“Not my mom, not my dad…” Jeremy Stephens opens up about dark past after facing KO loss

UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens talks about his personal struggles after his BKFC victory against Eddie Alvarez last night. 

“Not my mom, not my dad…” Jeremy Stephens opens up about dark past after facing KO loss

Jeremy Stephens shares his heart out during the press conference of BKFC (via MMA Fighting)

Former UFC featherweight star Jeremy Stephens made a highlight reel for himself at BKFC KnuckleMania 5 after he won against Eddie Alvarez. Going into the fight, Stephens was an underdog and was able to prove everybody wrong. After the win, the bare-knuckle fighter got emotional and didn’t shy away from sharing his struggles.

After he defeated Alvarez, Stephens went face to face with UFC superstar Conor McGregor and agreed to a fight. It was definitely one of the most career-defining moments for the fighter and his excitement was quite visible. During the post-fight presser, Stephens shared what he went through to get this success and thanked himself. 

I did it for me, bro. I don’t need no one’s respect. I have been in the darkness. I have been knocked out before and no one f***** called me. Not my Mom, not my dad. No offense but f**** everybody. They all went against me. 

Jeremy Stephens via BKFC Knucklemania 5 post-fight presser 
YouTube video

Before making his BKFC debut, Stephens fought in the PFL and spent years fighting in the UFC. The last time he got knocked out was against Calvin Kattar at UFC 249, which was one of the reasons he left the promotion. It’s unsure if this is the incident the ex-UFC fighter was talking about, but there is a high possibility.

Ahead of the clash, Jeremy Stephens was on a two-fight win streak in the BKFC and was able to successfully carry the momentum. On the other hand, his rival and former UFC champion Eddie Alvarez has now lost two fights in a row. However, for now, the BKFC owners are extremely happy about the event and Stephens’s performance.

Jeremy Stephens gets credit from Conor McGregor 

Conor McGregor and Jeremy Stephens went viral back in the day at UFC 205 presser for their trash-talking exchange. In the iconic incident, Stephens called himself the hardest-hitting featherweight and McGregor nonchalantly replied, “Who the f*** is that guy?” Since then, this line has gone viral and holds a great place among fight fans. 

Conor McGregor gives Jeremy Stephens his credits
Conor McGregor gives Jeremy Stephens his credits (via X)

Now being the co-owner of BKFC, McGregor made sure to continue that trash-talking against Stephens before the fight. However, the fighter was able to shut down the ‘Notorious’ with his dominant performance last night. McGregor, despite his rivalry, was impressed by Stephens and gave him the credit. 

Phenomenal, all the way through he’s been great. He riled up the crowd, came in, got Eddie emotional. Eddie is a true warrior….and Jeremy whacked him out. So, that was amazing. 

Conor McGregor via The Schmo’s YouTube channel 
YouTube video

Many fans thought that the face-off between McGregor and Stephens was just for a show, and it didn’t mean anything. Shortly after the main event, BKFC president Dave Feldman has now confirmed that the ‘Mystic Mac’ is ready to fight the Iowa native. However, given the Irishman’s history, many fans are still not sold on the announcement. 

Related: UFC Top 5 ‘Knockouts of the Year’ 2024