Tag: Jeremy Stephens

Bold Predictions for UFC on Fox 10: Can Josh Thomson Stay in the Title Picture?

The injury bug loves the taste of UFC lightweights.
First, it took a bite out of T.J. Grant last August, waylaying him with a concussion prior to a scheduled title fight with Benson Henderson. In his stead, Anthony Pettis won the 155-pound championship…

The injury bug loves the taste of UFC lightweights.

First, it took a bite out of T.J. Grant last August, waylaying him with a concussion prior to a scheduled title fight with Benson Henderson. In his stead, Anthony Pettis won the 155-pound championship, only to suffer a knee injury before his first defense against Josh Thomson.

Both Grant and Pettis are still on the mend, and so it has fallen to this: Henderson and Thomson meet on Saturday at UFC on Fox 10 in what might as well be billed as a sort of bizarre last-man-standing match.

The stakes are uncertain, as Henderson just lost to Pettis at UFC 164 and Thomson’s claim to No. 1 contender status likely depends on the future health of Grant. Honestly, it might be enough if this bout can deliver a clear-cut winner who doesn’t need some sort of surgery and months of rehab.

Small victories.

In any case, there will be winners and losers. If you feel like you can’t wait until the weekend to find out the results, MMA lead writers Chad Dundas (that’s me) and Jonathan Snowden are here to give you Sunday’s headlines right now.

Read on, although know in advance that we can’t guarantee your health…

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Gruesome (Also, Stupid) Injury of the Day: Rony Jason Punches Wall, Juliennes Arm Backstage at ‘Fight Night 32? [UPDATED]


(MOOOOOOOONDAYYYYYYYYYS!!!!!!!)

Update: The Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission has given Rony Jason a 30-day suspension for unsporstmanlike conduct due to the backstage incident, which will go into effect after his 180-day medical suspension is completed.

Perhaps one of the lesser talked about moments from last weekend’s finish-heavy-star-scarce Fight Night 32 event was that of the main card-opening bout between Jeremy Stephens and Rony Jason. In his second fight at featherweight, “Lil Heathen” managed to finish the TUF: Brazil winner the only way he knows how: via uber-violent knockout.

The finish came just 40 seconds into the first round, ending a three fight UFC win streak for Jason and making for his first loss since 2009. While the knockout loss would have probably earned Jason a two-ish month suspension, the injury he suffered in the locker room after the fight will likely keep him sidelined for quite a while longer.

MMAFighting is reporting that apparently Jason didn’t take his loss to Stephens with the grace and poise we have come to expect from Brazilians. No, he instead chose to punch himself in the face (twice) and elbow a wall backstage, slicing himself to pieces in the process and requiring 22 stitches to fix by the time all was said and done. Said Jason through the lens of hindsight:

I hurt my elbow, but I’m okay. I was crying, angry with my loss, and I landed my elbow on the door. It’s hurt, but didn’t break any bones. I was just devastated at that moment.

I’ve trained for a long time for this fight. I was undefeated for four years. Unfortunately, this is an individual sport and I have to deal with it.

I needed 15 stitches in my elbow and seven over my eye. I punched my head twice after the fight, I was so angry. But that’s nothing compared to my loss. I’m devastated.

Locker room walls. They’re this year’s haunted saunas.


(MOOOOOOOONDAYYYYYYYYYS!!!!!!!)

Update: The Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission has given Rony Jason a 30-day suspension for unsporstmanlike conduct due to the backstage incident, which will go into effect after his 180-day medical suspension is completed.

Perhaps one of the lesser talked about moments from last weekend’s finish-heavy-star-scarce Fight Night 32 event was that of the main card-opening bout between Jeremy Stephens and Rony Jason. In his second fight at featherweight, “Lil Heathen” managed to finish the TUF: Brazil winner the only way he knows how: via uber-violent knockout.

The finish came just 40 seconds into the first round, ending a three fight UFC win streak for Jason and making for his first loss since 2009. While the knockout loss would have probably earned Jason a two-ish month suspension, the injury he suffered in the locker room after the fight will likely keep him sidelined for quite a while longer.

MMAFighting is reporting that apparently Jason didn’t take his loss to Stephens with the grace and poise we have come to expect from Brazilians. No, he instead chose to punch himself in the face (twice) and elbow a wall backstage, slicing himself to pieces in the process and requiring 22 stitches to fix by the time all was said and done. Said Jason through the lens of hindsight:

I hurt my elbow, but I’m okay. I was crying, angry with my loss, and I landed my elbow on the door. It’s hurt, but didn’t break any bones. I was just devastated at that moment.

I’ve trained for a long time for this fight. I was undefeated for four years. Unfortunately, this is an individual sport and I have to deal with it.

I needed 15 stitches in my elbow and seven over my eye. I punched my head twice after the fight, I was so angry. But that’s nothing compared to my loss. I’m devastated.

