Jeremy Stephens Update: UFC Lightweight Awaits Oct. 23 Court Date in Minnesota

Stephens was arrested last Friday morning by Minneapolis police due to an outstanding felony assault warrant in his state of origin. The lightweight was slated to face veteran Yves Edwards later that day at UFC on FX 5, but that booking would never come to fruition despite UFC President Dana White announcing that Stephens would fight as planned.

According to White, the UFC made considerable efforts to post Stephens’ bail so that he could compete that night, but the attempts proved futile, and Stephens remained incarcerated at the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility in downtown Minneapolis. Sherdog.com confirmed the fighter’s status Tuesday with a jail official.

Stephens’ management released a statement shortly after the fighter’s arrest, providing further information on the situation:

“In 2011, Jeremy was attending a homecoming party in Des Moines, Iowa. A person in attendance became intoxicated and disorderly and was asked to leave by the owner of the establishment,” the statement read. “The intoxicated individual subsequently became involved in a physical altercation with another person at the event. We have learned that, as the featured guest at the party, Jeremy’s name came up during the police investigation of the assault. Prior to being detained the morning of Oct. 5, 2012, in Minneapolis, Jeremy had never been arrested in connection with the assault, contacted about any possible charge and/or notified about any outstanding warrant by mail or any other means.”

Stephens must now wait another 13 days before he will reappear in court on Oct. 23 at 1:30 p.m. CT to potentially face extradition back to Iowa. The 26-year-old last competed on May 15, falling by unanimous decision to Donald Cerrone at UFC on Fuel TV 3. The setback marked the second straight loss for Stephens, who has posted a 7-7 Octagon record since joining the Las Vegas-based promotion in 2007.