Jeremy Stevens didn’t burn the bridge on his way out of the UFC in 2022, but it felt like the end after spending 15 years before moving on to new opportunities and having finished over 30 promotions and over 30 fights.
He competed in professional boxing, continued his MMA in the PFL, and then exploded in the scene in a bare knuckle fight in an unbeaten run at BKFC. That victory appeared to have set up Stephens for even bigger opportunities at BKFC, but not only re-signed the promotion, but also chose to return to the UFC on May 3rd with an upcoming card in Des Moines, his hometown of Des Moines, Iowa.
So, how exactly did this actually happen?
“We’ve never been cut by the UFC,” Stevens told MMA Fighting. “I decided to go around and look for life outside, and it felt like there was a bit of bad blood there.
“I was able to see the UFC, see the people there and knock the guy out there. I could still be there. It was always deep inside my heart. My brother, peaceful Anthony Johnson, he went back to the UFC and had a really good salary. I was like, now, I was like I dragged myself out nicely.
Stephens sent a message to UFC CEO Dana White on Instagram and didn’t take long to receive a positive response.
“I went to Des Moines, which is weird for a week,” explained Stevens. “I went back to deal with business and went to see around town with my family. Everyone is all happy. They’re like naked knuckles, it’s crazy! You should be on a Des Moines card.
“It was kind of crazy that it all came together, but this is a long-standing effort that isn’t far from what I’m doing. I can talk to the Godfather, they give me the opportunity.
His return to the UFC took place in one fight, but Stevens never signed that contract as he is confident in his ability to defeat Mason Jones on May 3rd.
Above all, the 38-year-old veteran really wanted the opportunity to perform in his hometown, but it wasn’t easy to consider that Iowa is not the main target of most major combat sports promotions.
For most of his career, Stevens had to bring a house with him while on his trip, but now he’s been in the spotlight and finally performs in front of a raucous audience in Des Moines.
“I’ll take the 515 to Brazil,” Stevens said of always representing Iowa in his fights. “My final battle (against Eddie Alvarez). No one would represent the 515 (like me). I’m best at doing it from Des Moines, Iowa.
“I’m happy with them. I’m for the people in Des Moines. This is flyover, why is nobody coming here? It’s like 17 or 18 years to come here, I’m a card. That’s the right timing. Des Moines, they love this.”
The current match is set to open the main card for UFC Des Moines, but Stevens feels like he’s a headliner after the reception he received after returning to the promotion.
Plus, he may not be an actual headliner as he knows that crowds will erupt as they walk to the Octagon, but Stevens is sure Iowa will still treat him that way.
“The real f*cking main event!” said Stephens. “Listen, I had to f*cking p*ssy(Joe) pyfer all these guys walking on fire in Philadelphia, shit to my promoters, and try to ring me through the mud. I just keep focused and do my thing.
“If you know Iowa’s Caitlyn Clark, she has a lot of fans, but she’s just dialing it. I really bring it. Iowa is going to bring the energy regardless of it. In the meantime, it’s just a tunnel vision until I get that f*cking guy from there and I give a victory speech, screaming 515 and become an absolute ape.”
Of course, Stevens also fully admits that his final run in the UFC ended with some tough losses and an ugly argument that he shoved Drakal Claus during the showdown.
For all intents and purposes, Stevens may be fighting in the UFC at the end, so he will definitely make the most of it.
“I won’t forget the dark days,” Stevens said. “I was sitting. I’ll leave that tip on my shoulder. I’ll go really there and prove that I actually belong there. I can still compete at a really high level and I’ll be the dangerous person doing it.
“I was raw like that ringis that movie? I was at the bottom of that f*cking. I was raw from that mother*cker. They had cement on the lid so I had to crape the naked knuckles. Please prove the value of my f*cking. Put my shit on the f*cking line. Now I’m getting all the tools back. It’ll be f*cking havoc on these mother ckers. I can create another opportunity for myself. ”