UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens announced during an appearance on “The MMA Hour” that he has signed with Professional Fighters League with the intention to compete at lightweight during the promotion’s 2022 season, which is slated to begin in April.
Stephens did not rule out competing at other weight classes for future PFL seasons. Last week it was revealed that Stephens elected not to re-sign with the UFC after a lengthy tenure that began in 2007.
“It’s a great organization, the fighters over there, the matchups, the potential,” Stephens said. “They’re gonna pay me a little bit more than the UFC, and I have a chance at a million dollars, which is doable, which I really love. Maybe go in there, win that million dollars, and I like the fact that they fight back to back, month after month. I’m not getting any younger. I love to constantly be fighting. I don’t like sitting and waiting for opponents six months down the road. I’d rather fight once every three months.”
Stephens will enter the PFL on a six-bout winless streak that dates back to July 2018. “Lil Heathen” last appeared at UFC on ESPN 26, where he suffered a first-round submission defeat to Mateusz Gamrot this past July. Stephens’ record includes victories over the likes of Josh Emmett, Doo Ho Choi, Gilbert Melendez, Renan Barao, Darren Elkins, Dennis Bermudez and Rafael dos Anjos.
