Jeremy Stephens didn’t burn any bridges on his method out of the UFC in 2022 however 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 preventing 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 larger 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 Could 3.
So how precisely did this truly occur?
“I by no means acquired minimize from the UFC,” Stephens advised MMA Combating. “I made a decision to go round, seek for life exterior of there and I felt like possibly there was slightly 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 may knock that dude out who knocked that dude out. I used to be like I may 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 combat. 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 nicely this far so why not hold 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, acquired to see some household and round city everyone is all glad. They’re like bare-knuckle, that’s loopy! You need 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 acquired again to me. He was like ‘hey man, I didn’t have your quantity, I’ve been that means to come up with you, I’ll have Hunter [Campbell] come up with you.’
“It was simply form 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 laborious work. I’m capable of speak to the godfathers, they offer me a possibility, a one-off deal and it’s a very whole lot, too. I’m going in there and I deal with enterprise and commit one other homicide on Could 3 in my hometown, it’s simply extra buzz. I’m staying lively the best way 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 Could 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 simple 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 deliver a bit of house 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 deliver 515 to Brazil,” Stephens stated about at all times representing Iowa in his fights. “My final combat [against Eddie Alvarez]. There’s no person that represents the 515 [like me]. I’m the very best to ever do it out of Des Moines, Iowa.
“I’m glad for them. I’m for Des Moines individuals. 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 suitable 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 gang goes to erupt when he walks to the octagon so he is probably not the precise headliner however Stephens is assured Iowa remains to be going to deal with him as such.
“The true f*cking predominant occasion!” Stephens stated. “Pay attention, I needed to stroll by means of fireplace in Philly, get shit on by my promoters and have f*cking p*ssy [Joe] Pyfer and all these dudes making an attempt to ring me by means of the mud. I simply keep targeted and do my factor. Now I’m getting all of the love and I’m getting all this. That is nonetheless a combat. The group, you don’t let it come into that.
“If you already know Caitlin Clark from Iowa, she’s had lots of followers however [she has] simply that dialed in focus. I’m actually bringing that. Iowa’s going to deliver the vitality regardless however I believe they know who the actual f*cking predominant occasion is and what’s actually coming to the desk. They’re excited. I’m the very best to ever do it popping out of Iowa. Arms down. It’s going to really feel good strolling by means of Philly to come back over to Iowa, get that assist, 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 last run with the UFC ended with just a few robust losses and the ugly altercation the place he shoved Drakkar Klose throughout a faceoff, which truly led to the cancellation of their combat.
For all intents and functions, Stephens could solely find yourself preventing within the UFC this one last time so he’s undoubtedly going to take advantage of it.
“I don’t neglect in regards to the darkish days,” Stephens stated. “I’ve been sat out. I form of hold 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 particular person doing it.
“I crawled out of that nicely like in The Ring, that film, proper? I used to be on the backside of that f*cking nicely. I crawled out of that motherf*cker. That they had the cement over the lid and I needed to crawl out bare-knuckle. Actually show my f*cking value. 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.”
