Jeremy Stephens Recounts Training With Tony Ferguson
Jeremy Stephens recently revealed that he once trained with Tony Ferguson during the lead-up to his fight at UFC Mexico City. “Lil’ Heathen” also revealed that by the end of the night, he received high praises from El Cucuy.
Jeremy (28-16 MMA, 15-15 UFC) faced Yair Rodriguez in a fight that ended quickly due to an eye-poke. However, before the fight, he trained with former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson, and Stephens recounted the incident with MMA Junkie.
Training in Zacatecas, Mexico which is 3,000 feet higher above sea level than Mexico City, Stephens talked about how intense Tony is.
“We’re chilling out, watching ‘Rocky IV,’ and he’s like, ‘Let’s hit this run’,” Stephens said. “I thought he was (expletive) joking. I’m like, ‘OK, we’re not going to run. He’s tired.’ Sure enough, midnight hits, and we go off on this run.
“It’s like 1 in the morning, and I’m running up this hill, and he’s like, ‘Bro, I need you to sprint up this (expletive) hill, bro. Everything you’ve got.’ I’m like, ‘OK.’ I’m tired. I actually ran in the morning and then went and trained with him.”
Stephens quickly realized that Ferguson wasn’t joking, and that the workout was about to get intense.
“So I’m running up this hill, and ‘El Cucuy,’ the boogeyman, is like, ‘I’m going to get you! I’m going to get you!'” Stephens said. “I’m (expletive) running my ass off, bro. He’s actually coming! He’s coming up the hill. He’s trying to chase me. He’s like, ‘Don’t let me catch you! I’m going to get you!’
“The boogeyman is screaming at me. Like, what the (expletive)?”
Jeremy Stephens also revealed that he and Ferguson clicked instantly, and he’d be a phone call away if Tony wanted him to train with for his next fight.
“Tremendous experience”, Stephens said. “” had a smile on my face the whole time I sprinted up that hill. He gave me the best compliment I think anybody could give me. He says, ‘Man, you’re in (expletive) phenomenal shape.’
“For ‘El Cucuy’ to tell you that six weeks out from a fight? We’re ready, bro.”
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