In 2011, an altercation unfolded outside a Des Moines sports bar that would haunt UFC fighter Jeremy Stephens for over a year. The incident left a man unconscious and reportedly fighting for his life. Though Stephens initially walked away from the scene, authorities caught up with him in 2012, on fight day.

The UFC star, just hours away from facing Yves Edwards in Minneapolis, was arrested on October 5, 2012. The arrest shocked fans and UFC brass alike. It stemmed from charges linked to the Iowa altercation a year earlier. Here’s a look at all we know about the entire ordeal faced by ‘Lil Heathen’.

Jeremy Stephens’ arrest in 2012 and legal proceedings

Jeremy Stephens, then 26, had never been arrested in connection with the October 2011 brawl—until authorities intercepted him in Minnesota. He was scheduled to fight at the Target Center that very night, but was taken into custody on a warrant out of Iowa. According to Des Moines police, he had been made aware of the charges and was given opportunities to surrender.

His camp disagreed. They insisted Stephens had no idea a warrant existed. His manager, Ryan Hass, stated to ESPN.com, “There’s witnesses that can prove that Jeremy had not assaulted anybody, it’s definitely a misunderstanding of his name becoming involved, other than him being a UFC fighter, it was his party, and him being friends with the guy that actually did it.”

Reports claim that authorities said Jeremy Stephens and Dustin James Bachman had assaulted a man during a fight in the bar’s parking lot. The victim reportedly stopped breathing twice before paramedics stabilized him. Bachman was arrested on the night of the attack, but Stephens was not. His name surfaced later during the investigation. The fighter had been living in San Diego at the time, far from Iowa’s legal reach.

The UFC attempted to free him in time for the Yves Edwards fight, but failed. Despite that, Jeremy Stephens publicly thanked the promotion for their support once he was released on bond on October 17, after reportedly spending around 12 days in custody. His team released a statement on his website that read, “Jeremy’s legal team is already hard at work to prove what many already know: he is not guilty of the crimes he’s been accused of.”

Criminal charges and plea agreement

Jeremy Stephens was initially facing felony charges, including assault and burglary. His manager told MMA Fighting that prosecutors dropped all assault and burglary charges on the first day of trial. That was in July 2013. The long legal saga finally ended in a deal: Stephens pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. He received time served and a fine. No further jail time. No felony conviction.

In a statement released following the arrest, Stephen’s manager had reiterated, “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.”

The charges that could have jeopardized his UFC career were dropped. The misdemeanor plea closed the book on a case that lingered for nearly two years.

Today, Jeremy Stephens continues to fight professionally and will return to his hometown at UFC on ESPN 67 to take on Mason Jones in a lightweight clash. However, the 2012 arrest remains a stark reminder of how fast things can unravel. A moment outside the cage almost derailed everything that he had built inside of it.