BKFC

“Old Cocaine Conor” – UFC Veteran Says Jeremy Stephens Got Under Conor McGregor’s Skin

"Old Cocaine Conor" - UFC Veteran Says Jeremy Stephens Got Under Conor McGregor's Skin UFC vet Chael Sonnen thinks Jeremy Stephens got under the skin of Conor McGregor following their viral staredown inside…

UFC vet Chael Sonnen thinks Jeremy Stephens got under the skin of Conor McGregor following their viral staredown inside the BKFC ring.

Clearly, getting under McGregor’s skin doesn’t take that much effort these days. Just ask Paul Hughes. Still, ‘The American Gangster’ seems to think that Stephens’ ‘Cocaine Conor‘ diss and the threat of making the Irish megastar quit in a potential bare-knuckle dream match has the former champ-champ fuming.

“Not just a stereotype—women and men also don’t want you to touch their age,” Sonnen said in a video on his YouTube channel. “They’ll play it off, they’ll laugh it off, and it’s not quintessentially known as something that bothers both genders, but it does.

“I didn’t look it up, but I don’t think Jeremy and Conor are different ages. By the way, Conor’s going on 36. Jeremy’s got to be… I’ve known Jeremy for 15 years. He’s got to be—I was there the night Dana White took $100 grand and Ronda Rousey down to a police station to get Jeremy out of jail, and that was in 2012. I mean, Jeremy’s got to be the same age as Conor. He’s got to be right there.

“But it doesn’t feel like it, does it? It feels like Conor’s a lot older. So, which do you want to be? You get a choice. You get to go through life—do you want to be the meme that says, “Who the f*ck is that guy?” or do you want to be the meme that called you ‘Old Cocaine Conor?’”

For the record, Jeremy Stephens is 38, two years older than McGregor.

Jeremy Stephens will ‘Break’ McGregor in proposed bare-knuckle clash

During an appearance on SiriusXM’s MMA Today with Din Thomas and Alan Jouban, ‘Lil Heathen’ doubled down on his previous comments, noting that he’d “break” McGregor should the two ever toe the line.

“I’m more certain in my capabilities and what I’m able to do. And I’ll break that dude, bro,” Stephens said. “I know it. I’ve been knowing it. Now it’s like, now people are starting to kind of catch on. So, that was a full-circle f*cking moment … And I fought Eddie Alvarez, who was on that [UFC 205] card. And I was like, ‘Man, that motherf**ker.’ I wanted that fight.’ You know? It’s just all full circle.

“This is God’s alignment, timing … I almost gave up. I mean, to come back and have that, and to be face to face with that dude. It was awesome, bro. I can smell it.“

Stephens earned his third straight win under the BKFC banner at KnuckleMania V, scoring a third-round TKO against Eddie Alvarez after ‘The Underground King’ threw in the towel citing a broken jaw.

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“Old Cocaine Conor” – UFC Veteran Says Jeremy Stephens Got Under Conor McGregor’s Skin

UFC vet Chael Sonnen thinks Jeremy Stephens got under the skin of Conor McGregor following their viral staredown inside…

UFC vet Chael Sonnen thinks Jeremy Stephens got under the skin of Conor McGregor following their viral staredown inside the BKFC ring.

“Not just a stereotype—women and men also don’t want you to touch their age,” Sonnen said in a video on his YouTube channel. “They’ll play it off, they’ll laugh it off, and it’s not quintessentially known as something that bothers both genders, but it does.

“I didn’t look it up, but I don’t think Jeremy and Conor are different ages. By the way, Conor’s going on 36. Jeremy’s got to be… I’ve known Jeremy for 15 years. He’s got to be—I was there the night Dana White took $100 grand and Ronda Rousey down to a police station to get Jeremy out of jail, and that was in 2012. I mean, Jeremy’s got to be the same age as Conor. He’s got to be right there.

“But it doesn’t feel like it, does it? It feels like Conor’s a lot older. So, which do you want to be? You get a choice. You get to go through life—do you want to be the meme that says, “Who the f*ck is that guy?” or do you want to be the meme that called you ‘Old Cocaine Conor?’”

For the record, Jeremy Stephens is 38, two years older than McGregor.

Jeremy Stephens will ‘Break’ McGregor in proposed bare-knuckle clash

“I’m more certain in my capabilities and what I’m able to do. And I’ll break that dude, bro,” Stephens said. “I know it. I’ve been knowing it. Now it’s like, now people are starting to kind of catch on. So, that was a full-circle f*cking moment … And I fought Eddie Alvarez, who was on that [UFC 205] card. And I was like, ‘Man, that motherf**ker.’ I wanted that fight.’ You know? It’s just all full circle.

“This is God’s alignment, timing … I almost gave up. I mean, to come back and have that, and to be face to face with that dude. It was awesome, bro. I can smell it.“

Conor McGregor vs. Jeremy Stephens in Bare-Knuckle? Former UFC Champ Calls It ‘A Genius Stunt’

Speculation is swirling around a potential clash between Conor McGregor and Jeremy Stephens under BKFC rules, reigniting a rivalry…

Speculation is swirling around a potential clash between Conor McGregor and Jeremy Stephens under BKFC rules, reigniting a rivalry that dates back to their infamous exchange at the UFC 205 press conference. However, former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping doesn’t see it happening.

