Jeremy Stephens is heading into his second PFL appearance with a vengeance.
Longtime UFC fighter Stephens (28-20-1) fell short in his PFL debut when he was outlasted by Clay Collard in an all-out war in April. He meets Myles Price (11-8) at 2022 PFL 4, which takes place Friday at OTE Arena in Atlanta.
Stephens is winless in his past seven appearances, but has always competed with elite-level competition throughout his career, holding notable devastating knockouts over the likes of UFC featherweight contender Josh Emmett and former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos. Against Price, he plans on reminding everyone of the type of action he always brings.
“Friday is going to be a big huge statement for people to remember who the f*ck I truly am and what I really do and the type of violence and the type of energy that I bring to the sport,” Stephens told MMA Junkie Radio. “I’ve never went to the back of a UFC or even the PFL and walked back and ever heard, ‘Oh you f*cking suck. Oh that was a terrible fight. That was boring.’ I never heard that. The only thing I’ve ever heard is, ‘Ooh. Ahh. Jeremy, we love you.’”
Stephens may not have found recent success in the cage, but takes solace in knowing that people tune into his fights regardless of the outcome.
“I didn’t realize how many fans and how many people really, truly followed me, and I inspired throughout over the years. And until I left the UFC, until that door closed, another door opened, I was like, ‘Wow, people do really enjoy my fights,’” Stephens said. “They really are my fans. They really follow me over here to the PFL.
“Some people didn’t even know what the PFL was, but they’re like, ‘Man, we’ve got your back.’ They’re tuning in, and that’s the type of love that I’m really carrying over. … Friday night is going to be another big, f*cking huge statement and remind people who the f*ck Jeremy Stephens truly is, and that’s a very dangerous, very violent, very skilled, sharp, smooth-looking motherf*cker.”
