Former UFC champion Anthony Pettis will be facing Chris Avila on the undercard of Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diazās rematch in the boxing ring.
Earlier this year, āGamebredā unretired, and set his sights on the boxing ring. After months of discussion, Jorge Masvidal [signed a deal](Colby Covington reacts to Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz 2 announcement: "Two complete washouts" | BJPenn.com
After the fight announcement, Jorge Masvidal alluded to other MMA fighters being added to the boxing event. Well, fans now have the first undercard bout set, and it involves Anthony Pettis. The former UFC champion famously left the company in 2021 and headed to the PFL. However āShowtimeā went 1-3 inside the SmartCage, and parted ways with the company in 2022.
complete-washouts/) to face former rival Nate Diaz in a rematch of sorts on June 1st. Back at UFC 244 in November 2019, the Miami native handed the fan-favorite a stoppage loss after the third round.
Since then, Anthony Pettis has fought in the boxing ring, as well as Karate Combat. Last April, the former UFC lightweight scored a majority decision victory over former four-division champion Roy Jones Jr., in his first matchup. A year later, Pettis has signed a deal to face Stocktonās own Chris Avila on the undercard of Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz.
The news of the boxing match was first reported by ESPNās Marc Raimondi. The bout will take place at light-heavyweight, which is 175 pounds in boxing. Furthermore, Anthony Pettis vs. Chris Avila will be a six-round contest. As of now, itās unknown if it will be the co-main event of Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz, but it will likely be higher up on the card regardless.
The bout was later confirmed by Anthony Pettis himself, on Instagram. While āShowtimeā defeated a boxing legend in his debut last year, Chris Avila is no stranger to throwing hands himself. A former UFC veteran who faced Artem Lobov, the Stockton native has earned several victories in the ring.
Chris Avila will enter the bout holding a 5-1 record in professional boxing. Since suffering a loss in his pro debut a decade ago, heās rattled off five straight wins over the likes of Anthony Taylor, and Jeremy Stephens. His last victory came against Jake Bostwick, on the undercard of Misfits Boxing 13 earlier this year.
As of now, Anthony Pettis vs. Chris Avila is the only boxing match slated for the undercard of Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz. However, fans can expect additional fight announcements in the coming weeks.
Bump
LAS VEGAS ā Jorge Masvidal is rolling with the punches, but heās pretty upset with the way Nate Diaz has handled himself leading up to their scheduled boxing match.
The former UFC stars will meet for the second time in combat sports, but the rematch will take place in the boxing ring instead of the cage. The 10-round, 175-pound boxing match is set for June 1 at Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif., and will stream on Fanmio pay-per-view.
Masvidal appears ready to take care of business inside of the ring, but outside, he says Diaz has made things very difficult to make the fight come together due to various terms and conditions.
āHe said he wouldnāt fight unless he walked out second, like non-negotiable,ā Masvidal told reporters in a scrum. āLike what the fck you talking about? Real Fighters Inc., and this the sht youāre pulling? ā¦ Another thing that he wanted was his name on top, or he wouldnāt fight. So, Iām like, āDo you want to fight or what, motherf*cker?ā
āYouāve been telling the whole world the same sht, because back in the UFC when I was fighting for titles and you were doing fcking nothing but picking your nose, you didnāt want to scrap after I got done with them title fights, and it was the same diva act. Now, finally, we got the deal done. It took in totality, the deal took about a year. Like five months with the UFC, and another like four with Nate āThe Divaā Diaz.ā
Masvidal and Diaz first met at UFC 244 in November 2019 for the inaugural BFM title. āGamebredā won the fight by TKO after the ringside doctor called a stop to the fight in Round 3 due to a cut above Diazās right eye.
While Masvidal isnāt thrilled with having to deal with Diazās demands for their second meeting, he hopes his opponent comes to fight in June, and doesnāt pull some of the same antics he did in his boxing debut against Jake Paul last August.
āAt least come in there in fcking shape, man,ā Masvidal said. āAnd at least do your job to everybody watching. Because weāre not watching to watch two guys fcking fake guillotine and the other guy pointing at him and walking around the ring. People aināt doing that sht and thatās why I think I get so much love because I put everything I got into this craft. When I go out there, Iām going to show Nate why he shouldnāt be smoking so many fcking blunts.ā
The pair have committed to a four-city promotional tour to raise interest in their boxing showdown, which is co-promoted by Diazās Real Fight Inc. and Masvidalās Gamebred Boxing. Masvidal plans to reveal all of the hoops Diaz made him jump through before ultimately āendingā him inside the ring.
āMy plan is just to state facts,ā Masvidal said. āThe moment I sit in that chair, facts that I can prove with contracts and paperwork, and show the whole world if anybody has questions on it why Iām so fcking upset. Because this fight could have taken place way long ago and Nate Diaz is a fcking diva.ā
what fight was he referencing?
JAKE PAUL VS. NATE DIAZ
No one wants to see Anthony Pettis fight.
Garbage card really, a couple has-beens desperately trying to stay relevant. Jorge had it made before he shit his money away on lawsuits, now heās trying to get wrestlefucked by Chael hoping his trash talk will sell some PPVs for him. Idk what Nate is still fighting for, I doubt heās broke. Getting knocked down by a YouTuber is a good sign the curtain call should be soon though.