'Make the date'… Conor McGregor faces off with long-time rival after TKO win over ex-UFC champion in BKFC Knucklemania main event
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Conor McGregor finally offered a fight to Jeremy Stephens almost a decade after their infamous press conference clash.
The famed striker stopped Eddie Alvarez in the main event of BKFC’s KnuckleMania, which McGregor was promoting as a part-owner of the company. Stephens put down the former Bellator and UFC champion in the third before the corner stopped the fight for the hometown hero.
Just moments later, his long-time rival opted to give him an even bigger shine as the pair faced off, with the Irishman demanding a fight date between them. Their first interaction came at a promotional event for McGregor’s clash with Jose Aldo in 2015.
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Jeremy Stephens stops Eddie Alvarez in BKFC main event
On an exciting night stuffed to the brim with stoppages, the main event in Philadelphia delivered for BKFC fans. Hometown man Eddie Alvarez made a rare appearance in the city of brotherly love, but it wasn’t to be as Jeremy Stephens ended up coming out on top of proceedings.
The pair exchanged early, with ‘Lil Heathen’ showing his slight bit more experience in the bare-knuckle boxing arena than his rival. While Alvarez is known as one of the most violent UFC fighters of all time, he has struggled with the raw brutality of BKFC at times.
In the third, Stephens put down Alvarez with a massive overhand right that sent his rival crashing to the canvas. Eventually, coach Mark Henry was forced to put Alvarez out of his misery and throw in the towel, perhaps on a career for the MMA legend.
Conor McGregor immediately calls for Jeremy Stephens fight
In the fight’s immediate aftermath, Stephens was being asked about what was next, and naturally Conor McGregor at ringside came up. He got into the ring and immediately faced off with Stephens, declaring that he would be willing to finally settle the blood feud.
Back in 2015, the Irishman made an iconic viral moment when he declared ‘who the f*** is that guy’ after being verbally attacked by Stephens at the UFC ‘Go Big’ press conference. And now, almost ten years later, they finally squared off.
McGregor repeated the infamous line and told Stephens “here, let’s make a date. Who’s going to stop me man to man? No one is going to stop me. David [Feldman] make a date, let’s do it. I’m down for it bro.”
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