What brought Jeremy Stephens to BKFC?
“Opportunity,” the combat sports legend says with a smile.
Stephens is known to sports fans around the world for his impressive 34-fight tenure with the UFC. His body of work includes nearly 20 wins by knockout, and victories over former UFC champions Rafael dos Anjos, Renan Barão and Gilbert Melendez.
Stephens’ transition to bare knuckle fighting has so far been smooth. In his first trip to the BKFC Squared Circle, he defeated fellow former MMA standout Jimmie Rivera via third-round TKO at BKFC 56 in December.
Stephens says time will tell if bare knuckle fighting is a better fit for him than MMA. He’s excited to find out for himself.
“I had one hell of an MMA career, but I was bare knuckle fighting in the street way before it was a sanctioned sport. This is how I grew up,” Stephens says.
“God has really blessed me with hands of dynamite, and I’m also blessed with the intellect and experience that I’ve gained over the years. I feel like I’ve come full circle, and I’m poised to have even more success at this stage of my career.”
Stephens returns to action against Bobby Taylor, the No. 5 contender in the stacked BKFC lightweight division, in the Co-Main Event of BKFC 65 on Sept. 6 at the iconic Maverik Center in Salt Lake City, UT, LIVE worldwide on The BKFC App.
Stephens is eager to reintroduce himself in style to BKFC Partner Conor McGregor after the pair’s spirited back-and-forth verbal sparring match at the press conference for UFC 205 in 2016.
“I’m just excited to do my thing. I’m a human highlight reel – that’s just how I get down – and he’s bringing a lot of eyes to BKFC,” he says.
“My name will be ringing bells in his head once again.”
