Jeremy Stephens Makes UFC Return Against Mason Jones in Des Moines Showdown

Jeremy Stephens is officially back in the UFC. The veteran lightweight, who last fought in the promotion in 2021, will face Mason Jones in his home city of Des Moines, Iowa, on May 3 at Wells Fargo Arena.

The fight marks a return to the Octagon for both men, as Stephens (29-21) parted ways with the UFC after a long tenure and later competed in the PFL. During his time in the PFL, he had mixed success, going 1-2, before testing the waters in both gloved and bare-knuckle boxing. He had notable fights in BKFC, including a dominant win over Eddie Alvarez at Knuckle Mania 5.

Meanwhile, Jones (15-2) exited the UFC in 2022 after a tough stretch but quickly re-established himself as one of Europe's top lightweight prospects. The Welshman went on a four-fight win streak in Cage Warriors, securing three knockouts, which earned him another shot at the big leagues.

The UFC officially confirmed the bout early Friday after an initial report by Full Send MMA. Stephens’ return adds an extra layer of excitement to the Des Moines event, which features an action-packed card.

With the addition of Stephens vs. Jones, here’s how the May 3 UFC Fight Night lineup currently looks:

• Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
• Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal
• Mason Jones vs. Jeremy Stephens
• Mario Bautista vs. Marlon Vera
• Yana Santos vs. Miesha Tate
• Montel Jackson vs. Daniel Marcos
• Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez
• Jeong Yeong Lee vs. Trevor Peek
• Serhiy Sidey vs. Cameron Smotherman
• Junior Tafa vs. Tuco Tokkos
• Azamat Bekoev vs. Ryan Loder

Stephens will be looking to make a statement in his return, while Jones hopes to capitalize on his second UFC opportunity. With both fighters known for their aggressive styles, this matchup promises fireworks.