In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson revealed that he has reached a settlement with the UFC regarding the cancelled fight between him and Michel Pereira at UFC 291. Thompson, who opted not to take the fight after Pereira missed weight, had previously not been paid for making weight himself. However, after discussions between his management and the promotion, Thompson confirmed that the matter has now been resolved to his satisfaction.

Speaking with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Thompson expressed his contentment with the outcome, stating, "That was all wild and crazy. Me and the UFC, and my management, we've settled everything. So everything's great. We settled with something we were both happy with, and that was it."

The 40-year-old welterweight fighter expressed his confidence that the situation would eventually be resolved, considering the UFC's busy schedule. Thompson acknowledged that it took some time, but he was thrilled with the outcome, not only from a financial standpoint but also because he has been given a big opportunity for a pivotal divisional bout on a highly anticipated pay-per-view card to conclude the year.

"It took a little bit because they have a business and a lot of stuff going on - and so have I. So my managers have been taking care of everything. But, yeah man, I was happy with everything, with what the UFC has done for me, and we got away from this last fight with a smile on our faces. Not only that, but then [I got] a fight, obviously, against a top opponent, someone ranked above me, and on one of the most stacked cards of the year - the last card of the year," Thompson explained.

Since the cancellation of the Pereira fight in July, Thompson has been eagerly awaiting his next opportunity. Speculation arose regarding potential matchups, including a highly anticipated clash with former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. While the Usman fight did not materialize, Thompson believes that his upcoming bout with Shavkat Rakhmonov could be a crucial step towards another shot at the welterweight title.

"It has been pretty crazy with a lot of things that could've happened but didn't - with the fight with Michel [getting scrapped], and the possibility of fighting Kamaru Usman has been exciting. The UFC, or at least Kamaru Usman had different plans, so I was kind of left with nobody, and then they offered me Shavkat," Thompson shared. "Not only is he ranked above me, he's one of the scariest dudes in the UFC right now, especially in the welterweight division - undefeated, 100 percent finish rate, super strong, super tough. Now is the time, I think, to prove myself."

With the compensation dispute settled, Stephen Thompson can now fully focus on his upcoming bout against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 296. The fight presents Thompson with a golden opportunity to climb up the welterweight rankings and demonstrate his skills on the highly anticipated year-end card. Fans will be eagerly awaiting the outcome as Thompson aims to make a statement and solidify his position in the division.