Jeremy Stephens Reveals Current UFC Contract is for One Fight

Jeremy Stephens is taking another gamble late in his combat sports career.

Stephens is returning for his second Ultimate Fighting Championship stint after a successful run in BKFC. Stephens’ name was the biggest surprise addition to the upcoming UFC Des Moines card. Stephens will take on Mason Jones in front of home fans at the Wells Fargo arena in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 3.

Stephens was visiting his parents in Iowa when his wife advised him to reach out UFC CEO Dana White. Stephens had to wait for a week before White responded. A call from UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell followed and Stephens’ return was set up. Stephens revealed that his new UFC contract is a one-fight deal. While he is always up for any opportunities that present themselves in the UFC, Stephens mostly sees himself returning to BKFC following UFC Des Moines.

“It’s just a one-and-done, dude. Again, I’m betting on me, I can really set myself up for an opportunity to go in there and show and dominate… I see me going back to bare knuckle. I would like to fight Mike Perry, someone big. If there’s some opportunity there in the UFC, that’s for sure too, bro. I’m not worried about any of that,” Stephens said on "The Ariel Helwani Show.”

Stephens hadn’t won in six outings when he was cut from the UFC in 2021. It also didn’t help that Stephens injured his final scheduled opponent Drakkar Klose by shoving him, leading to Klose getting replaced by Mateusz Gamrot.

Stephens then competed in the Professional Fighters League, boxing and the BKFC, where he is undefeated in three outings — including win over former UFC champ Eddie Alvarez this past January. Stephens revealed that a lack of communication from BKFC chairman Dave Feldman led to him exploring free agency after exhausting his contract.