Exclusive: 'Wonderboy' Stephen Thompson talks James Krause losing his "bread and butter" over betting allegations

Stephen Thompson recently weighed in on the James Krause situation during an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda MMA. Along with the Glory MMA coach losing his cornering license, fighters associated with Krause or his gym have been banned from competing in the UFC over a betting scandal.

Thompson described the entire situation as "wild" while noting that Krause is likely to lose his livelihood as his fighters will be forced to relocate to other gyms. 'Wonderboy' further claimed that such fiascos are one of the reasons for him staying out of sports betting. The 39-year-old told James Lynch in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda MMA:

"I think it's crazy, I think it's wild man. You know, I have never been a betting man myself. But I think with the whole situation... it's wild man. That completely ruins Krause man. That's how he made his bread and butter. Yes, he was a teacher but he also trained a slew of UFC fighters. So man I hope everything turns out okay for him and his gym. But that's one of the reasons I don't bet man."

Watch Stephen Thompson's comments on James Krause below (13:45):

Stephen Thompson also doesn't have an issue with the UFC barring fighters and their teams from betting. According to 'Wonderboy', fighters should solely focus on fights and always keep betting for "after their fight careers."

Krause has seemingly been thrown under the bus over suspicious betting line movement ahead of a bout in which his fighter Darrick Minner lost via first-round TKO on November 5.

A well-known sports bettor, Krause currently coaches several UFC fighters, with the most notable being former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno.

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Stephen Thompson is sure about pursuing a coaching career after retirement

Stephen Thompson recently bounced back from a two-fight skid with a Fight of the Night fourth-round TKO win over Kevin Holland.

A former two-time UFC welterweight title challenger looking to make another title run, 'Wonderboy' is also a regular instructor for kids at his gym, Upstate Karate in Simpsonville, South Carolina. Unsurprisingly, the 39-year-old has little doubt about the profession he will choose after hanging up his professional fighting gloves for good.

Asked if a coaching career is a mere eventuality, Thompson further told Sportskeeda MMA (12:43):

"Oh, yeah, helping fighters get ready for their fights. I'd still be training so I got many years to come to help these guys get ready. The up and coming kids, helping the amateurs, helping the pros. That's what I do man. That's what my first love is teaching."

While 'Wonderboy' likes the idea of guiding elite UFC fighters toward the title, his primary focus will remain to guide fighters from his own team to the biggest stage:

"To be able to pass down my knowledge, my experience being out there in the octagon... I think will be great. That's always been a passion of mine and helping these guys get to the UFC, here at our gym, is my number 1 priority."