For the first time in the organization’s history, the UFC will make its debut in Des Moines, IA this Saturday night at UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Figuieredo on ESPN. And if that wasn’t enough, after being gone almost four years, Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens (28-19, 1NC) will make his return to the octagon to face Mason Jones (15-2, 1NC) kicking off the main card. “The best words to say are, I’m home,” said Stephens. “I’ve lived in San Diego for sixteen years, but this is home. I have a ton of support from coaches and a team that have put in the work with me over all the years, I’m home. The heathen is home.”
Coming off a successful run at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, which may not be over, Stephens was unsure if the UFC would want him on this card once it was announced that the UFC would be making its first stop in Iowa. But with a push from his wife and friends around him it didn’t take long for him and everyone else to see that it only made sense that he was a part of this historical night in MMA. “I sent a message to Dana, and he finally got back to me and told me to send him some names,” explained Stephens.” “It really didn’t matter who they set up for me, it’s just another body bag for me. Next thing I know, they were calling me to congratulate me, and they said they were going to announce it as soon as we got off the phone. I told my wife and like fifteen minutes later I looked at Instagram and it was going nuts.”
Not since Miletich Fighting Systems was in full force has Iowa been in the spotlight. But being born and raised in Des Moines, Stephens is ready to put his state back on the MMA map. “Iowa, we’re overlooked,” said Stephens. “We’re counted out, were a flyover state but you look at all the NFL players, they’re all from Iowa, it’s the heart that pumps this nation. Iowa, we fight, and we fight hard.”
On Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Arena in his hometown, Stephens wants everyone to know that he is exactly where he is supposed to be right now and he may still have some unfinished business with a certain Irishman he was face to face with in the past few months. It’s going to happen,” said Stephens. “Mark my words, BKFC, UFC, you cannot (explicative) run from me. I will find you and I will kill you. I’ve got a special set of psychotic skills that pay the bills.”
“I made this happen with my bare knuckles, more skin in the game,” explained Stephens. “The struggle I had to go through with leaving UFC and to be doubted, counted out, left for dead, one thing they forgot about me is that I’ve been fighting my whole life, so this feel like the best moments in life right now. And to do it right here in the heart that pumps this nation, Des Moines, Iowa, the 515, Saturday night, violence guaranteed.”
Jeremy Stephens will face Mason Jones at UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Figuieredo on ESPN. Prelims at 6pm CT, main card at 9pm on ESPN.
Facebook Comments