Locker room walls. They’re this year’s haunted saunas.

If Jackass has taught me anything, it’s that stupidity + bodily harm = fans, so expect Jason to tweet a photo of the damage any minute now. While we can sympathize with Jason’s frustration following such a tough loss, there’s also a reason they make Japanese moe body pillows. For sex. But they also work for rage-punching.

In any case, here’s what Dana White had to say about the incident, because apparently we MMA Media types need The Baldfather’s opinion on every last MMA-related issue, no matter how trivial. His opinions are the lifeblood the makes us whole. All Hail Zorp.

Listen, this stuff happens. Especially young guys. A big loss like that. A devastating loss like that, you do stupid stuff sometimes. I don’t think he expected to slice his arm open and get hurt, but it happens.

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m just glad daddy Dana was around to inform us that “stuff” “happens.” I’ll sleep better tonight.

–J. Jones

Catch the ‘Fight Night 32: Henderson vs. Belfort’ Weigh-Ins LIVE Right Here Starting at 1 p.m. EST [UPDATED w/RESULTS]

The Fight Night 32 card is kind of like your kid’s soccer team, in that you’d begrudgingly tell your friends that it “has potential” when deep, down inside, you really know that it is garbage-ass. Complete, utter garbage-ass. Sure, you’ve got a couple of solid players on your wings, but between the cheaters, the kids who haven’t practiced in a year, and the kids you’ve never even seen before, you just know that noone is going to show up to the game on Saturday.

I got lost in that analogy halfway through. In any case, the Fight Night 32: Henderson vs. Belfort weigh-ins are set to kick off shortly, so join us at 1 p.m. EST for live updates as all 22 fighters hit the scales. Your gay roommate will thank you.

The Fight Night 32 card is kind of like your kid’s soccer team, in that you’d begrudgingly tell your friends that it “has potential” when deep, down inside, you really know that it is garbage-ass. Complete, utter garbage-ass. Sure, you’ve got a couple of solid players on your wings, but between the cheaters, the kids who haven’t practiced in a year, and the kids you’ve never even seen before, you just know that noone is going to show up to the game on Saturday.

I got lost in that analogy halfway through. In any case, the Fight Night 32: Henderson vs. Belfort weigh-ins are set to kick off shortly, so join us at 1 p.m. EST for live updates as all 22 fighters hit the scales. Your gay roommate will thank you.

Main card
Vitor Belfort (204) vs. Dan Henderson (204)
Cezar Ferreira (185) vs. Daniel Sarafian (186)
Rafael Cavalcante (205) vs. Igor Pokrajac (204)
Paulo Thiago (170) vs. Brandon Thatch (170)
Santiago Ponzinibbio (171) vs. Ryan LaFlare (170)
Rony Jason (146) vs. Jeremy Stephens (146)

Undercard
Godofredo Pepey (146) vs. Sam Sicilia (146)
Thiago Perpetuo (185) vs. Omari Akhmedov (182)
Thiago Tavares (156) vs. Justin Salas (155)
Adriano Martins (155) vs. Daron Cruickshank (155)
Jose Maria Tome (126) vs. Dustin Ortiz (125)

-J. Jones

Rony Jason vs. Jeremy Stephens Re-Booked for UFC Fight Night 32 in Brazil

Both Jeremy Stephens and Rony Jason suffered injuries that pushed them out of their scheduled fight on October 9 in Brazil, but the good news is the fight will take place just a month later.
Stephens and Jason have agreed to meet on the upcoming Novemb…

Both Jeremy Stephens and Rony Jason suffered injuries that pushed them out of their scheduled fight on October 9 in Brazil, but the good news is the fight will take place just a month later.

Stephens and Jason have agreed to meet on the upcoming November 9 card for UFC Fight Night 32 in Brazil.

Both competitors have verbally agreed to the matchup according to sources close to the fighters’ camps when speaking to Bleacher Report on Wednesday.

The featherweights were schedule to meet in October until Jason was ruled out of the fight by the Brazilian MMA Athletic commission (CABMMA) due to a lumbar hernia. Jason was pulled from the fight by the commission after a pre-fight medical exam—including an MRI—revealed the nature of the injury.

It appears the hernia wasn’t too severe because he will be able to get cleared and fight on November 9 instead.

With no replacement found, Stephens was forced to make the tough call to pull out of the fight. He was suffering from a leg injury that had kept him out of the gym for more than a week when he was forced to withdraw his name from the card.

The additional time off gave him time to heal, but even when he was removed from the UFC Fight Night 29 card in Brazil, his time off wasn’t expected to exceed a few weeks.

Now that diagnosis is confirmed: Stephens accepted a fight on Nov. 9 against Jason in Brazil.

