Jeremy Stephens felt like the entire world was in opposition to him heading into BKFC KnuckleMania 5 this previous Saturday evening and it’s robust to argue in opposition to his logic.
Regardless of a deep resume spent competing in promotions just like the UFC for the higher a part of the previous 15-plus years, the 38-year-old veteran was nearly handled like cannon fodder strolling into Philadelphia to do battle with hometown hero Eddie Alvarez. Whereas he embraced his villainous function to advertise the occasion, Stephens needed to endure a whole lot of verbal abuse within the leadup to the struggle, which included quite a few jabs and insults lobbed his approach throughout a pre-fight press convention on Thursday.
The negativity by no means appeared to rattle him, however Stephens admits he channeled all that anger and aggression again at Alvarez once they lastly set foot within the ring collectively.
“I needed to sit again and don’t suppose that I let that shit go unnoticed,” Stephens informed MMA Combating. “I informed him on the press convention. I’m going I heard your story about your brittle bitch arms. My arms break jaws. I’m going to interrupt your f*cking jaw, homie.
“To endure all that, to have to take a seat there and take heed to p*ssy [Joe] Pyfer and his f*cking homies and everyone f*cking speaking shit, that’s why your pal received his f*cking jaw damaged. I hate to be so f*cking genuine however it is a totally different recreation. I turned that f*cking ache into f*cking goal and keenness and it’s what I do.”
Stephens undoubtedly heard it from the Philly trustworthy, which did embrace some trash speak from UFC middleweight Joe Pyfer, who was there to assist Alvarez within the days main as much as the struggle.
Add to that, Stephens knew deep down that even the BKFC brass needed to be rooting for Alvarez to win as a result of he’s been a star for many of his profession, which included championship runs in each the UFC and Bellator.
However relatively than permitting the load of all that to crash down on him, Stephens determined to make use of it like gasoline on a raging hearth that he finally unleashed with a virtually flawless efficiency in opposition to Alvarez to attain his third straight win since transferring to bare-knuckle preventing.
Ultimately, Stephens scored two knockdowns and finally ended Alvarez’s evening after his nook stopped the struggle following the third spherical. Alvarez later revealed that Stephens landed the “kill shot” earlier within the struggle with a punch that broke his jaw.
“[Alvarez said] ‘you’re right here for the examine.’ I stated you’re the cash man,” Stephens recounted. “You’re making all of the f*cking cash right here. You’re making tens of millions. That’s why it’s straightforward so that you can stop. You stop whenever you received paid for Conor [McGregor] and he was [shelling up] and all his Philly followers sitting there f*cking gagging on f*cking Conor when he got here in. In case you come to my hometown, and also you f*cking did that to me, hopefully somebody’s f*cking snatching your chain.
“To take a seat again and right here him f*cking speak shit and this and that, [used that] to f*cking fortify your thoughts, and I took that f*cking ache and now I don’t hear him f*cking speaking. You possibly can’t. Your jaw’s wired shut.”
Stephens revealed that he received a name from BKFC founder David Feldman telling him about Alvarez’s damage whereas additionally issuing a mea culpa of kinds for the way in which the promotion seeming backed his opponent heading into struggle evening.
“Feldman referred to as me this morning telling me about it,” Stephens stated. “You paid the flawed man. He informed me ‘we had our cash on him.’ I had everyone go in opposition to me. All people f*cking doubted me. I’m really dwelling this life. I’m the f*cking man within the enviornment.
“I took a danger. I didn’t even signal contracts but. I didn’t signal with GFL as a result of I’m betting on me. I informed them I used to be sure of it so I needed to go break your f*cking jaw. I’m having fun with the fruits of the labor of the f*cking ache I needed to convey to him.”
Whereas Stephens has been the underdog many instances all through his profession, there was only a totally different feeling with the magnitude of this specific occasion, particularly with over 17,000 followers packed into the Wells Fargo Middle with seemingly all of them rooting for Alvarez.
It didn’t assist issues a lot that Stephens felt just like the promotion favored Alvarez however he finally proved his level with among the finest performances of his profession.
“Who received the final snicker? F*ck all of you,” Stephens shouted. “I informed you that on the f*cking weigh-ins once I informed you f*ck all you motherf*ckers. I’m going to kill your boy. You motherf*ckers don’t get it. It is a totally different f*cking recreation. Now it’s my f*cking flip to f*cking f*ck you up. I f*cking informed him. That is my f*cking time, homeboy. I ain’t f*cking enjoying round. All people that f*cking talked shit and doubted me, I’ve been doing it my complete f*cking life.
“65,000 individuals, f*cking Montreal, Quebec middle [when I fought Sam Stout]. Mexico throwing f*cking beer on me [when I fought Yair Rodriguez]. My complete life since I used to be a f*cking child I’ve needed to endure this shit. Motherf*ckers don’t get it. I wager on me. I broke you. I’ve damaged three males in there. The second’s a f*cking resolution, however in the event you take a look at it, the dude stop the final 12 seconds. I put my f*cking balls in his face and was looking at him, as a result of I broke him. I broke their f*cking jaw. That’s what I f*cking do. F*ck all you motherf*ckers who doubted me. F*ck all you motherf*ckers. How’s it really feel? I broke your boy.”
Stephens received’t ever apologize for getting so fired up, particularly after a tumultuous week in Philadelphia the place he felt like the entire world was in opposition to him.
That stated, Stephens guarantees that he left all his rage within the ring that evening and confirmed Alvarez the respect he deserved as soon as the struggle was over.
“Eddie hits arduous. Eddie’s there. However it’s my time,” Stephens stated. “He’s a f*cking beast. World class. I went over and informed him, I stated ‘hey bro, I needed to promote the struggle. Feldman gave me all these strains about Philly anyway. I wasn’t concerned in it.’ My true emotions about Eddie, I respect him. I stated hey bro, I like you.
“I’m really preventing like Eddie, I’m only a higher model now. I’m going to have my time. All of us are. I’m capable of provide you with authenticity about how I exploit ache however I’ve nothing however world class respect for Eddie Alvarez, which is why I f*cking ready to die. I f*cking struggle as a result of I need to stay.”
The win undoubtedly places Stephens in an advantageous place transferring ahead and he’s very excited to see what comes subsequent.
It’s not all in regards to the cash however Stephens hopes there’s financial appreciation proven for what he’s performed up to now in his bare-knuckle profession. Greater than something, Stephens simply desires respect however not as a result of that’s due.
It’s as a result of he’s earned it.
“I need to have these alternatives,” Stephens stated. “I need to have these paydays. Nobody’s earned it greater than me. Nobody’s struggled greater than me.
“I’ve to make use of that ache on you however that dude’s a f*cking beast and he’s one other on a protracted record of f*cking legends that I mounted on my wall. I’m nonetheless doing it. I’m falling in love with the method and I’m getting higher.”
