Some guys fight over women. Nick Thompson became a fighter just to impress one.
"A few years ago I went to see a mixed martial arts show with my new girlfriend," recalls the Minnesotan. "I wrestled a little bit in college so to try and impress her I told her I could do MMA. I started training the next week. I was awful, but I was hooked."
Thompson was, in fact, so awful he was nicknamed "The Fainting Goat " for his unfortunate resemblance to an animal notorious for losing consciousness when frightened. Knocked out in his first pro fight by journeyman Dan Hart, Thompson would go on to lose three of his first four bouts.
One of those early defeats came at the hands of Florida's Dustin "Clean" Denes , who again provides the opposition as the two square off Tuesday, October 23 at 9 p.m. and midnight EST Bodog Fight: Costa Rica Combat continues in Canada on The Score Television Network. when
However, Denes (12-3-3) will face a much different Thompson this time around.
The man now known only as "The Goat " rebounded from his early missteps to amass a record of 31-9-1 en route to becoming the new Bodog Fight Welterweight Champion . Thompson's stunning knockout upset of formerly undefeated champ Eddie Alvarez (9-1) at Bodog Fight: Fedor Emelianenko vs. Matt Lindland in St. Petersburg, Russia last April is also featured on this episode.
One last thing in case you were wondering: The girlfriend Thompson fought to impress? She's now his fiancé.
Don't miss Bodog Fight : Costa Rica Combat, airing Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 p.m. and midnight EST in Canada on The Score.
Bodog Fight: The Complete First Series is now available on DVD. The four-disk set comes packed with more than ten hours of non-stop action and a ton of extra features, including fighter commentary, new behind the scenes footage and six never-before-seen fights. Plus, get a bonus limited edition CD featuring tracks from Bodog Music artists.
