Preview: UFC on ESPN 22 ‘Whittaker vs. Gastelum’

Lightweights

#10 FW | Jeremy Stephens (28-18, 15-17 UFC) vs. NR | Drakkar Klose (11-2-1, 5-2 UFC)

ODDS: Stephens (-140), Klose (+120)

There is still a chance that Stephens can wind up as the UFC’s all-time leader in trips to the Octagon. After all, he is somehow still just 34 years old. However, “Lil’ Heathen” is surprisingly in need of his first win since 2018, and he is returning to lightweight to try and find it. Stephens was an entertaining addition to any card during his first stint at 155 pounds, but he had clearly plateaued by the time he decided to ply his trade at featherweight in 2013. Down a weight class, Stephens found power and strength that gave his career some new life, making a surge towards contender status that was eventually stopped by Cub Swanson and Charles Oliveira. From there, Stephens was clearly a tier below the featherweight elite but still managed to find a better late-career form. Mostly known as a slugger, Stephens put together much more intelligent performances in wins over Gilbert Melendez and Doo Ho Choi. However, since he knocked out Josh Emmett to complete that three-fight win streak, Stephens has gone winless in his last five bouts, albeit all against a strong level of competition. In what appears to be an attempt to find a fresh start, Stephens moves back up to 155 pounds to face Klose, who is looking to rebound from the first stoppage loss of his career. Klose adopted a clinch-heavy approach to make a name for himself as a spoiler early in his UFC career. Prospects like Marc Diakiese and Lando Vannata may have had the bigger reputations, but Klose was the one who walked away with the wins. That is still the best part of his game, but it has become clear over the years that Klose’s approach centers around having control, or at least the illusion of it. He has his physicality and is willing to throw some heat, but it is mostly used as a way to try to intimidate his opponents into inaction. Klose’s last bout, a knockout loss to Beneil Dariush, showed that the situation can go a bit off the rails if his opponent can hold his own grappling-wise and just decides to go after him. The South Haven, Michigan, native might be able to grind his way to a win here, but recent paths to victory against Stephens have centered around either forcing him to chase or knocking him out, neither of which Klose seems particularly capable of doing. Stephens figures to just spark a brawl at some point, and if Klose cannot smother him, things could go south shortly thereafter. The pick is Stephens via second-round knockout.

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