PFL News & FeaturesJeremy Stephens Fired up Ahead of PFL Championships, ‘I’m Going for the Kill’
Jeremy Stephens didn’t appreciate the part of his career where he was forced to take a long layoff and is happy the situation took a u-turn after signing with the Professional Fighters League.
Stephens (29-20, 1 NC; 1-1 PFL) is scheduled to make his last appearance of the year as he takes on Natan Schulte in the upcoming 2022 PFL Championships. After spending most of his professional career in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, “Lil’ Heathen” signed with the PFL earlier this year. The mixed martial arts veteran lived up to his reputation as a show-stealer in clashes with Clay Collard and Myles Price, taking home a defeat and a victory at 2022 PFL 1 and PFL 4, respectively. Now, he is ready to put on a show against two-time PFL champion Schulte.
“I like fighting like that, it was better for me. I had such a long layoff and such a different time with UFC from fighting three times a year to fight one time a year. That wasn't on my doing, it was in someone else's hands. I don't like people playing games with my life because my house, my pool, my cars, my clothes, my shoes, my kids' schooling, everything comes from these hands right here, which means I don’t f--- around. I don’t have time for bulls---. […] So PFL was definitely watering a very good seed they had planted, and they know what they're gonna get with me, which is why I'm on this card. There's a lot of million-dollar fighters, but why do you put Jeremy Stephens on a card? You wanna know why? Because you know it's gonna be f---ing action-packed, and I'm going for the kill. I got a big heart, I'm gonna go in there and give it my all, give the fans truly what they want, which is pure f---ing entertainment. A guy who's actually fist-fighting, he's not laying on you. I'm not trying to just outpoint a motherf---er. I'm in there to kill.”
(00:00) Intro
(00:33) Spending his Saturday at home
(01:04) His pre-fight rituals
(02:27) His motivation to fight ahead of his 50th fight
(04:40) The evolution of his game
(09:33) Praising PFL’s busy schedule
(11:48) Thinking about a fight at the time
(12:38) Whether there is a particular fighter he’d like to face
(13:20) Shouting out to Anthony Johnson’s family
(13:55) Outro