Conor McGregor vs. Jeremy Stephens

The tension between McGregor and Stephens dates back to 2016 when Stephens declared himself “the hardest-hitting 145-pounder” at a UFC 205 press conference, prompting McGregor’s now-infamous response: “Who the f*** is that guy?” The moment became a viral meme and cemented their rivalry in MMA lore.

Recently, their paths crossed again at BKFC KnuckleMania 5. Following Stephens’ victory, McGregor, now a part-owner of BKFC, entered the ring and exchanged words with his former rival, fueling speculation of a potential matchup.

On his podcast, Michael Bisping commented on a potential Conor McGregor vs. Jeremy Stephens matchup. He explained:

“If there’s one person that knows how to keep himself relevant in the fight world without actually fighting, it’s Conor McGregor. And if you want to talk about promoting bare-knuckle, that’s a stroke of genius because, you know, today, tomorrow, all the headlines are going to be: Conor McGregor versus Jeremy Stephens — Is it going to happen in bare-knuckle? Now … the fight’s never going to happen.”

Jeremy Stephens is a veteran of the sport with a career spanning over 15 years in MMA. A former UFC staple, Stephens competed in dozens of fights in the promotion. Known for his striking power, he faced some of the sport’s elite, including José Aldo and Max Holloway. After transitioning to BKFC, Stephens has found success, boasting a 3-0 record, including a TKO win over Eddie Alvarez at KnuckleMania 5.

Ireland’s Conor McGregor, on the other hand, remains one of the most iconic figures in MMA. The former two-division UFC champion made history as the first fighter to hold titles in two weight classes simultaneously. While his achievements in the octagon include a record-breaking 13-second knockout of José Aldo, McGregor has been largely inactive in recent years, with his last fight ending in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.

Despite the buzz, logistical hurdles make the prospect of a McGregor-Stephens bare-knuckle fight unlikely. McGregor remains under UFC contract, a significant barrier to competing in BKFC. However, his involvement in the promotion as an owner has added more force to his future in combat sports. Stephens has called out Conor McGregor.

Still, Bisping’s remarks suggest that Conor McGregor’s ability to generate headlines may be more about staying in the spotlight than actual plans to fight. For now, fans will have to wait and see if this rivalry reignites in the ring, or remains another chapter in combat sports speculation.

Conor McGregor vs. Jeremy Stephens in Bare-Knuckle? Former UFC Champ Calls It ‘A Genius Stunt’

Speculation is swirling around a potential clash between Conor McGregor and Jeremy Stephens under BKFC rules, reigniting a rivalry…

Conor McGregor vs. Jeremy Stephens

On his podcast, Michael Bisping commented on a potential Conor McGregor vs. Jeremy Stephens matchup. He explained:

“If there’s one person that knows how to keep himself relevant in the fight world without actually fighting, it’s Conor McGregor. And if you want to talk about promoting bare-knuckle, that’s a stroke of genius because, you know, today, tomorrow, all the headlines are going to be: Conor McGregor versus Jeremy Stephens — Is it going to happen in bare-knuckle? Now … the fight’s never going to happen.”

Photos: Paige VanZant vs. Rachael Ostovich: A Rivalry Across Two Sports – UFC and Bare-Knuckle

UFC stars Paige VanZant and Rachael Ostovich faced off twice in high-profile bouts. With each fighter claiming one victory,…

UFC stars Paige VanZant and Rachael Ostovich faced off twice in high-profile bouts. With each fighter claiming one victory, their rivalry spanned both mixed martial arts in the UFC and bare-knuckle boxing under the BKFC banner. These are some highlight photos from their matchups.

Paige VanZant vs. Rachael Ostovich – Photo Gallery

UFC

paige vanzant vs rachael ostovich ufc 1 — Paige VanZant vs. Rachael Ostovich

Paige VanZant and Rachael Ostovich crossed paths twice in combat sports, with each athlete securing a victory and leaving a mark on the other’s career. Their first clash took place on January 19, 2019, in the UFC, where VanZant won via a second-round armbar submission.

paige vanzant vs rachael ostovich ufc 3 — Paige VanZant vs. Rachael Ostovich

This fight was particularly significant for Ostovich, who returned to competition following a highly publicized recovery from injuries sustained in a domestic violence incident.

The rematch came on July 23, 2021, under BKFC rules. This time, Ostovich turned the tables, winning by unanimous decision in a closely contested fight that earned “Fight of the Night” honors. The victory was a defining moment for Ostovich, as she avenged her earlier loss.

paige vanzant vs rachael ostovich ufc wi 1

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paige vanzant vs rachael ostovich 7 — Paige VanZant vs. Rachael Ostovich

Modeling

VanZant transitioned into modeling, social media, and entrepreneurial ventures. She appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2019 and later became a top content creator on subscription-based platforms, reportedly earning more in a single day than during her entire UFC tenure.

Her career also expanded into professional wrestling, slapfighting, and acting. In January 2025, VanZant announced her return to MMA with the Global Fight League, adding another chapter to her career.

Ostovich followed a similar path, focusing on modeling and social media after her fighting career slowed. After her victory in BKFC, she signed a multi-year deal with the promotion but has yet to return to competition. Instead, she has concentrated on her own subscription-based content platform and modeling work.

Beyond the ring, both VanZant and Ostovich have leveraged their combat sports fame to build successful careers outside of fighting.