 He is following in the footsteps of former British and Olympic shot-put champion Geoff Capes who twice won the world strongman title.Oli Thompson made his mixed martial arts debut on 3 February 2009, defeating Ashley Pollard by a second round arm triangle choke.He has continued to fight since then, On 26 March 2011, after amassing a record of 7-2, with his only losses coming to future UFC Heavyweight Rob Broughton and former UFC fighter Joe Vedepo, Thompson took on defending UCMMA champion Ben Smith at UCMMA 19.