The two featherweights are both looking to make an impact in the division when they meet at UFC Fight Night 32.   Jason has gone undefeated since winning the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil picking up a victory in the finale and then two more wins since.

Meanwhile, Stephens just recently dropped to featherweight after spending most of his career competing at 155 pounds. He found success with his first fight, during which he bludgeoned Estevan Payan over the course of 15 minutes en route to a unanimous decision win.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Jeremy Stephens Injured, Fight with Rony Jason Scrapped for UFC Fight Night 29

One of the featured fights on the upcoming UFC Fight Night 29 card has been scrapped after injuries to both Jeremy Stephens and Rony Jason.
Over the weekend, Jason, a former Ultimate Fighter Brazil winner from the first season of the international show…

One of the featured fights on the upcoming UFC Fight Night 29 card has been scrapped after injuries to both Jeremy Stephens and Rony Jason.

Over the weekend, Jason, a former Ultimate Fighter Brazil winner from the first season of the international show, was pulled from the fight after an MRI was done on the fighter and revealed an injury that forced the CABMMA (Brazilian Athletic Commission) to pull him from the card.

Details about the injury were not available from the commission in terms of how long Jason would be out or the severity of the nature of the ailment.

Now it seems his opponent Jeremy Stephens will also be pulled from the fight card after he suffered an injury leading into the show as well.

According to Stephens’ manager Ryan Hass from EVO Agents, who spoke to Bleacher Report on Monday, the featherweight slugger was dealing with an injury that’s kept him out of the gym for over a week.

Stephens was suffering from a leg injury that kept him off his feet for more than a week, but the San Diego-based featherweight was planning on pushing through and traveling to Brazil for the fight until Jason pulled out of the bout.

With Jason out of the fight and no replacement currently in place, Stephens opted to back out of the card as well to allow his leg time to heal.

Hass said the injury that Stephens suffered isn’t expected to keep him out of action for much time, and the UFC may even contemplate re-booking the fight for a later date, but there’s no confirmation at this time.

Stephens found new life at featherweight after spending most of his career as a lightweight fighter. He picked up a dominant win back at UFC 160 in his debut at 145 pounds where he brutalized Estevan Payan over the course of three rounds.

The Iowa native hoped to jump right into the deep end of the featherweight division, which prompted his fight with Jason, who is on a three-fight win streak since winning his season of the reality show in Brazil.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Felony Charges Dropped Against UFC Featherweight Jeremy Stephens

UFC featherweight Jeremy Stephens can rest easy after felony assault and burglary charges were dropped on Monday following a very brief start to a trial that was set to begin in Iowa.Stephens was arrested in October 2012 while in Minnesota as the fight…

UFC featherweight Jeremy Stephens can rest easy after felony assault and burglary charges were dropped on Monday following a very brief start to a trial that was set to begin in Iowa.

Stephens was arrested in October 2012 while in Minnesota as the fighter was preparing for his bout scheduled for UFC on FX 5 later that day. He was arrested on an outstanding warrant from an assault charge in 2011 in Iowa, and he was held for a total of 12 days despite the best efforts from UFC president Dana White to bail him out that same day.

White stood by the fighter the entire time during the ordeal as well, which Stephens publicly acknowledged as he fought the charges. From the very beginning of the situation, Stephens maintained his innocence in the charges against him, and on Monday he was vindicated.

Following his arrest and subsequent release, Stephens’ managers at EVO Agents released a statement proclaiming his fight against the charges (via MMAWeekly.com).

Jeremy felt it was very important to thank each and every one of those who have stood by his side during this tough time. He wanted everyone to know that despite the negative situation that he’s been placed in, he has remained upbeat and positive, reflecting on the opportunities that have been and will be presented to him, reflecting on his family, and his firm belief in his innocence. Jeremy’s legal team is already hard at work to prove what many already know; he is not guilty of the crimes he’s been accused of.

According to Stephens’ manager, Ryan Hass of EVO Agents, who spoke to Bleacher Report on Monday, the fighter was ready to go to trial to prove his innocence in the matter. Prosecutors were attempting to get Stephens convicted on felony assault and burglary charges that could have landed him in jail for up to 10 years if found guilty.

The news of the felony charges being dropped was first reported by MMAFighting.com.

A previous plea agreement was offered according to Hass, but Stephens and his attorneys opted to turn it down because he was confident that once a jury heard his side of the story, along with a slew of witnesses lined up in his defense, he would be found not guilty.

As the trial and jury selection began, the prosecutor came back with another deal offering Stephens a much lesser charge of misdemeanor disorderly conduct that would result in time served and court costs.

Stephens opted to take the lesser charge and will serve no additional time for the misdemeanor.

With the trial and charges behind him, Stephens can now get back to focusing on his fight career. He recently moved down to the featherweight division where he picked up a dominant win over Estevan Payan at UFC 160.

He is currently back in training awaiting word from the UFC on his next bout.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com