Jeremy Stephens wants to move past the time he shoved Drakkar Klose, which ended up causing their planned UFC bout to be canceled.
Klose’s body was still dehydrated at the time of his staredown with Stephens. He believes that’s why he reacted poorly to Stephens’ shove and ended up being injured. The planned UFC Vegas 24 bout blew up in smoke.
Klose revealed he’s still not at 100% after that incident.
“I mean, the damage was done, I’m still not 100 percent from that. It’s something I will probably need surgery on eventually,” Klose said. “I told myself if I have to get surgery, I’m just going to call it quits. Just trying to manage it and do the therapy and all that…
“I did think that was going to be the end of me. I was having really bad headaches, dealing with my neck issue, it is something serious. When I saw my doctor he talked about fusing my neck and I didn’t want to hear that,” Klose later added.
“I want to go out on my terms, I don’t want to go out with the doctor telling me I can’t do this… It was a herniated disc, C6, C7, as soon as it happened my whole arm went numb, and later that night, things weren’t right and I woke up couldn’t open my eyes, a real bad headache. There is a lot of other stuff that I will probably say when I’m done fighting but they pay me so I will keep my mouth shut.”
Jeremy Stephens Responds To Drakkar Klose
During an interview with MMAMania.com, Jeremy Stephens had no interest in reflecting on that shove.
“I’m done talking about him, brother,” Stephens said. “I don’t want to hear his name no more. S—t’s popping up. You know what, everybody can just eat it. I don’t care. It is what it is. That guy got knocked out right before I fought him. Is what it is, move on.”
Klose is set to return to action on April 16. He’ll meet Brandon Jenkins on the UFC Vegas 51 card. As for Stephens, he’ll take on Clay Collard at a PFL event on April 23.
