Jeremy Stephens is not impressed by the new bonus structure the UFC implemented at the beginning of the year. The lightweight that enters the Octagon this weekend for the 36th time in his career told Full Send MMA there is no real improvement with the new bonus structure.
Stephens is taking on fellow American King Green during the opening fight of the main card of UFC 328 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. On paper, a clash that could end up being the fight of the night.
Not Impressed By The New Bonus Structure
Stephens started his UFC career in 2007. Back then, the UFC didn’t have a clothing sponsor like Reebok or Venum, and the fighters were allowed to put their own sponsors on their clothing. Stephens still hopes that it comes back in the future.
“Back at UFC 71 when I started I was making $75K bonuses, what the f**k happened to the money? Where’s the budget guy, why aren’t we getting $500K bonuses. It used to be a Dana duffle bag he would just slide you”
“Before the UFC sponsors took over, I had my own sponsors. Went out to dinner with these guys. I had relationships, communication, and networking. There was so much more availability that opened up bigger platforms. Now I get a check from someone I don’t even know, I’ve never even met, and they never thank me for representing their brand. So, I kinda miss that intimate relationship you have with the sponsors and their families. People who want to be there to support you. Now it is just a corporation,” Stephens said.
“They are like, here you have $50,000, and now it is $100,000, but they were already doing that in 2007 at UFC 71 when I started my UFC career. I was already making $75,000 bonuses. So what happened to the money? Where is the budget guy on this, because the UFC is making all this money? Why aren’t we getting $500.000 bonuses? You are basically giving out what you gave out thirty years ago. For me, that doesn’t make sense; it is just really corporate. Back in the day, it was the “Dana Duffle bag”, bring back the good old days.”
The Unexpected Comeback Of A Violent Finisher
Stephens, for years, was one of the most violent fighters in the UFC. The now 39-year-old, out of Des Moines, Iowa, has wins on his record against former champions like Rafael Dos Anjos, Renan Barão, and Gilbert Melendez (Strikeforce). Stephens is known for his brutal knockout power, which he displayed multiple times, with 19 out of his 29 wins coming by way of knockout. Stephens never fought for a UFC title because he lost the key matchups that would bring him close to a title fight.
After leaving the promotion in 2021, he signed with the PFL. Stephens fought three times in 2022 for the organization and won only his second fight. Stephens later signed with Bare Knuckle FC but surprisingly came back to the UFC. Last year, when the promotion put on an event in his hometown of Des Moines, Iowa. In a high-paced and fun fight, the veteran lost after three rounds against Mason Jones. Originally, Stephens only signed for one fight. But the American looks to secure a first UFC victory this Saturday. His last win in the UFC was a brutal finish in February 2018 against Josh Emmett.
Full Card UFC 328
Main Card
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland
Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira
Alexander Volkov vs. Waldo Cortes Acosta
Sean Brady vs. Joaquin Buckley
King Green vs. Jeremy Stephens
Preliminary Card
Ateba Gautier vs. Ozzy Diaz
Joel Álvarez vs. Yaroslav Amosov
Grant Dawson vs. Mateusz Rebecki
Jim Miller vs. Jared Gordon
Early Preliminary Card
Roman Kopylov vs. Marco Tulio
Pat Sabatini vs. William Gomis
Baisangur Susurkaev vs. Djorden Santos
Clayton Carpenter vs. José Ochoa
Jeremy Stephens Not Impressed by Current UFC Bonus Structure