Jeremy Stephens didn’t burn any bridges on his approach out of the UFC in 2022 nevertheless it felt like an finish of an period after he spent 15 years and over 30 fights with the promotion earlier than shifting onto new alternatives.
He competed in skilled boxing, continued doing MMA with the PFL after which exploded on the scene in bare-knuckle combating with an undefeated run in BKFC, which was capped off with a jaw-breaking efficiency over ex-UFC champion Eddie Alvarez. That win appeared to arrange Stephens for even greater alternatives in BKFC however as an alternative of simply re-signing with the promotion, he as an alternative opted for a one-fight deal to return to the UFC on the upcoming card in his hometown of Des Moines, Iowa on Might 3.
So how precisely did this truly occur?
“I by no means received reduce from the UFC,” Stephens instructed MMA Combating. “I made a decision to go round, seek for life exterior of there and I felt like possibly there was a bit of little bit of unhealthy blood there. I left all good with Dana [White] and issues like that from the shove [against Drakkar Klose]. I simply needed to discover my choices.
“I watch UFC and seeing some guys on there and I’m like I might knock that dude out who knocked that dude out. I used to be like I might nonetheless be there. It was at all times behind my thoughts. A brother of mine, relaxation in peace Anthony Johnson, he took a route exterior of there, got here again to the UFC, had some actually good paydays and a title struggle. My spouse was like ‘why don’t you attain out to Dana?’ I used to be like I don’t know. Then I used to be like why not? I’ve dragged myself out of the ring properly this far so why not preserve going? Why not shoot my shot? I took a shot, I used to be like you already know what babe, write up a message and I’ll ship it to him.”
Stephens ended up messaging UFC CEO Dana White on Instagram and it didn’t take lengthy for him to obtain a optimistic response.
“I went to Des Moines, which is humorous, all week,” Stephens defined. “Went again to deal with some enterprise, received to see some household and round city everyone is all glad. They’re like bare-knuckle, that’s loopy! You ought to be on the Des Moines card. I used to be like I shot uncle Dana a message and the day I used to be leaving he received again to me. He was like ‘hey man, I didn’t have your quantity, I’ve been which means to come up with you, I’ll have Hunter [Campbell] come up with you.’
“It was simply type of loopy the way it all got here collectively however this isn’t far off from what I’ve been doing, all of the years of arduous work. I’m in a position to speak to the godfathers, they offer me a possibility, a one-off deal and it’s a very whole lot, too. I am going in there and I deal with enterprise and commit one other homicide on Might 3 in my hometown, it’s simply extra buzz. I’m staying lively the way in which I needed.”
Whereas his return to the UFC got here with only a one-fight deal, Stephens had no hesitation signing that contract as a result of he’s greater than assured in his skills to beat Mason Jones on Might 3.
Greater than something, the 38-year-old veteran actually simply needed to have the possibility to carry out in his hometown, which hasn’t been straightforward to do contemplating Iowa hasn’t precisely been a major goal for many main fight sports activities promotions.
For many of his profession, Stephens simply needed to convey a bit of residence with him throughout his travels however now he will get to soak within the limelight whereas lastly performing in entrance of a raucous viewers in Des Moines.
“I convey 515 to Brazil,” Stephens stated about at all times representing Iowa in his fights. “My final struggle [against Eddie Alvarez]. There’s no one that represents the 515 [like me]. I’m the most effective to ever do it out of Des Moines, Iowa.
“I’m glad for them. I’m for Des Moines folks. This can be a flyover state, why doesn’t anybody ever come right here? It’s been like 17 or 18 years within the making to come back right here and I’m the cardboard. It’s the precise timing. Des Moines, they’re going to like this.”
Whereas the present bout order has him set to open the primary card for UFC Des Moines, Stephens feels extra like he’s the headliner after the reception he acquired after signing again with the promotion.
Plus he is aware of the group goes to erupt when he walks to the octagon so he will not be the precise headliner however Stephens is assured Iowa remains to be going to deal with him as such.
“The true f*cking primary occasion!” Stephens stated. “Hear, I needed to stroll by fireplace in Philly, get shit on by my promoters and have f*cking p*ssy [Joe] Pyfer and all these dudes attempting to ring me by the mud. I simply keep centered and do my factor. Now I’m getting all of the love and I’m getting all this. That is nonetheless a struggle. The group, you don’t let it come into that.
“If you already know Caitlin Clark from Iowa, she’s had a number of followers however [she has] simply that dialed in focus. I’m actually bringing that. Iowa’s going to convey the vitality regardless however I believe they know who the true f*cking primary occasion is and what’s actually coming to the desk. They’re excited. I’m the most effective to ever do it popping out of Iowa. Fingers down. It’s going to really feel good strolling by Philly to come back over to Iowa, get that help, that love. Within the meantime, it’s simply tunnel imaginative and prescient till I get that f*cking dude out of there and the job’s completed and I’m doing a victory speech and screaming 515 and going completely ape shit.”
After all, Stephens additionally absolutely admits that his closing run with the UFC ended with a couple of robust losses and the ugly altercation the place he shoved Drakkar Klose throughout a faceoff, which truly led to the cancellation of their struggle.
For all intents and functions, Stephens might solely find yourself combating within the UFC this one closing time so he’s positively going to profit from it.
“I don’t neglect concerning the darkish days,” Stephens stated. “I’ve been sat out. I type of preserve that chip on my shoulder. Actually go in there and show to myself I truly belong in there. I can nonetheless compete at a very excessive degree and I’ll be a harmful individual doing it.
“I crawled out of that properly like in The Ring, that film, proper? I used to be on the backside of that f*cking properly. I crawled out of that motherf*cker. They’d the cement over the lid and I needed to crawl out bare-knuckle. Actually show my f*cking price. Put my shit on the f*cking line and now I’m getting all my instruments again and it’s simply going to be f*cking havoc on these motherf*ckers. I get to create myself one other alternative.”
