Jeremy Stephens didn’t get the hometown win he craved on Saturday night.
Last month, UFC announced the shock-re-signing of the 51-fight veteran ahead of UFC Des Moines.
Jeremy Stephens was matched up with another fighter starting his second Octagon stint, Mason Jones.
‘Lil Heathen’ showed plenty of heart, but he ultimately slumped to a lopsided decision defeat as all three cageside judges scored the fight 30-27 in favor of his Welsh opponent.
Jeremy Stephens in high spirts after UFC Des Moines defeat
Stephens matched an unwanted UFC record as he slipped to a 19th loss inside the Octagon.
Clay Guida is the only man who has lost as many times as the Iowa native in the UFC.
Still, Stephens appeared to be content in a post-fight video shared to his Instagram account.
The 38-year-old and his team were jamming out to the song he released ahead of UFC Des Moines.
“Head high … 5-1-5 TILL I DIE,” Stephens captioned the post.
What’s next for Jeremy Stephens?
Stephens is not expected to compete in the UFC again after rejoining the company on a one-fight deal.
An eighth loss in his last nine MMA fights is likely to end his epic run in the sport.
However, it’s highly unlikely that this is the last time we’ll see Stephens trading blows in combat sports.
In recent years, he’s built a new career in bare-knuckle boxing, where he boasts a perfect 3-0 record.
After beating Eddie Alvarez in January, Stephens squared off with UFC legend Conor McGregor.
Although that fight seems far-fetched, the future is bright for Stephens, despite his loss at UFC Des Moines.