Stephen’s Head Coach Eric Del Fierro Saved His Life By Introducing Him To Leadership Program Called Choice Center
UFC featherweight contender Jeremy Stephens was riding on a three-fight winning streak which snapped when former divisional kingpin Jose Aldo beat the “Lil’ Heathen” via first-round TKO at UFC on FOX 30 back in July which cost him a UFC title shot.
Following the loss, Stephens was not in a good position as he took things to his heart and ultimately considered suicide. (h/t MMAMania)
“After the loss, it wasn’t even about the fight, it was about these patterns in my life that were setting me back. I was literally ready to change my life. If I change my wife, change my house, change my car…I was thinking suicidal thoughts,” said Stephens. “I get into this program and all I had to go was change my mindset and find some tools, discover a bit about myself and dig a little bit deeper and share these things with people so that they can see where I come from,” he added.
“After the fight, I was looking at my kids who were nine and seven, and that was when my parents split up, when I was eight years old. I was ready to go down that pattern. Like I said, I was ready to leave my wife, leave my kids and just leave it all. Change my house, my car, thinking suicidal thoughts.”
Jeremy Stephens credited his head coach Eric Del Fierro at Alliance MMA for saving his life by recommending him to attend the leadership program called Choice Center in Las Vegas.
“I was able to go through the program and find out about life, a lot about myself in this program. It really helped me find myself mentality, help me find my confidence. As a kid when you go through stuff like that, I just realized I was failing at my biggest moments. Like, ‘Why, every time, do I fail at my biggest moment?’’
‘Lil Heathen’ also opened up about his childhood memories where he faced so much hardship.
“As a kid I went through so much, I went from living in a shelter, living in a car and lived through so much abuse in my childhood; going to 14 different elementary schools. I was never really able to talk about that and I let it affect me in patterns of my life,” said Jeremy, who revealed he also had suicidal thoughts during his high school days, but never actually attempted it.
Stephens is thankful to the Choice Center, who helped him to become a better person, opened his mental roadblock and resolved many other issues. That’s something which positively improved his training camp for his upcoming fight against Zabit Magomedsharipov at UFC 235.
“All this growth Going through this program has really put me on another level mentally and helped my training”
UFC 235 is set to go down this Saturday, March 2 in Las Vegas.
1 thought on “Jeremy Stephens Considered Suicide After Loss To Jose Aldo: ‘I Was Ready To Leavy My Family’”
It’s hard to hear him say that he thought of suicide when he brings so much excitement to so many people. Jeremy, we don’t care if you win or lose brother… We love the show you put on when you fight. I know that it matters to you and the pay is definitely important, but I feel like you will beat Zabit! If you don’t, it isn’t the end of the world. You have family that loves you and is there for you no matter what and millions of fans who care as well. Chin up you tough motherfucker!!!