Jeremy Stephens

“I've been in this game a long time, I've been knocked out before, I've had ups and downs.”

“I don't like to give arrogant statements anymore, and in the top 10 of UFC, it's all about the mental state and making it happen.”

“I want to prove I can be a champion.”

“I feel like I've evolved with the new age, I've adapted to these top guys at 145 pounds.”

“I wish there were better ways, like giving out bigger bonuses, so guys fight harder and they really do go in there and try and earn that bigger money. I feel like that would be a little bit more exciting for the fans, exciting for the fighters to get those big paydays, and I feel like we deserve it.”

“I love to constantly be fighting.”

“It's just getting with Eric Del Fierro, man, and putting 100 percent of my trust in him and allow him to play me like he's playing 'Mortal Kombat' and Jeremy Stephens is his favorite fighter. He knows how to use me and he understands my weakness and he knows my strengths.”

“I think me and Cub Swanson could be a title fight with the way we perform. We're two great athletes, we're stand up guys, two guys who go for broke and we have it all together. I just feel like everything he's good at, I'm better at.”

“You live, you learn. That's part about being a man, being a father and being a fighter for the first time.”

“Rony Jason reminds of me when I first started fighting, very aggressive and strong, with good jiu-jitsu.”

“We sign contracts to fight, not to dip, duck and dodge.”

“A lot of people are turning down fights, waiting around... I don't like to wait.”

“You've got to have a chip on your shoulder in this sport.”

“I don't mean to hit people in the back of the head, but if they turn, it's not my problem.”

“I just want to fight whoever is in front of me.”

“I've always been a pretty relaxed, cool guy in and outside the cage.”

“Gilbert Melendez is one of the toughest guys of all-time.”

“Barao's a true champion.”

“The key is to always get better and be able to improve and make adjustments in between fights, rounds and minutes. If you want to be a champion, those are the adjustments you have to make.”

“When I hit people, it's not a flash knockout where they get back up and I hit them a couple of times and the ref stops it and they're like 'oh I wasn't out.'”