Kogan can definitely step in and do that," Thomson said. "He's built stars in Elite XC, in Strikeforce, and he's helped alongside with (Scott) Coker, Rich Chou, and those guys. He can do it again for the PFL, but you've got to give him some reigns to go ahead and do that." Aaron Pico implores Donn Davis to 'do what is right,' grant PFL release so he can join UFC Bellator champion Patchy Mix still frustrated with PFL: 'I've been shelved' Donn Davis defends activity of Bellator fighters, hears from Patricio Freire in response This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Josh Thomson urges PFL to 'get their sh*t together'
USA Today
12-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Josh Thomson urges PFL to 'get their sh*t together'
Josh Thomson worries about the state of PFL, and there's one recent moment he experienced with PFL co-found Donn Davis that understates why. 'Let me give you an example,' Thomson told MMA Junkie Radio. 'I worked the (Battle of the Giants) Riyadh show for them. Donn Davis literally walked up to me, 'Hey, man, love watching your fights. I'm pumped to watch your fight tomorrow night.'' Thomson, a former Strikeforce champion, hasn't competed since Bellator 172 – in 2017. 'I just shrugged it off,' he said. Thomson, who co-hosts the 'Weighing In' podcast with John McCarthy, said the PFL has been a mess since their acquisition of Bellator, for which he fought and worked as a commentator. Many fighters, such as Patricio Freire, Aaron Pico, and Patchy Mix have wanted out due to being shelved, with former champion Freire recently getting his wish. Thomson thinks it's important for fighters to have options outside of the UFC and doesn't like what he's seeing out of PFL. He was particularly critical of Davis and PFL CEO Peter Murray. 'I wish PFL would get their sh*t together,' Thomson said. 'The bottom line is we need another promotion (other than the UFC). We need another promotion that has access and can build upcoming talent. I don't know if they can build it. Mike Kogan is there so, I know that there's a potential for the athletes to be built. Do I have faith in Donn Davis and Pete Murray? I have absolutely no faith in them in being able to get the job done. They don't watch the sport, they don't know the sport, they don't know their athletes. … 'If you don't know, you don't know. So, if you're not following the sport – (Davis has) come out and said 'I don't watch fights, I don't know everything that's going on.' That's not how you build stars. You've got to know who they are.' The PFL ditched its regular season format and instead this year is running eight separate division tournaments, with the brackets announced Tuesday. As of now, it's unclear what the PFL plans for its prized signing, Francis Ngannou, who debuted for the promotion last October. Also, when will Jake Paul, who signed a deal with the PFL in January 2023, make his promotional debut – if ever? While Thomson is skeptical of the original PFL brass, his faith remains in Kogan, the former Bellator matchmaker who worked for Scott Coker and was retained by PFL during the acquisition. 'Mike Kogan can definitely step in and do that,' Thomson said. 'He's built stars in Elite XC, in Strikeforce, and he's helped alongside with (Scott) Coker, Rich Chou, and those guys. He can do it again for the PFL, but you've got to give him some reigns to go ahead and do that.'
