34-Fight UFC Vet Jeremy Stephens Enters Free Agency After Finishing Contract

After over 14 years with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, longtime staple Jeremy Stephens is moving on.

The news first broke on Thursday from MMA Fighting that Stephens (28-19, 1 NC) had concluded his latest UFC contract and has chosen not to re-sign with the promotion. Confirmed shortly thereafter by multiple outlets, his contract came to an end following his meeting with Mateusz Gamrot in July 2021, where he fell short by first-round kimura. Stephens is winless in his last six appearances dating back to 2018, with five defeats and a no contest from an eye poke in the midst of his skid.

Stephens will be leaving the UFC after 34 trips to the Octagon, where he currently holds the spot for the fourth-most fights in company history. “Lil Heathen” had his hand raised 15 times over the years, shifting back and forth from lightweight to featherweight and back. Notable victories include finishes of Rafael dos Anjos and Josh Emmett, as well as decision verdicts over the likes of Renan Barao and Darren Elkins. The Iowa native pocketed 10 post-fight bonus checks in his UFC tenure, where he is tied for the 10th most under its banner with several other fighters including Max Holloway, Conor McGregor and Justin Gaethje. His 18 knockdowns keep him tied with Anderson Silva for the second-most in UFC history.

The UFC career of Stephens has not always been a positive one, as he does hold the record for the most defeats of any fighter to step in the UFC cage (18). “Lil Heathen” was never able to string together a win streak of more than three in a row in his 14-year UFC career, although marquee wins over notable names and thrilling performances even in defeat allowed him to remain in the rankings for many years. The 35-year-old has not yet signed with another promotion, although many options are available should he want to keep competing.