Conor McGregor once turned Jeremy Stephens into an internet meme overnight, and now he’s his boss and a potential opponent.

Back in 2016, at the UFC 205 press conference, McGregor and Stephens shared the stage when Stephens made his bold claim: “Right here, the hardest-hitting 145-pounder. The real hardest-hitting 145er. This guy TKOs people. When I knock people out, they don’t f***ing move.”

McGregor’s response became iconic as he looked back at Stephens and said, “Who the f*** is that guy?”

Fast forward to today, and Stephens has joined the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), which McGregor partially owns. Now, Stephens finds himself working for McGregor and has even set his sights on fighting his boss.

In an interview with MMA Fighting, Stephens said, “I’ve got a boss now in Conor McGregor, who is writing my checks. I could potentially be fighting my own boss! There are a lot of people who want that Conor fight, but if he ever steps into bare-knuckle, I’m on a hot streak and ready to roll. I’d love to be the guy who welcomes him to bare-knuckle. I don’t get tired. I can take a f***ing shot. I’ve been in the game for years and would love to take advantage of that opportunity.”

Stephens, now 38, left the UFC in 2021 and transitioned to bare-knuckle boxing, where he currently holds a 2-0 record after defeating Bobby Taylor. Despite his success, he’s still aiming for a fight with McGregor.

He added, “I’d love to keep fighting here and f*** Conor McGregor. Who wouldn’t love to beat up their boss? I’m living the dream.”

McGregor, 36, hasn’t fought since 2021 after suffering a leg injury but was slated to return against Michael Chandler on June 29. However, a toe injury delayed his comeback, with a new date yet to be announced.