Jeremy Stephens will be looking to improve his bare-knuckle fighting stat to a perfect 2-0 this weekend. But will that pit him against former-foe-turned-new-boss Conor McGregor? Is that a bit out of pocket? ‘The Notorious’ is still under contract and very much active in UFC competition. However, there are no new bits about McGregor’s comeback bout, years in the making. Will BKFC be next?
Conor McGregor and his McGregor Sports & Entertainment recently purchased a stake in BKFC a few months ago. During the BKFC “KnuckleMania” 4 headliner broadcast, President David Feldman announced his needle-moving equity part ownership via a video. Ever since the Irishman has been an active promoter of its inner workings. TMZ Sports caught up with 38-year-old bare-knuckle practitioner Stephens. Looking forward to this week, he also pitched in on McGregor.
I think it’s absolutely fu*king awesome man, …I look at it like…He’s [Conor] …I feel like he’s the Fertittas to the Dana White. He’s the money behind the driving force. I know he believes in it – the science, skill…September sixth if my name’s out there, and he just wants to mix it, I’ll be that fu*king guy…Ya never know…Stay tuned…
Jeremy Stephens said to TMZSports.com
Jeremy Stephens and ‘Notorious’ of course have shared history going back to their viral UFC 205 pay-per-view interaction. McGregor’s “Who the fo*k is that guy?” scoff from the UFC 205 media day remains one of the best snippets of all time. Since then, Stephens has received his fair share of attention from ‘Notorious’ over the years. Subsequently, he is not opposed to coming full circle in a bare-knuckle brawl.
McGregor was to make his MMA return at the top bill of UFC 303 pay-per-view in June. With that having fallen apart, he is not booked for anything yet. Matter of fact, UFC CEO Dana White is not indulging in billing him even on a clean bill of health until 2025. With ‘Mac’ very much not back, the fighter in limbo recently even teased what felt like signs of testing free agency. With that in mind, Stephens thinks McGregor fits the BKFC model perfectly.
Jeremy Stephens gives his take on Conor McGregor in BKFC
It’s been almost a decade since “Who the fo*k is that guy?” Stephens and McGregor really crossed paths since that all-time-memorable pass. The two traded barbs on social media after 2016. But the public trash talk has largely fizzled since then. That all could change when Jeremy Stephens makes his sophomore bare-knuckle bout on September 6 at BKFC 65 at Maverik Center in Salt Lake City. He meets a 6-2 Bobby Taylor in the feature co-main event.
Conor McGregor has been a huge financial boost to BKFC (Source: boxemag.com/X)BKFC 65 Ferea vs. Masson Wong could see the 156lbs bracket fighter connect with Conor McGregor after all these years. Since the BKFC ownership addition, McGregor has frequently messaged some of the list’s competitors directly with feedback and ideas. The Team SBG Ireland fighter also tweets winning moments and attends cards often. With the off chance that McGregor might attend and they may square off someday, ‘Lil Heathen’ says there’s no bad blood spewing.
He comes from that type of… over there in Ireland, he’s kind of a street guy, …He’s tough. I’m sure he’s been in some street fights. He loves it, dude. It’s awesome to see him behind this and writing these checks….Business is business. We’ll see the vibes when he gets there.
Jeremy Stephens in a pre-fight exlcusive to Nolan King for MMAJunkie
The fighter alluded to Conor McGregor’s addition to the BKFC ownership group and forking big pennies as being the ‘Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta‘ to BKFC’s ‘Dana White’ – Feldman. Along with being a financial catalyst, he also thinks the Dubliner and his brash Irish demeanor blend right into the BKFC model and branding opportunity. As such, he is thankful but looks forward to a future one-on-one.
