Jeremy Stephens, a seasoned competitor in the featherweight division, is making a surprising comeback to the Octagon after his spell in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). He’s scheduled to face off against Mason Jones, a fan-favorite from Wales, in a lightweight bout at UFC Fight Night Des Moines on May 3. This thrilling event is happening in Stephens’ hometown of Iowa, right at the Wells Fargo Center.
Stephens stepped away from the UFC three years ago, with his last appearance being a tough first-round submission defeat by Mateusz Gamrot at the UFC Apex. Since then, he’s competed in the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where he secured a victory over Myles Price interspersed with losses to fighters like Clay Collard and Nathan Schulte.
However, Stephens has been on quite a roll with BKFC, where he maintains an unbeaten 3-0 record. Earlier this year, at BKFC Knucklemania V, he achieved a remarkable TKO victory over former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, who couldn’t continue due to a corner stoppage.
As reported by Full Send MMA and confirmed by UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell, Stephens is set to welcome Mason Jones back to the Octagon this May. Jones, who’s been making waves in Cage Warriors, is sure to be a thrilling opponent for Stephens.
On the UFC Des Moines card for May 3, fans can also look forward to a highly anticipated main event featuring Deiveson Figueiredo against Cory Sandhagen, and a compelling co-main event, Reinier De Ridder versus Bo Nickal. Stephens, whose record stands at 29-21 with one no contest, hasn’t secured a win in the UFC since 2018. That victory was a memorable elbow knockout against Josh Emmett during a featherweight title run.
On the other hand, Mason Jones left the UFC in 2022 after a decision loss to L’udovit Klein. Following his departure, the 29-year-old rebounded impressively, securing four wins in a row with Cage Warriors, his latest being a solid unanimous decision over Michael Pagani last summer.
UFC Des Moines promises to be an exciting event, with top-tier matchups lined up in the heart of Iowa at the Wells Fargo Center.
