'Your time is up' ... Conor McGregor called out for grudge match by old UFC rival

'Lil' Heathen' Jeremy Stephens sent a gentle reminder toward former UFC double-champion Conor McGregor ahead of his return fight in May.
January 18, 2020; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Conor McGregor holds an Irish flag as he celebrates his first round TKO victory against Donald Cerrone following UFC 246 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
January 18, 2020; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Conor McGregor holds an Irish flag as he celebrates his first round TKO victory against Donald Cerrone following UFC 246 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Jeremy Stephens will triumphantly return to the UFC Saturday, May 3, opposite Mason Jones, but wants to ensure Conor McGregor is in attendance.

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The former BKFC and PFL veteran hasn't stepped foot in the Octagon since July 2021, when former UFC double-champion Conor McGregor last competed in MMA. In a shock announcement, 'Lil Heathen' is set to return at UFC Des Moines on May 3.

Five years earlier, the two had an infamous verbal spat at the UFC 205 pre-fight-presser in a clip still making the rounds to this day. Stephens claimed he was "the hardest hitting 155'er on stage" while McGregor clapped back with "who da f--- is that guy," insinuating his opinion Stephens should be deemed as irrelevant.

Circling back to the present, McGregor, now a part-owner in BKFC, was graciously offered by Stephens to attend his UFC comeback fight in a now-viral tweet Saturday night.

Conor McGregor is still inactiv
Jul 10, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Conor McGregor fights Dustin Poirier during UFC 264 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

'Watch me break another jaw' ... Jeremy Stephens calls out Conor McGregor for UFC/BKFC grudge match

"BKFC, UFC, Conor McGregor, you cannot run from me, I will find you and I will kill you boy," Stephens wrote. "Your time is up, I got you a front row seat in IOWA too. Wells Fargo Event Center, my hometown. Watch me break another jaw."

McGregor has yet to respond to Stephens' remarks, but it's clear the press conference exchange is the furthest thing from dead. McGregor has remained out of action in recent years and was linked to a comeback fight against Michael Chandler last year, but it never came to fruition thanks to a McGregor toe injury.

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Conor McGregor facing off with Michael Chandler
GETTY IMAGES

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It is unclear whether McGregor will fight again, but what is clear remains the Irishman still has enemies who will never blow their chance to reignite the fire under the biggest star the sport has ever seen.

For now, a reunion between the pair remains to be seen as McGregor tends to remain absent from UFC live events. But for now, only time will tell whether McGregor decides to go to Iowa.

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Zain Bando
ZAIN BANDO

Zain Bando is a writer for MMA Knockout, part of the Sports Illustrated/Minute Media umbrella. He has covered combat sports since 2019 for notable outlets BJPenn.com and FanSided MMA. He also co-hosts a podcast called "The MMA Outsiders," part of the Empty The Bench Podcast Network, which airs Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. A Chicago suburban native, Bando has been enthralled with MMA since 2006 and has been fortunate to attend some of the most high-profile events in the sport's history, both as a fan and media member, including UFC 264, Bellator 297 and Kayla Harrison's PFL MMA debut. He is excited to take the next step in his combat sports writing journey and looks forward to continuing his following of the fight game for years to come. Bando can be reached via email at zainbando99@gmail.com or by social media @zainbando99