Lightweight UFC fighter Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens recently celebrated his 26^th birthday, and seeing as the Iowa native is approaching a fight at The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale, he could not do the typical things people do for their birthday.  However, Stephens still enjoyed his cool presents and night out.

“I got a Jugo Juice gift card, which is one of my favorite places to go get a wheatgrass shot and smoothies,” Stephens told MMA DieHards in an interview.  “I went and saw The Hangover 2 and had some dinner with my friends.  It was quiet, but a good time.”

A week after Stephens’ birthday, and he meets former WEC fighter Danny Downes at the TUF 13 finale, but Downes comes in as a late replacement for injured Jonathon Brookins.  The last minute change does not take “Lil Heathen’s” focus away from the most important thing, training, because Stephens is ready to fight whoever, whenever.

“I can fight anybody on the drop of a dime,” Stephens admitted.  “It doesn’t matter to me.  It’s a fight and I know that and I knew a long time ago that I was going to be fighting, so I prepare myself as best I can.  I’m the best I can be right now, and the best I have ever been.  I feel greater than I’ve ever felt.  I’ve been fighting in the UFC for five years now, I just had my birthday and I’m in the best shape of my life.  I continue to improve and I’m going to go out there and smash this kid.”

A change in opponent does not force Stephens to make drastic adjustments in preparations for the fight, either.  Regardless if it is Downes or Brookins facing “Lil Heathen”, the Victory MMA fighter knew he had a fight, so it makes no difference to him who his opponent is.

“Not too much (changed), because regardless I still fight,” Stephens explained.  “Brookins is more of a wrestler and Downes is more of a standup fighter, so I had to make some adjustments as far as training, but I’m still going to go in there and execute my game plan.  I’m going to do what I do, I don’t have to worry about wrestling aspect as much as I expected, or the ground game.  It’s still a fight and I still have to go out there and perform and do my best.”

Downes does not have the wealth of fights some of Stephens’ prior opponents have had, which makes finding tape on Roufusport fighter difficult to find.  Stephens, however, has familiarized himself with Downes and had a terrific camp; therefore he feels he is equipped to defend whatever game plan Downes brings at him.

“I got some tape on Downes,” Stephens admitted.  “Before I really didn’t know too much about him, but I have watched tape on him and I know who he is now. (Camp) couldn’t be better.  I worked with some wrestlers because of my original opponent, and I’ve been doing some cross-training.  I’m injury free.  I’m going in there 150 percent.  I feel really good about this camp and everything is in order.”

 The former Midwest Cage Championship lightweight champion is a fighter that the UFC and fans can bank on for three solid fights. Stephens has only endured one year out of his five n the UFC where he did not fight three times, and in that time “Lil Heathen” has provided spectacular performances, picked up three knockout of the night awards and a fight of the night award.  Though, Stephens admits he is sufficed with the amount he fights because it allows the UFC lightweight to do other things he enjoys, that does not mean “Lil Heathen” would not accept more fights.

“(Three fights a year) isjust the way it works out, but I do like it like that,” Stephens said.  “It gives me time to be around my family and do other things I like to do.  I’m still good financially and it’s good on my body to have three fights a year, (plus) I stay pretty active.  It depends on the fights and how they go too.  If I won first round, first minute, then I’d be ready to fight again a couples weeks later if they allowed me to.  Also, if somebody pulled out of a fight, I would definitely jump in.  It just depends on how all the fights go, but three fights a year is generally what the UFC does, and I like that.

 “Lil Heathen” is content with the direction that, not only his career, but his entire life is heading.  At 26 years of age, Stephens is an established UFC fighter, beat some tough opponents, created a financially stable lifestyle, built a family and it continues to grow.

“I have another daughter on the way, and just training and getting better,” Stephens said.  “Every day is getting better.  I got my family growing; I’m growing as a person and making good changes to have success in the future.  I happy with the way things are in my life.”

Stephens sacrificed a lot to get where he is at in his MMA career, and with a new baby on the way the father knows there will be more life events he will have to surrender just to further his career.  Just as “Lil Heathen’s” 26^th birthday and many more special days in his life have been harnessed, Stephens knows there are more to come, yet he is at peace with that, because his opponent pays in the end.

“Sometimes I miss out on Christmas and New Years (Eve), but I go in there and make my opponent pay for it and get my reward at the end.”