LOS ANGELES — May 26, 2007 was a special day for Jeremy Stephens. It was the date of his debut in the UFC. And it was also his 21st birthday.
Stephens lost to Din Thomas at UFC 71, but at least “Lil’ Heathen,” already a 14-fight veteran of that point, could have a proper — legal — after party in Las Vegas.
About a year later, Stephens traveled to San Diego from his hometown of Des Moines, Iowa for the first time. Stephens’ mentor, Josh Neer, had left Des Moines to train with Miletich Fighting Systems in Davenport, Iowa.