This is an introductory summary for the lightweight bout between Jeremy Stephens and Mason Jones, featured as the main card opener at UFC Des Moines held at Wells Fargo Arena.
Jeremy Stephens makes a somewhat unexpected return to the Octagon. His last appearance was a 65-second submission loss to Mateusz Gamrot in July 2021. Since then, Stephens has been active outside the UFC, competing in PFL, Gamebred Boxing, and notably finding a strong resurgence in the world of bare-knuckle boxing (BKFC). In BKFC, he holds an impressive 3-0 record, including a dominant victory over Eddie Alvarez at KnuckleMania 5 in January. This fight is a rare one-night comeback for “Lil’ Heathen” in his hometown of Des Moines, Iowa.
Mason Jones also marks his return to the UFC. His previous promotion appearance was a loss to Ludovit Klein in July 2022. Following that bout, the 30-year-old Welsh fighter returned to the regional scene with Cage Warriors, where he successfully earned his way back to the UFC. His campaign in Cage Warriors included four consecutive wins, three of which were finishes, proving his readiness to compete at the highest level once more.
