In the world of combat sports, pre-fight press conferences can often be rather dull and dreary affairs – but not in the Bare-Knuckle Fighting Championship.
Last night’s BKFC: Knucklemania 5 press conference certainly ended on a strange note when Conor McGregor ‘summoned the fighting Gods’ in a wild – yet surprisingly poetic – speech.
Also, at one point during the presser, UFC middleweight Joe ‘Bodybagz’ Pyfer took control of the microphone; not to ask a question, but to roast one-half of the main event.
UFC middleweight crashes BKFC presser to goad Jeremy Stephens
Former UFC fighter and combat sports veteran Jeremy Stephens headlines this weekend’s BKFC: Knucklemania 5 card against former UFC and Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez.
Given that Alvarez remains one of the most popular fighters in the world and Knucklemania 5 takes place in his home state of Pennsylvania, it’s no surprise that almost every fan in attendance was supporting ‘The Underground King’.
That includes UFC middleweight Joe Pyfer, who used his time on the microphone to brutally roast Stephens; a reminder that ‘Lil Heathen’ spent most of his fighting career at featherweight.
“So, this is just more of a statement – Jeremy Stephens is 29-21, the mother***** has lost in both promotions with a losing record. [He] definitely isn’t the hardest-hitting 145er out there and I can’t wait to see Eddie whoop his a**.
“I’m pretty sure that mother***** can’t spell, his haircut looks like s*** and Iowa ain’t going to do s*** in the football game – good luck to all my Philly boys, and if Lil’ Heathen wants to do something after, he can get his a** whooped by me too.”
Stephen’s haircut isn’t that bad, with fans on social media quick to point out: “I like Joe Pyfer and all, but if you’ve flown to Turkey for a hair transplant, there’s gotta be some unwritten rule about not trash-talking another dude’s haircut.”
Back to BKFC, and it’s safe to say that Stephens wasn’t best pleased with all the trash-talk; however, ‘Lil Heathen’ was keen to point out that he’s here to win – not make friends.
“Fortunately, I’m not fighting the fans, and I don’t give a f***, I’m focused on being at my absolute best and doing my thing… Go in there and prove to myself what I’m already certain of, imma f*** up your boy.”
Stephens wants to ‘beat up his boss’ after fighting Alvarez this weekend
Stephens and BKFC co-owner Conor McGregor go way back: the American was famously the victim of his ‘Who da f*** is that guy’ line at UFC 205 – the same event McGregor beat Alvarez to claim the lightweight title.
Stephens would obviously love to get revenge for ‘that ‘Who da f*** is that’ line, which has followed him throughout his career since.
“Hopefully I get a chance to beat up my f****** boss too,” Stephens lamented on The Ariel Helwani Show earlier this week.
“Yeah, that’s the delusion, right, so I feel like if I just stay focussed and keep this championship mindset and things dialed in, Saturday night’s the only thing I’m worried about. I go in there and do my job and I handle business, who better?
“A lot of people are like ‘Who the f*** is this guy?’ but look, he got taken out by calf kicks, he’s been knocked out, I’ve continued to grow… I’ve continued to rise.”
BKFC: Knucklemania 5 should prove to be a highly entertaining night of combat sports action, the event starts around 8 PM ET and will be available to watch via DAZN.