Jeremy Stephens wager on himself heading into his battle in opposition to Eddie Alvarez at BKFC KnuckleMania 5 and now he’s able to money in.
The 34-time UFC veteran scored one in all his most spectacular victories to this point when he broke Alvarez’s jaw in the primary occasion in Philadelphia in January. It seems that was truly the ultimate bout on Stephens’ take care of the bare-knuckle promotion, which is why he’s now exploring free company with all of the leverage on this planet to earn a profitable payday.
“I took a f*cking big danger,” Stephens advised MMA Combating. “I’ve stated in previous interviews, I didn’t signal the GFL contract though that was an enormous payday. I may have waited till April.
“[BKFC] sat me out for a yr after Jimmie Rivera, so I’m a free agent. I didn’t signal these contracts as a result of I knew the night time that I used to be prepared to exit and danger it for had the massive payday. It’s time to receives a commission. It’s time to deal with my household and never having these f*cking stresses that I’m having. I put in my f*cking time. I wager on myself. I handled the group. I offered the f*cking place out.”
BKFC truly broke the fight sports activities attendance file beforehand held by the UFC with the KnuckleMania 5 card, which featured Stephens taking over Philadelphia’s hometown hero Alvarez in the primary occasion.
All week lengthy main as much as the occasion, Stephens handled a hostile Philly crowd and he even had different fighters like UFC veteran Joe Pyfer speaking trash to him in the course of the pre-fight press convention. Stephens received his vengeance with a stellar efficiency the place he scored two knockdowns within the third spherical earlier than Alvarez’s coaches waved off the battle to stop him from absorbing additional injury.
The following day, Alvarez revealed his jaw was shattered early within the battle earlier than he in the end succumbed to the stress that pressured the stoppage within the third spherical.
It was a highlight-reel efficiency for Stephens, which is why he’s able to reap the rewards for taking part in spoiler and beating a former UFC champion like Alvarez in one of many largest BKFC occasions to this point.
“Now you’ve received to pay me,” Stephens stated. “I ain’t doing shit for f*cking [middle of the road pay] anymore. I ain’t taking f*cking pay cuts. It’s a safe bag. I advised [BKFC president David Feldman] after I received out of the ring, I hope you notice my true value. I’m not simply right here for the f*cking test, like I advised Eddie, too. I’m right here to take your f*cking neck and the chance that comes with it.
“You’re speaking about an actual motherf*cker, somebody that deserves it. Nobody’s placing pores and skin within the sport, kilos of flesh like I’ve. I really feel prefer it’s simply my time and I’m glad that I by no means gave up alongside the best way.”
For all of the choices possible accessible to him, Stephens admits that he’s actually loved competing in BKFC after spending three fights with the promotion.
Stephens says he even earned an apology of kinds from Feldman after the BKFC founder apparently admitted his personal fault backing Alvarez in that battle.
“My very own promoters had been in opposition to me, betting in opposition to me,” Stephens stated. “David Feldman known as me immediately and was like ‘we had Eddie, we had the cash behind him.’ You paid the unsuitable man. Now it’s my time. Ball’s in my courtroom. I desire a massive f*cking bag.
“I’ve received alternatives, perhaps going to the UFC to battle Conor McGregor there, BKFC as a result of he’s the proprietor over there. I put myself on this f*cking second. I risked all of it on me. I manifested this. I turned a delusion into actuality. There’s nobody else hotter and f*cking extra deserving than [Jeremy Stephens], the f*cking killer heathen proper now.”
As a lot as Alvarez could have been the marquee identify heading into BKFC KnuckleMania 5, Stephens received all the eye popping out of the occasion.
That simply provides gasoline to the fireplace on why he’s seeking to get greater and higher compensation for his subsequent contract however Stephens guarantees he’s sustaining a superb relationship with BKFC in hopes that they’ll finally get a brand new deal completed.
“I’ve had truly nice conversations with David Feldman,” Stephens stated. “He’s a person of his phrase. I might say my solely factor with David Feldman is extra communication. That’s it. Extra communication. We will positively match out the perimeters. I hope he is aware of that I’m not simply right here for the checks. I’m getting paid fairly good. I’m not simply right here for the checks. I’m right here for greater alternatives. I need to make these f*cking million greenback paydays in order that I can simply relaxation effectively. I’ve earned that.
“Me and Feldman are cool. We don’t have a contract proper now. I really like working with them. I really like the BKFC as you possibly can inform. I’m extra primal. That is my f*cking sport.”
