Mason Jones Beats Jeremy Stephens in UFC Return
Jeremy Stephens returned to the UFC to face Mason Jones at UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo in Des Moines on May 3, 2025. Jones won by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 30-27. The UFC’s official event recap says Jones used wrestling after two rounds of exchanges to secure the win.
Stephens had re-signed for a one-fight return after competing in bare-knuckle boxing, while Jones was making his own return to the Octagon after an extended absence. The matchup drew attention because Stephens was a longtime UFC veteran and Jones had previously competed in the promotion before leaving for Cage Warriors. UFC’s event feature on Jones’ return framed the bout as a second opportunity to establish himself in the UFC.
The fight began with striking exchanges, and Stephens pressed forward as expected. Jones adjusted by adding wrestling and top control, which helped him accumulate rounds and limit Stephens’ chances to rally. The unanimous 30-27 scorecards indicate that the judges awarded Jones every round, though the early action was competitive and drew a loud response from the Iowa crowd.
The result did not represent a new contract or a guaranteed long-term UFC position for Stephens. It was a scheduled three-round return fight, and the official record shows he lost by decision. Jones, meanwhile, got a clean win in his return and improved his standing in the lightweight division. Subsequent career moves would depend on new bookings rather than the original “showdown” announcement.
The bout was the first fight on the main card of UFC’s first event in Des Moines. The main event featured Cory Sandhagen against Deiveson Figueiredo, while Jones-Stephens gave the home-state audience an early, high-profile matchup. Mason Jones’ tactical adjustment—from an opening exchange to sustained wrestling—was the key difference over the final rounds.
Stephens’ return still had a personal and promotional dimension: he competed in his home state and reconnected with the UFC after a spell outside the promotion. Jones won every round on the scorecards, using a shift in approach to beat an experienced opponent and start his second UFC run with a unanimous-decision victory.
