Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson holds up clenched fists, staring down his opponents in the posters that line the front wall at his family's South Carolina karate gym, promoting fights in New York, Las Vegas and Ottawa.

This weekend would have marked the opportunity to add a Thompson poster from a Greenville fight to that wall, but an injury has put that dream on hold for now.

Thompson, who said he is feeling better now, was knocked out during a bout in Nashville in March and wasn't able to recover from that head injury and get back in fighting shape in time for Saturday's UFC Fight Night at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville.

That will mean that Thompson, who is from Simpsonville, just south of Greenville, will be robbed of the chance to fight in front of his hometown fans at UFC's first-ever stop in South Carolina.

“It’s disappointing. It really is disappointing," Thompson said.

He and his dad, Ray Thompson, who raised Stephen fighting karate and kickboxing at their Simpsonville business, worked hard to try to get the event to come to Greenville. They succeeded thanks to their efforts and Stephen Thompson's high ranking among UFC fighters, Ray Thompson said.

More:UFC debut in SC: Tickets remain available for Saturday's Fight Night 154 in Greenville

“To do all that, but for him not to be able to fight, it’s kind of heartbreaking," Ray Thompson said. "Not only did he work hard, but we worked for it to come here.”

After he went down in Nashville, Stephen Thompson said he pretty much knew right away that he would have to miss the Greenville event. He said he's seen other fighters try to get back in the ring too soon after an injury and then go down after one hit – he didn't want that to happen in front of his hometown crowd.

More:Greenville's Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson targets Madison Square Garden return at UFC 244

Greenville should still be proud of its hometown fighter though, said Brendan Fitzgerald, a UFC commentator who is calling Saturday's UFC Fight Night broadcast.

"I called Wonderboy's fight (in Nashville) and he was looking so good," Fitzgerald said. "Before that fight, he was saying 'all I have to do is get through this fight (to headline the Greenville event)' but it didn't happen for him."

MORE SPORTS High school, college or national sports, we bring you sports news that excites our readers. Please consider becoming a subscriber. Here's our special offer.

Ray Thompson hopes fans will still come out to support the event, even though they won't get to see his son's signature fluid, graceful and explosive karate-influenced fighting style. One silver lining from his absence from the ring though will be that he will be able to spend more time interacting with fans at the event, where he will do interviews and make appearances, Ray Thompson said.

He hopes it "won't be too painful" for the UFC in not having Stephen Thompson on the card to fight Saturday.

“Because we want them to come back," Ray Thompson said.

Stephen Thompson, 36, said he hopes to keep fighting for potentially 10 more years, pointing to current heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier, who's 40, as an example that he can keep going into his 40s. He dreams of winning the title one day and hopes UFC Fight Night will return to Greenville in time for him to fight here.

More:Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson not ready to return to ring for UFC Fight Night in Greenville

Stephen Thompson also hopes the event will light a fire in Greenville's fighting community to train hard so they can compete in an event here if UFC Fight Night comes back, he said.

“UFC coming here can be a great catalyst for more interest in mixed martial arts," Ray Thompson said.

Greenville News staffer Jason Clary contributed to this report.

You can connect with reporter Gabe Cavallaro on Twitter @gabe_cavallaro or facebook.com/cavallarogabe or email him at gcavallaro@greenvillenews.com.