Conor McGregor and Jeremy Stephens are still chirping at each other nearly eight years after their viral press conference encounter took place at UFC 205.
“Notorious” for his fighting skills as well as his quick wit on the mic, then featherweight champ McGregor made a mockery of top contender Jeremy Stephens, who tried to make a name for himself by calling out McGregor unexpectedly at the presser. Stephens proclaimed himself the hardest hitter at 145lbs over KO artist McGregor.
McGregor took a few seconds to respond, needing only six words to bring the crowd to laughter: “Who the f*** is that guy?”
Years later, it was revealed that McGregor actually knew who Stephens was and now the two fighters are technically in business as Stephens is signed to BKFC, where he fights for the second time at BKFC 65 on Friday with McGregor promoting the event as a new part-owner of the company.
McGregor Sees Stephens As Potential Opponent In BKFC
Though, McGregor would leave out Stephens’ name as part of their running joke, even alluding to a potential fight with Stephens should the 36 year-old turn into a “player-manager” for the bare-knuckle promotion once his time in the UFC is up in two bouts, the remaining fights on his current contract.
“In our co-main event also we have “who the f*** is that guy” facing off again against Bobby Taylor. Me and “who the f***” is an exciting bare knuckle fight down the line 100%!” McGregor said of Stephens on Instagram.
Stephens: “If He Ever Got In There With Me, I’d….”
Jeremy Stephens might not have fought McGregor in his time in the UFC but that’s not to stop “Lil Heathen” from trying to secure a bag with McGregor almost a decade later. Ahead of his fight against Bobby Taylor, Stephens would rehash his campaign to fight McGregor in not MMA but bare-knuckle, having all kinds of bad intentions for the BKFC boss man.
“I got a a boss now in Conor McGregor who’s who’s writing my checks that, you know, I could potentially be fighting my own boss,” Stephens told MMA Fighting in a recent interview. “There’s a lot of people out there that want that Conor fight, but, man, if he was ever to come over to bare knuckle, I’m on a hot streak, get the ball f****** rolling.
I would love to be that guy to to welcome him to bare knuckle. I don’t get tired. I can take a shot. I’ve street fought. I’ve been in the game. I would love to to max out that opportunity and and put myself into those opportunities. Day by day, brick by brick, it will come if you build it. But honestly, man, credit to Conor and all that, but if he ever got in there with me, I’d break his back and I’d get a big fat check that would just relieve all my f****** anxiety.”
Of course, for the BKFC move to eventually happen, Conor McGregor would have to get out of his contract with the UFC but there’s no telling on what exactly Conor McGregor wants or will want when the time comes for him to re-sign with the premier MMA promotion or pursue what else the combat sports world has to offer.
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