Джим Стивенсонның UFC жолы: жеңістер мен жеңілістер тарихы

American mixed martial arts fighter

Stevenson was set to fight B. J. Penn for the UFC Interim Lightweight Championship at UFC 80 due to ongoing litigation regarding Sean Sherk's steroid use. On December 4, 2007, the California State Athletic Commission upheld a reduced suspension for Sherk, prompting the UFC to strip him of the lightweight championship. UFC President Dana White then confirmed that Stevenson and Penn's match would be to fill the vacant lightweight championship, but the winner of that fight would face Sherk at the next opportunity. Just seconds after the start of the fight, Penn knocked Stevenson down with a right uppercut. From the top position, Penn landed a strong elbow to the head of Stevenson—causing a serious cut on Stevenson's hairline. In the second round, Stevenson fought more aggressively but was still unable to threaten Penn. After taking Stevenson's back, Penn secured a fight ending rear naked choke at 4:02 of the second round.

At UFC 86, Stevenson returned to the Octagon and defeated Gleison Tibau by guillotine choke submission after pulling guard. Tibau tapped quickly at 2:57 in the second round. At UFC 91 on November 15, 2008, Stevenson was set to face top contender Kenny Florian in a highly anticipated bout. Despite stating that he was offended to be considered an underdog against Florian, Stevenson was outclassed in the bout. After being taken down three minutes into the fight, Stevenson was mounted and eventually gave up his back to Florian. Florian forced Stevenson, who had just attained his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, to submit to a rear naked choke just 4:03 into the first round. Stevenson returned at UFC 95 in the main event against debuting lightweight Diego Sanchez, and lost via unanimous decision. According to a post fight statement, he is interested in a rematch. Stevenson defeated The Ultimate Fighter 5 winner Nate Diaz by unanimous decision at The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale. Stevenson showed superior wrestling and controlled the majority of the fight. In his next bout, Stevenson defeated Spencer Fisher by submission due to strikes at UFC 104. Stevenson secured the crucifix position and landed elbows, forcing Fisher to submit. Stevenson went on to face top 10 contender George Sotiropoulos on February 21, 2010, at UFC 110 in Sydney, Australia. Stevenson lost a very one sided fight by unanimous decision, but was awarded Fight of the Night honors. Stevenson was expected to face former Pride Lightweight Champion Takanori Gomi on August 1, 2010, at UFC Live on Versus: 2. However, Stevenson pulled out of the bout with an injury and was replaced by Tyson Griffin. Stevenson faced fellow TUF winner Mac Danzig on December 11, 2010, at UFC 124. Stevenson lost via a left hook KO as Danzig was moving back toward the cage. This loss was his first KO loss since 1999. Stevenson suffered his third consecutive loss after falling short via unanimous decision to Danny Castillo on March 3, 2011, at UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann. Stevenson was defeated by Javier Vazquez via unanimous decision in his featherweight debut on June 26, 2011, at UFC on Versus 4. After having four consecutive losses, Stevenson was released from the UFC. He became the fourth The Ultimate Fighter winner to be released from the UFC.

Stevenson signed a new contract with the Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA). He fought Dakota Cochrane at Lightweight in the main event of RFA 3: Stevenson vs. Cochrane on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at the Viaero Event Center in Kearney, Nebraska. Stevenson was rocked early in the first round by a knee from Cochrane, yet Stevenson managed to take Cochrane down to control him throughout the round. At the start of the second round, Cochrane rocked Stevenson again and managed to secure a rear naked choke. Stevenson escaped the attempt, but Cochrane was able to quickly take Stevenson's back a second time and finished via submission due to a rear naked choke. Stevenson next fought Dominique Robinson at Sugar Shane Promotions on January 30, 2015. He lost the fight via split decision. After a year and a half away from the sport, Stevenson returned to the cage July 30, 2016, for the California Fight League. He faced Daniel McWilliams and won the fight via TKO in the first round. Stevenson made a quick return to the cage, facing Gabriel Miglioli at Tru Form Entertainment on August 26, 2016. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Stevenson is a contestant of The Ultimate Fighter season 25, consisting of fighters that have been competing in previous The Ultimate Fighter seasons.

In February 2017, it was revealed that Stevenson would compete again on the UFC's reality show in the 25th season on The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption. Stevenson was the fifth pick overall for Team Dillashaw. He was defeated by Justin Edwards in the opening round of fights by unanimous decision. He was defeated by Hayder Hassan by knockout in the first round in the wildcard bout.

Stevenson competed in the Southern California Pro Am Invitational 2003, where he lost to Rener Gracie in the opening round.

Stevenson signed on to play Fight Coach "Joe Daddy" for 3 episodes in the first season of the DirectTV 2014 series Kingdom. Ultimately he ended being a recurring character, appearing regularly in the episodes.

Stevenson is the only son of Carolina Smith of Victorville, California. He has one older sister, Monica; a younger sister, Reye; and a step sister, Jessica. Stevenson's first wife, Lisa, gave him two sons; Joe Jr. and Tyler. Stevenson and his second wife, Maia, have two sons, Frankie and Maximus. Stevenson's father, Raymond, died from bone marrow cancer when Joe was 17. He graduated in the class of 2000 from Silverado High School in Victorville, California. As a Hawk Wrestler, he placed in CIF as a sophomore and senior (4th at Masters in March, 2000). Stevenson put his life on hold when his maternal grandfather suddenly became ill in 1999. After finishing high school in June, Joe "Daddy" Stevenson married his first wife; became a father of Joey Jr.; continued to fight professionally for King of the Cage; and wrestled at Victor Valley College to become the 198 lb champion at the 2000 Southern California Community College Regionals (a title previously held by fellow UFC star, Tito Ortiz). Stevenson was up a few weight divisions due to his last minute change of schedule with King of the Cage, and also because of his friend, teammate and two time Community College All American at 184, UFC fighter, Phillip Miller. Stevenson has struggled with alcoholism his whole adulthood, but claims to have been sober since 2014.