Jeremy Stephens looks to the future while drawing motivation from the past. 

Most recently, the longtime UFC powerhouse dropped a unanimous decision to Frankie Edgar at UFC 205, briefly halting his momentum in the stacked 145-pound division. Taking place in New York's historic Madison Square Garden, the event was billed as the biggest, baddest UFC event ever. 

To Stephens, though, this grandeur was lost the moment the scorecards were read.

"Biased judges didn't make me or the event feel bigger or better," Stephens told FloCombat. "But that made me twice as hungry and has helped me get a lot better. Now I just need to make it pay off.

"I'm sure I'll eventually reflect back on it, but I'm hungry and I need a fight and need to win in devastating fashion. That's all that matters to me." 

While the bout ultimately did not go Stephens' way, he had his moment, rocking Edgar badly with a head kick in Round 2. The window was there, and to this day, the opportunity presented but not seized eats at Stephens. 

"All I needed to do is land one more clean shot, but I fu*ked up by crowding him and allowing him to grab me and take away the space I needed," Stephens said. "So the fact is, I should have had a finish in that fight and didn't. I'm not OK with that, and I am looking forward to taking it out in my next fight." 



Where that next fight is concerned, Stephens has a name in mind. Chan Sung Jung, better known as the Korean Zombie, recently made his UFC return after serving mandatory military service in his native South Korea, knocking out Dennis Bermudez in just one round at UFC Fight Night 104 in Houston, Texas. 

Stephens rallied for a showdown with the Korean Zombie immediately following the tilt, but so far neither that fight nor any other has come to fruition. 

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"The media is big on [saying] 'The best way to get the fight you want is by calling them out,'" Stephens said. "From the last UFC Expo to now, I have called out a lot of the top fighters to their face. The veteran savages that are usually down to fight anyone that I haven't seen in person, I've called a few of them out on social media. I literally have called out the whole damn roster and even offered to go up to 155 to get a tough fight. I took it as far as calling any and every 145/155 fighter willing to step up. I've heard nothing but crickets." 
 
This, however, won't stop Stephens from pursuing a scrap with the recently returned Jung. 

"Korean Zombie, I've been getting blown up about fighting him--especially since his last win, everyone wants me to fight him," Stephens said. "Per usual, I love to give the fans the fights they want and deliver, so let's make this happen. 

"I've hit up Dana and I'm just waiting on them to get it done. He's a tough dude that throws down, he has a lot of sick highlights, and I'm guessing he wants more time in the cage since his first fight back was only two minutes. He had a few years off, and that creates a big advantage for him to learn, grown, let his body heal, etc. Knowing he's fresh and his performance is peaking now--there is no better time and no better opponent for me now than Korean Zombie.

"I assume he is down to fight anyone and would like fighting me, so it all makes perfect sense," he added. "April 15 is in Kansas City, just a couple hours from my hometown, and I'll sell that arena out myself with this fight. Being televised on Big FOX makes it even better. He's got nine, 10 weeks... That's more than enough time. Let's make this sh*t happen." 



In a potential Stephens vs. Korean Zombie matchup, viewers would be wise to prepare for extreme violence. In 25 career victories, Stephens has notched 16 knockouts and three submissions, while Jung has simulated his opponent's death in 12 out of 14 wins. 

This fact sits perfectly with Stephens. Known for his powerful fists, he welcomes the test that is the Korean Zombie's resiliency.  

"The only way to know [if he can take my power] is for him to throw down and exchange mouth shots until one of us falls," Stephens said. 

While the bout looks beautiful on paper, it's not sealed. Rumors have spread that Stephens will face Gilbert Melendez on the aforementioned April 15 UFC on Fox 24 card in Kansas City, but Stephens' management said that bout isn't close to done either. 

"Jeremy called him out (along with everyone), he didn't respond, and there hasn't been anything since," Ryan Hass, Stephens' agent, told FloCombat. 

Frustration aside, Stephens maintains his focus heading into 2017. He's ready for a scrap, and while the Koraen Zombie would be nice, he doesn't much care who stands across from him on fight night. He's just ready to let those paws fly. 

"I hope Korean Zombie is the guy that steps up," Stephens said. "If he doesn't, whoever will give the toughest, most savage fight possible is what I always want. I'm not one of the majority that wants the easiest fights. I've been taking on the best in their prime, and I'm not changing that.

"The bigger the risk, the bigger the reward."