https://www.mmanews.com/news/chris-avila-jeremy-stephens-added-paul-diaz-ppv
1 Like
Former UFC fighters Chris Avila and Jeremy Stephens will square off in an eight-round boxing match on August 5th in Dallas.
Avila announced the news of the booking during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, which coincided with a formal announcement from Most Valuable Promotions.
Avila and Stephens will compete at 168lbs and will feature on the upcoming Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz pay-per-view card. The co-main event showcases the return of Amanda Serrano against Heather Hardy.
Avila will look to move his professional boxing record to 4-0 after recent wins over Paul Bamba and Anthony Taylor. He has fully transitioned to boxing following an up-and-down run in MMA.
Avila fought twice in the UFC, suffering unanimous decision losses to Artem Lobov and Enrique Barzola.
Stephens will look to pick up his first boxing win after a majority draw against José Aldo in April. He went 1-2 during the 2022 PFL regular season and it’s uncertain if he intends to return to the PFL SmartCage.
During his tenure in the UFC, Stephens earned wins over the likes of Gilbert Melendez and Josh Emmett. He has amassed a 29-21 record in MMA.
The rest of the Paul vs. Diaz card is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.
1 Like
CHRIS AVILA FUCKIN SUCKS. HAD HIGH HOPES FOR HIM WHEN HE FIRST JOINED THE UFC, BUT HE QUICKLY SHOWED HE WASN’T READY FOR THE BIG LEAGUES AND IS NOW BACK TO THESE GIMMICK BOXING MATCHES. I GOT STEPHENS BY U.D.
2 Likes
Stephens by ko
Stephens has way too much power and too good of a chin to trade with him. Maybe Avila’s hoping his speed will get him by on points. Expected him to be on the card but very surprised by the matchup.
I am hoping he is able to somehow beat that mental midget stephens though.
1 Like
DALLAS – Jeremy Stephens loves a knockout, but he hopes to punish Chris Avila throughout the fight.
Stephens meets Avila in an eight-round bout at 168 pounds on the card headlined by Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz on Saturday in Dallas.
“I’m just looking to beat this motherf*cker’s ass all rounds,” Stephens said during Wednesday’s open workout scrum. “I don’t want the knockout. I want to beat him up.”
Stephens, who made his boxing debut in a majority draw vs. fellow UFC alum Jose Aldo in April, isn’t sure if boxing is the direction he’ll continue to go, but is enjoying the journey.
“I’m having a lot of fun right now. I’m enjoying it,” Stephens said. “This is an opportunity on the table for me and my family. I’m a diverse fighter. I can fight martial arts, I can fight Jeet Kune Do, boxing, you name it. I’m a prize fighter. I’m just in love with this process of boxing, and the pay, the excitement, the big eyes.
“I manifested this after I fought Aldo. I was like, ‘Man, if Jake Paul or Diaz drops out, I’m going to be that guy calling every – I don’t even know who the f*ck to call, but I’m going to be calling somebody to put me on that card.’ So, I manifested this, and here I am.”
Avila should have boxed Paul
Would have been a closer fight
1 Like