While it seems highly uncertain that Conor McGregor will make his comeback anytime soon, it never stops the MMA community from discussing the potential comeback opponents for the Irishman. After several names were brought up in the past, a new prominent name has come to the fore, Jeremy Stephens, with who McGregor shares a rich history. For UFC legend Michael Bisping, this matchup seems like a viable option.
“Who the f*** is that guy?” Remember that epic one-liner? Of course, you do, but if you don’t, you may have missed out on arguably the most hilarious moment from Conor McGregor’s UFC career. The Irishman dropped that line when Jeremy Stephens claimed to hit harder than most lightweights. Well, he may not be wrong because ‘Lil Heathen’ made a pretty good argument with his BKFC performances.
And BKFC is exactly where the duo got in each others’ faces after Stephens put Eddie Alvarez away in the third round. ‘The Notorious’ tried to set up a BKFC fight between him and ‘Lil Heathen’ but that fight won’t happen since McGregor still has two fights left on his UFC contract.
The duo never got to butt heads during their prime years in the UFC, but now, it could happen since Jeremy Stephens is back into the fold, scheduled to make a comeback at UFC Des Moines. But for Conor McGregor, Michael Bisping asked co-host Paul Felder on his YouTube podcast, “If you were to guess right now, do you think Conor is going to fight in the UFC again?” Much like some of the other analysts, Felder felt compelled to dismiss it and say, “No,” because of the Irishman’s current state of affairs.
Jeremy Stephens has already shot his shot after re-signing with the UFC, sending an ominous warning at ‘The Notorious’. “[Conor McGregor] you cannot run from me; I will find you, and I will kill you boy! Your time is up,” the veteran posted on X. So, on the bright side, Michael Bisping believes the fight with Jeremy Stephens could be a compelling option for Conor McGregor to consider. Most fans are already in the loop about their shared history, and it could easily fit into the co-main or main event slots in a PPV. “If he is [coming back], that might just be the fight [vs Jeremy Stephens],” the Hall of Famer further stated.
LAS VEGAS, NV – March 4: Conor McGregor at T-Mobile Arena for UFC 285 -Jones vs Gane : Event on March 4, 2023 in Las Vegas, NV, United States.Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages Louis Grasse / SPP PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRAxMEX Copyright: xLouisxGrassex/xSPPx SPP_157533
While it’s fun to play matchmakers, Paul Felder painted the real picture, highlighting McGregor’s layoff period, being out of touch with fighting, and embracing a more businessman status. “I don’t think so. I mean, how long have we been waiting [for McGregor]?… At this point, if you haven’t gotten in there and made it possible yet in how many years since things have gone by,” Paul Felder argued. “And there’s plenty of opportunities and plenty of guys that want to fight you… I just don’t see that happening, man.” Michael Bisping would take his co-host’s explanation into account, and ended up in agreement with him.
However, there’s an important detail that fans may want to have a look at before thinking about a possible Stephens vs McGregor fight. It pertains to his UFC deal, which isn’t what most fans expected.
Despite calling out Conor McGregor, Jeremy Stephens could be leaving the UFC soon
Jeremy Stephens isn’t the only one coming back in a few weeks’ time. His opponent, Mason Jones, is also making his comeback, and it’s an important fight for ‘Lil Heathen’ because he’s penned only a 1-fight deal with the UFC. While speaking to famed reporter Ariel Helwani, Stephens revealed that piece of information, but remains hopeful about making an impact because things could get better if he earns a victory on his comeback.
“It’s just a one-and-done dude. Again, I’m betting on me. I can really set myself up for an opportunity,” said Jeremy Stephens. “The performance, I’m looking to go in there and show and dominate. It’s gonna be brilliant, it’s gonna be epic. I’m betting on me again.” The real question that most people have after hearing these statements is —will a win ensure a fight against Conor McGregor? It’s unlikely to happen.
On the other hand, Conor McGregor’s been pretty busy with his businesses and the recent visit to the White House on St. Patrick’s Day, which is one of his many public appearances. Could he really find the time, or better yet, make the time, to consider preparing himself for a comeback? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.
The post UFC Legend Gives Conor McGregor a Wake-Up Call as Jeremy Stephens Makes UFC Return – “Might Just Be the Fight” appeared first on EssentiallySports.