'all That Matters Is Showing I Deserve To Be Here'

Mason Jones says "showing I merit to beryllium here" is nan only point that matters earlier his return to action successful nan UFC.

The Briton, 30, is group to look American lightweight Jeremy Stephens successful Iowa connected Saturday - 3 years aft parting ways pinch nan promotion.

Welshman Jones said he near nan UFC for "financial and capacity reasons", and has since built a four-fight triumph streak successful UK-based promotion Cage Warriors.

"All that matters is maine showing I merit to beryllium present and really bully I tin execute and put my footstep backmost connected that ladder," said Jones.

Jones made his UFC debut successful 2021, having won nan first 10 fights of his career, but won only 1 of 4 fights successful nan organisation.

He near pursuing conclusion by Slovakia's Ludovit Klein successful 2022.

"My past travel present - my past 4 fights successful nan UFC - nary of them went well. None of them I performed," said Jones.

"I had issues and problems and each nan excuses you tin imagine.

"Now everything's going well. There's nary injuries, my camp's gone well, I consciousness fantastic."

Stephens is besides making his return to nan UFC aft almost 4 years distant from nan promotion.

Stephens, who will beryllium performing successful beforehand of his location crowd successful Iowa, fought 34 times successful nan organisation, winning 15 bouts, but near pursuing a five-fight losing streak.

He fought successful nan PFL successful 2022, losing to Natan Schulte, earlier joining Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), wherever he won each 3 of his contests.

Jones said Stephens is seeing him arsenic a "molehill", while he views nan 38-year-old arsenic a "mountain".

"Jeremy is simply a upland but he's not insurmountable. I'm going to spell retired location and portion him up," said Jones.

"He's a task; he's arduous. I'm not underestimating him astatine all. He's nan astir vulnerable force I've ever fought, he's a large hitter and make 1 correction and you're sleeping."