Issue 134
November 2015
His life may have mellowed since his formative years, but Jeremy Stephens is still the most violent man at 145lb
Jeremy Stephens
UFC Featherweight
Some people choose to fight. Others have fighting thrust upon them. Jeremy Stephens had to battle through life since he was a boy, but it gave him the combative spirit he needed to survive his MMA beginnings. From Des Moines, Iowa, he transitioned to the legendary proving ground of the Miletich gym in Bettendorf, where he trained with the likes of Josh Neer, Spencer Fisher, Jens Pulver, Ben Rothwell, Tim Sylvia, Matt Hughes and Robbie Lawler. No quarter was given, but he survived and broke out to became an established UFC star. Now, following the biggest win of his career at UFC 189, the 29-year-old details his long journey to become one of the featherweight division’s leading contenders.
Q. What was it like as an 18-year-old training in the Miletich camp?
A. It’s like getting on a boat and then you spot a whole sea of sharks, and then just jumping in and try and swim for the first time ever too. It was hard sparring, hard work and you really had to be a certain type of fighter to be in there. It was for the real killers man, those guys that are really going to dig down deep and fight and that’s really what molds you there at the Miletich program. I believe that was what really made a lot of champions out of that gym.
Q. Is that where you got your trademark aggression?
A. It was actually something I was born with, something that I’ve really had deep inside, and I think Des Moines Mixed Marital Arts and the Miletich gym really molded my aggression. They taught me discipline and really how to harness that energy – to conserve it and really let it all out inside the cage. I’m tapping into my own energy and that’s as real as it can get. It’s pure. I don’t ever look for points, I don’t ever try to take you down. I really try to fistfight people. I’m not a mixed martial artist who became a fighter. I’m a fighter first.
Q. Where does that mentality come from?
A. When my parents divorced it was real ugly. My mom ended up having a drug problem and my dad just worked all the time so he couldn’t really take care of me. We were constantly moving. It was bad. I remember waking up at two or three in the morning, having to throw my clothes in a garbage bag to leave because of drugs and craziness.
I was falling behind a lot and I was getting picked on because I’d go to new schools, so I was constantly getting into altercations. I was going through a lot of rough times, thinking, “Why is this me? Why am I living in a car? Why am I living in a shelter?” I was p**sed off at the world. Now that I look back it really shaped who I was and prepared me for the hardships in my life. It prepared me to be humble and make smart decisions so I can determine my destiny.
Q. How much of a difference did moving out to San Diego, California to join Alliance make to your career?
A. I fell in love with the coaches, the attention that I was getting and the training partners. People were submitting me like nothing and I realized how small and young I was in my martial arts ways. I realized there was so much more I could take advantage of out here and if I really wanted to improve my overall game, this is where I needed to be. I took a huge leap of faith coming out here, and my girl was 100% behind me.
Q. You’ve since become a father to two young girls. Has that changed you?
A. I feel like it’s motivated me and brought me good fortune. Both times that my wife said she was pregnant, I ended up getting the ‘Knockout of the Night’ bonus, so it’s really worked to my benefit. I’m pretty sure I should have another kid and I’ll get another knockout bonus! My kids have motivated me to become a better man, a better father, a better person and better fighter.
Q. Did you feel extra pressure before fighting Dennis Bermudez at UFC 189 – the biggest event of the year so far?
A. I knew this fight wasn’t going to be a fight of a lot of skill, it was just going to be a real grimy fistfight, we were going to be swinging – a dogfight. I was feeling in the moment, remembering how it was warming up for Rafael dos Anjos. Everybody in my locker room had lost their fight and I remember telling myself, “This isn’t going to be you. You’re different. You’re the chosen one. You’re going to go out there and f**k this dude up!” I saw that some guys were winning, some were losing and I was just like, “I just can’t wait to steal the show. I’m going to steal the show.”
Q. What do you remember about the fight?
A. In the third round, my coaches were screaming at me, “You’ve got to take him out, you’ve got to kill him, this is for your family, don’t let him take it from you, you’ve got to take everything from him right now, this is the round!” I just knew right then and there this was going to be my round. I’m going to knock this dude out – I’ve got to knock him out.
I knew he wanted to try to press me up against the fence, so once I felt the fence on my back I thought, “OK, perfect. Now I know where I’m at.” So I jumped up, I threw the knee and it landed perfectly – it couldn’t have been better. I finished him off with a couple of shots and went absolutely apes**t.
Q. Did you plan that knee, or just throw it out of instinct?
A. My knees and uppercuts weren’t really landing like I expected. I hit him with a few of them, but that one was more or less in the moment, like, “Throw that mother**ker, because he’s not going to expect it. He’s going to run right into it and it’s going to be perfect.” It was all in that second and me telling myself, “Just throw it. Risk it,” and I jumped up, took the risk and it paid off for me. That’s what this fight game is about: taking those risks and opportunities that are short-lived in 15 minutes or 25 minutes.
Q. You’re only 29, but you already have the sixth-most UFC fights. Where do you go from here?
A. I plan on being here for a long time. I’m having fun and I feel like I’m finally starting to reach my peak years and tap into my full potential. I had a few setbacks, but it’s really molded and shaped me into this mindset with all the new skills and athleticism I’ve reached over my career. I’m feeling rejuvenated. This is probably the best I’ve ever felt. I love getting up in the morning knowing I can go to the gym, I can get more knowledge and get that 1% better every day. I’m really happy and I’m healthy, so I’m going to keep going until the wheels fall off.
Q. Who would you prefer to fight next in the UFC’s featherweight division?
A. If I take out somebody in the top five I’m one shot away from that title, so I’m never out of the game and that’s what my motivation is. I want that gold strap. It’s becoming my time.
Any of those guys that are right in front of me that are the top guys. They’re right there and that’s where I’ll be very soon. It’s just a matter of me getting matched up and going out there and proving that I am the best in the world. It’s just a matter of time until we know who the next victim is, then we just knock him down like that and get back on track.
Q You have a win over lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos. Is that a rematch you’re interested in?
A. I beat him in the past and I know I could beat him again, but 155lb is not something I want to do just yet. I’m having a lot of success here at the 145lb division and I hold a lot of power and I’m bigger than these guys. So I’m going to stay here. I find a lot more intriguing matchups and athleticism at 145lb.
I’ve seen Rafael dos Anjos around at local shows and stuff like that and I’ve said hi to him and his family. I hold no grudge towards him and I’m honored to have beaten a guy like that. With what he’s done afterwards, and how he’s rejuvenated his career is inspiring, so I kind of look up to him in a sense, but I moved on.
Further down the road if he still holds the belt and I’m having trouble making weight or something, I’ll move up and fight. But right now, 145lb is my home and I’m happy.
Heathen sent
21 fights
Stephens is tied for sixth place in the list of fighters with the most UFC bouts. He has built a 11-10 record since debuting at UFC 71 in March 2007.
5/66
‘Lil’ Heathen’ began his pro career as an 18-year-old in January 2005 and had five fights in just 66 days, winning all but one.
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