What’s in a name? Ask UFC heavyweight Thomas Petersen. The Minnesota native cannot catch a break with his name getting confused, and his UFC Rio outing was no different!
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The Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro came alive last night as Brazilian fighters dominated the card, dispatching their opponents with authority from the prelims to the main event. Amid the excitement, Vitor Petrino stole the spotlight in the prelims’ heavyweight bout, landing a spectacular counter hook that knocked his Cameroonian opponent, Thomas Petersen, unconscious.
Yet even then, Petersen continued to face an identity saga, as UFC fans and audiences alike have long struggled with his name.
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UFC commentator Michael Bisping, standing in for Joe Rogan in Brazil, mistakenly called him “Steven Peterson.” As Val Dewar, a Combat Sports writer, captured on X: “Bruh Thomas Petersen had a viral moment cuz of getting called Thomas Jefferson when he won on Contender Series… Now as an actual UFC fighter he just got knocked out cold in Rio and then called Steven Peterson by Michael Bisping.”
Bruh Thomas Petersen had a viral moment cuz of getting called Thomas Jefferson when he won on Contender Series… Now as an actual UFC fighter he just got knocked out cold in Rio and then called Steven Peterson by Mike Bisping.
— Val Dewar (flyweight enjoyer) (@the3els) October 11, 2025
This wasn’t the first time Petersen’s name caused confusion. He initially launched his UFC journey by signing with Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023, where fans knew the Minnesota native as “Thomas Jefferson.” Then, last night, at the official UFC Rio event, the misnaming added an awkward footnote to Petersen’s career story.
After his loss in Rio, Petersen now holds a 10-4 overall MMA record and a 2-3 UFC mark, with fans tracking every win and defeat on his resume. Notably, Michael Bisping had previously mispronounced Petersen’s name earlier this year, so last night’s slip became part of an ongoing saga.
Throwback: Bisping fumbles fighter’s name at UFC Des Moines
This summer, Dana White & Co. lit up Des Moines with a sizzling card headlined by Cory Sandhagen vs. Brazilian veteran Deiveson Figueiredo. In the commentary booth, Michael Bisping joined Brendan Fitzgerald and Paul Felder to call the action. But during the prelims, Minnesota-native heavyweight Thomas Peterson stepped into the cage, and Bisping repeatedly stumbled, making the same mistake throughout the fight.
Fans were quick to notice, sparking a wave of discussion as the former UFC champion-turned-commentator continuously referred to Thomas Peterson as “Steven Peterson.” In his defense, Steven Peterson had indeed competed in the UFC before retiring in 2023—but he was a featherweight, not a heavyweight.
One fan quipped on X: “Did Bisping call Thomas Peterson Steven Peterson the entire fight, lol?” The mix-up wasn’t a one-off: just last week, Bisping reversed the error, calling Steven Peterson “Thomas” throughout the bout. These repeated blunders cast a spotlight on the state of UFC commentary. While Bisping’s storied career, culminating in his retirement from active competition in 2017, gives him undeniable insight, moments like these suggest that a fighter’s experience in the cage doesn’t automatically translate into flawless play-by-play.
Does the UFC need to take a harder look at commentary standards? What’s your take on Bisping’s performance in the booth? Drop your opinion below.
Written by
Edited by
Yeswanth Praveen