1 day Ago By MMA Junkie
Jeremy Stephens is back in the UFC. To many, it's one of the most unexpected events of the year. Stephens (29-21 MMA, 15-18 UFC), a 34-fight veteran of the UFC, re-signed after being out of the promotion for almost four years.
Like many older veterans, once they're out of the UFC, it's rare to see them back in the octagon, even with successful winning records. Yet, Stephens finds himself days away from his 35th UFC fight, taking on Mason Jones (15-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) on the main card of UFC on ESPN 67 , which takes place this Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. Even Stephens, despite the UFC having an event scheduled in his hometown of Des Moines, didn't see re-signing with the UFC as a likely possibility.
"My wife was like, 'Hey, you should hit up Dana,' and I was like, 'Nah, I'm kind of an older guy, and they want these young guys,'" Stephens said at Wednesday's UFC on ESPN 67 media day. "I was just kind of in my nervous thoughts – everybody goes there. I was like, 'Oh, I don't know if I deserve it,' but my wife, God bless her, she was just really on it.
" Stephens had his wife draft a message, which he sent to UFC CEO Dana White, hoping to get a chance to fight where he grew up. Following his TKO win over Eddie Alvarez in BKFC in January, he returned to Des Moines to visit his family. There, he was met with many fans who wanted to see him fight at the hometown UFC Fight Night event.
"The day that I left on Sunday morning, I woke up at like 4:30 in the morning and I got a message at like one or two in the morning – you know how Dana is, he's up, and maybe he's throwing like five grand on black – he was like, 'Hey, I've been trying to get a hold of you, great fight (against Eddie Alvarez). I'll have Hunter (Campbell) reach out to you.'" Not long after that, Hunter Campbell, chief business officer of the UFC, called Stephens and got all the details squared for his return.
"I told my wife and gave her a big hug," Stephens said recalling the moment he got off the phone with Campbell. "I was almost in tears because I know I made it happen with my work, but if it wasn't for my wife, I know I wouldn't be sitting here today." As far as the fight itself, Stephens is bringing the same energy that made him a fan-favorite for many years in the UFC.
He looks to take it to Jones and get into a war. "I'm going to put him in the f*cking morgue, bring this pain to purpose," Stephens said. "I got goals and delusions.
This is just a little gas stop for the ultimate goal and dream." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Jeremy Stephens explains unexpected UFC return.
