Jeremy Stevens discusses his unexpected comeback within the UFC ranks.
Let's Go Jerks, It's Showtime Again!
Get ready, UFC fans! On May 4th, don't miss the UFC on ESPN 67 tournament, happening in good ol' Des-Moine, starring the lightweight war between Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo. Kicking off the main card, we got ourselves a inter-generational lightweight rumble between the seasoned warrior Jeremy Stephens and the rising star Mason Jones.
Stephens, the so-called "Little Warrior," recently sat down with MMA Fighting on his return and clarified some things. "I wasn't booted out of UFC, mate. I was on the hunt for greener pastures, yeah, there was a bit of friction, but I parted ways with Dana on good terms."
Continuing, he shared his Des-Moine visit tale: "I was in Des-Moine for business and family, and everyone was all, 'You gotta be here, mate!' I said, 'I gave a shoutout to ol' Dana.' And right as I was exiting, he hit me up: 'Hey man, couldn't reach you, Hunter'll be in touch.'"
It was a wild ride, but it made sense - decades of grind, connections, experience. UFC gave him another shot - a solid one. Stephens vowed to entertain the crowd and create some ruckus. "I'm keeping busy, just like I promised."
Jeremy's last UFC dance was back in 2021, where he took a tumble against Mateusz Gamrot in the first round. Since then, the fighter went through a mixed rollercoaster ride in PFL and became a sensation in BKFC, clocking in three victories.
FYI, Jeremy's UFC comeback was decades in the making. After leaving the promotion years ago[3], this return to Des-Moine marks his first UFC appearance since 2007[1][3]. He's also tied with the most defeats (19) in UFC history[4]. In this comeback fight, he'll face off against Mason Jones, a former Cage Warriors two-division champ who returned to the UFC after a sizzling 4-fight victory streak in Cage Warriors[3]. Jones is known for his striker skills, with three recent KO wins[3], giving Stephens a tough test, especially considering his status as one of the UFC's longest-tenured fighters[3]. So let's cheer on Jeremy and hope for a thrilling showdown!
*Also, if you're into UFC, take a look at these interesting reads:
- Eddie Hall faces a titanic clash with Francis Ngannou
- Ian McCall makes a daring prediction for Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley
- Michael Bisping foresees potential defeat in Atlanta could spell the end of Kamaru Usman's reign*
As Jeremy Stephens returns to the UFC, fans might be curious to know about his past and recent accomplishments. Incidentally, Stephens, often referred to as the 'Little Warrior,' was a bookmaker's favorite when he challenged Mateusz Gamrot in 2021, a bout he lost in the first round. Stephens is set to face Mason Jones, a rising star in the UFC, known for his striker skills, in his first UFC appearance since 2007. This sports event is not to be missed, so cheer on Stephens and enjoy the UFC on ESPN 67 tournament in Des-Moine.
