Jeremy Stephens thinks he’s found a home in BKFC, and is ready to prove he’s a top dog in that promotion against Eddie Alvarez.
Stephens is set to take on Alvarez in the main event of BKFC: KnuckleMania 5 on Jan. 25 at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia, Penn. The card streams on DAZN, with the pair set for five, two-minute rounds at 165 pounds.
After a long combat sports career of more than 30 UFC fights and multiple PFL appearances, Stephens landed in BKFC in late 2023. He’s 2-0 in the organization, and now steps into the main event spotlight for the first time against former UFC and Bellator lightweight champ Alvarez, who is 1-1 in BKFC.
Alvarez is coming off a December 2023 loss to Mike Perry in which he suffered multiple orbital fractures. The 41-year-old now returns to competition for a hometown headliner, but the 38-year-old Stephens sees him as a prime candidate for a beating.
“To his face I didn’t say anything but facts,” Stephens told MMA Junkie. “He got his face caved in. Not lying about that. You look like you haven’t really been training at all. Even if you are, like that day I could’ve beat his ass. Right now he could walk into my back yard and I would f*ck you up. I know I’m going to win.
“I hit hard. I hit often. My hands are better than Mike Perry’s. Believe me. I have a lot of ferocious skill and intent. I may not hit as hard or have that weight behind it, but I hit hard. I hit often. I hit very sharply. I’m very psychotically skilled to set that up.”
Stephens is beaming with confidence ahead of the bout despite feeling like he’s taking the far “bigger risk” compared to his opponent. Stephens, who spent years competing at featherweight in the UFC, noted he will be the smaller man, and he is going into enemy territory to take on Alvarez.
Nevertheless, Stephens said he carries an unfettered belief that BKFC is a sport even better suited for his approach to combat than Alvarez, who is legendary in MMA for his all-time wars.
“Watch these bare knuckle fights (with me), bro – I’m breaking f*cking spirits in there,” Stephens said. “I feel like I am home. The King of the Barbarians is home. This game is different. I was born for this sh*t. I come from it. I love this sh*t. I can’t wait. It’s me verse me.”
