Jeremy Stephens bet on himself heading into his fight against Eddie Alvarez at BKFC KnuckleMania 5 and now he’s ready to cash in.
The 34-time UFC veteran scored one of his most impressive victories to date when he broke Alvarez’s jaw in the main event in Philadelphia in January. It turns out that was actually the final bout on Stephens’ deal with the bare-knuckle promotion, which is why he’s now exploring free agency with all the leverage in the world to earn a lucrative payday.
“I took a f*cking huge risk,” Stephens told MMA Fighting. “I’ve said in past interviews, I didn’t sign the GFL contract even though that was a big payday. I could have waited until April.
“[BKFC] sat me out for a year after Jimmie Rivera, so I’m a free agent. I didn’t sign those contracts because I knew the night that I was willing to go out and risk it for had the big payday. It’s time to get paid. It’s time to take care of my family and not having these f*cking stresses that I am having. I put in my f*cking time. I bet on myself. I dealt with the crowd. I sold the f*cking place out.”
BKFC actually broke the combat sports attendance record previously held by the UFC with the KnuckleMania 5 card, which featured Stephens taking on Philadelphia’s hometown hero Alvarez in the main event.
All week long leading up to the event, Stephens dealt with a hostile Philly crowd and he even had other fighters like UFC veteran Joe Pyfer talking trash to him during the pre-fight press conference. Stephens got his vengeance with a stellar performance where he scored two knockdowns in the third round before Alvarez’s coaches waved off the fight to prevent him from absorbing further damage.
The next day, Alvarez revealed his jaw was shattered early in the fight before he ultimately succumbed to the pressure that forced the stoppage in the third round.
It was a highlight-reel performance for Stephens, which is why he’s ready to reap the rewards for playing spoiler and beating a former UFC champion like Alvarez in one of the biggest BKFC events to date.
“Now you’ve got to pay me,” Stephens said. “I ain’t doing shit for f*cking [middle of the road pay] anymore. I ain’t taking f*cking pay cuts. It’s a secure bag. I told [BKFC president David Feldman] when I got out of the ring, I hope you realize my true worth. I’m not just here for the f*cking check, like I told Eddie, too. I’m here to take your f*cking neck and the opportunity that comes with it.
“You’re talking about a real motherf*cker, someone that deserves it. No one’s putting skin in the game, pounds of flesh like I have. I feel like it’s just my time and I’m glad that I never gave up along the way.”
For all the options likely available to him, Stephens admits that he’s really enjoyed competing in BKFC after spending three fights with the promotion.
Stephens says he even earned an apology of sorts from Feldman after the BKFC founder apparently admitted his own fault backing Alvarez in that fight.
“My own promoters were against me, betting against me,” Stephens said. “David Feldman called me today and was like ‘we had Eddie, we had the money behind him.’ You paid the wrong man. Now it’s my time. Ball’s in my court. I want a big f*cking bag.
“I’ve got opportunities, maybe going to the UFC to fight Conor McGregor there, BKFC because he’s the owner over there. I put myself in this f*cking moment. I risked it all on me. I manifested this. I turned a delusion into reality. There’s no one else hotter and f*cking more deserving than [Jeremy Stephens], the f*cking killer heathen right now.”
As much as Alvarez may have been the marquee name heading into BKFC KnuckleMania 5, Stephens got all the attention coming out of the event.
That just adds fuel to the fire on why he’s looking to get bigger and better compensation for his next contract but Stephens promises he’s maintaining a good relationship with BKFC in hopes that they’ll eventually get a new deal done.
“I’ve had actually great conversations with David Feldman,” Stephens said. “He is a man of his word. I would say my only thing with David Feldman is more communication. That’s it. More communication. We can definitely match out the sides. I hope he knows that I’m not just here for the checks. I’m getting paid pretty good. I’m not just here for the checks. I’m here for bigger opportunities. I want to make these f*cking million dollar paydays so that I can just rest well. I’ve earned that.
“Me and Feldman are cool. We don’t have a contract right now. I love working with them. I love the BKFC as you can tell. I’m more primal. This is my f*cking sport.”
