The true MMA veteran, Jeremy ‘Lil Heathen’ Stephens is most known for his impressive 33 fights in the UFC. Having fought since 2005, Stephens has faced a killer’s row over generations of mixed martial artists. Names on his resume include Jose Aldo, Rafael dos Anjos, Anthony Pettis, Donald Cerrone, Charles Oliveira, Cub Swanson, Max Holloway and many, many more. Stephens also spent some time in the PFL before removing the gloves and giving the BKFC’s lightweight division a whole lot to worry about.

The Des Moines, Iowa native grew up very hard spending nights in shelters and in his mother’s car after his parents divorced when he was just eight years old. Stephens has been open about the trauma that his mother’s drug addiction caused him and he looks back on all of that hardship as what made him the violent, resilient fighter he is today. He relocated to Norwalk, Iowa after his father obtained full custody of him and he was able to focus more on what kids should be focusing on at that age. 

Stephens was a natural athlete having played Basketball, baseball and he wrestled as well. He was especially great at wrestling and his grandfather who introduced him to the sport, also persuaded him to give MMA a shot. At 16, Stephens began amateur MMA and at 18, he was fully submerged in the fight game, training full time and dominating on the Iowa regional scene.

Jeremy Stephens made his BKFC debut against fellow MMA legend, Jimmie Rivera at BKFC 56 where he got the win via doctor stoppage. He’s no doubt, got a lot left in the tank in a new sport where champions and contenders can fight later into their careers so expect ‘Lil Heathen’ to keep the violence coming!