UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens is returning to the boxing ring to fight a friend of Nate Diaz in August.
UFC veteran [autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag] is returning to the boxing ring to fight a friend of Nate Diaz.
Stephens has been booked to meet [autotag]Chris Avila[/autotag] on the card headlined by Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz on Aug. 5 in Dallas, Most Valuable Promotions announced Wednesday. The fight is scheduled for eight rounds at 168 pounds.
Chris Avila is back! Taking on yet another big challenge – this time against the man who has the second most knockdowns in UFC history, Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens. 8 rounds, 168 lbs.
Chris Avila has been been featured on two previous MVP events and in his last bout he… pic.twitter.com/fwKAmPOjW8
— Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) June 21, 2023
Stephens, 37, will be making his second professional boxing appearance after he fought UFC rival Jose Aldo to a majority draw at a Gamebred Boxing event April 1. Stephens’ foray into the squared circle has come the heels of a failed MMA stint with PFL in which he went 1-2 in 2022.
“I am super excited to be in these times of MMA mixing with boxing; it is a huge opportunity,” Stephens said in a statement. “And to have all the eyes in the world on this card, I plan on stealing the f*cking show and giving the fans the ‘too hot for TV’ type performance that I always bring.”
Avila, 30, who competed twice in the UFC and once in Bellator, has more experience than Stepgens in the ring with four pro fights resulting in a 3-1 record. Avila most recently won a unanimous decision against Paul Bamba on April 21 at MF & DAZN X Series 6.
“My last three fights I have settled the score with (Anthony) Taylor, and beat up a doctor and a dork,” Avila said. “I’m looking for the best fights and the toughest fights. Jeremy has been around a long time and fought everyone in MMA. But he hasn’t fought me so let’s see what’s up over 8 rounds on August 5th in Dallas.”
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For more on the matchup, visit MMA Junkie’s hub for Paul vs. Diaz.
Nate Diaz choked a Logan Paul lookalike into unconsciousness in a New Orleans street brawl that appeared to involve Chase DeMoor.
[autotag]Nate Diaz[/autotag] has a knack for the street fight, which was on full display Friday in New Orleans once again.
Not only did Diaz ignite a physic kerfuffle when he chucked a water bottle at Netflix reality series star Chase DeMoor at a Misfits Boxing event where his teammate [autotag]Chris Avila[/autotag] was competing, he also guillotined a man into unconsciousness in a post-event melee on the streets of New Orleans, a new video shows.
It’s unclear how or why the scuffle started, but the video captured how it ended – at least for one man. The video was posted by social media and YouTube influencer JiDion, who wrote in a lead-in tweet, “Broooo I’m f*cked up and Nate Diez [sic] choked out my homie.”
Shortly thereafter, other videos surfaced of DeMoor in a street brawl against multiple people. The caption that accompanied the video, posted by gamer OVERT, read, “Chase Demoor fights Nate Diaz whole team in New Orleans.”
The video appears to be taken in front of the same businesses that were visible in the original Diaz choke video.
Diaz has quite the resume of fights in and around events he’s not actually competing on. From the infamous Strikeforce Nashville brawl, to a fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov and company at a World Series of Fighting event, to the more recent ejection at the Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva event, Diaz and his squad have proved unwilling to back down.
Check out which UFC veterans are in MMA and boxing action across the globe this weekend.
This week, the UFC is back in Las Vegas at the UFC Apex for a heavyweight showdown. In the main event, [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] in a fight scheduled for five rounds.
Elsewhere, many other MMA and boxing events are taking place that feature a number of familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.
This weekend, there are a total of 18 veterans of the global MMA leader competing in MMA and boxing this week from April 21-23.
Check out the names and details about their bouts below.
“Let’s go, we won,” Nate Diaz declared after a Jake Paul bodyguard was drilled in the face by a draft beer backstage in Glendale, Ariz.
Alternative video footage of an altercation between members of [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag]’s team and the “Nick Diaz Army” gives a fuller picture of what transpired.
The new footage, which was released by YouTuber Amacky, shows the moments before, during and after the scuffle this past Saturday at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz. The video begins with a member of Paul’s team mouthing off with [autotag]Chris Avila[/autotag], a Diaz brothers protege who defeated Doctor Mike in the pay-per-view main card opener. [autotag]Nick Maximov[/autotag] and [autotag]Luciano Ramos[/autotag], two rising MMA fighters, are seen hurling insults, as is former UFC star [autotag]Nate Diaz[/autotag].
Paul does not appear to be present, as he was busy preparing for his fight with Anderson Silva.
In the video, a large man in an all-black suit, later identified online as a body guard for high-profile boxers and named Stacy, enters the verbal fray with a barrage of expletives. Diaz takes credit for throwing a bottle in the direction of the man across the hallway from a distance.
Enraged, the body guard and another large man wearing an all-black suit charged at Diaz and company. The body guard is pelted in the face with a draft beer by an off-camera Maximov, who later took credit for the maneuver. Neutral parties work to stop the situation from spinning out of control. An ice container is dumped on the floor and the two parties are finally separated.
“Let’s go, we won,” Diaz proclaims as he and his crew walk away.
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The beverage toss and subsequent skirmish came after Diaz slapped Paul’s Insta-famous meditation coach, Lukis Mac. The Diaz’s were later asked to leave the arena by arena security.
It’s unclear what initially started the scuffle, although Paul mentioned the altercation in his in-ring post-fight interview after he defeated Silva by unanimous decision.
“I want Nate Diaz, who’s a b*tch,” Paul said. “He tried to come into my locker room. He tried to cause some sh*t. Then, he always leaves the f*cking arena. So, Nate Diaz, stop being a b*tch and fight me.”
For complete coverage of the card, check out MMA Junkie’s event page for Paul vs. Silva.
Check out these photos of Chris Avila’s four-round unanimous decision win over YouTuber “Doctor Mike.”
Check out these photos of [autotag]Chris Avila[/autotag]’s four-round unanimous decision win over YouTuber “Doctor Mike” at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz. (Photos by Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)
Check out these photos from the Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva ceremonial weigh-ins in Glendale, Ariz.
Check out these photos from the [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag] ceremonial weigh-ins for the boxing event taking place at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz. (Photos courtesy of Esther Lin, Showtime)
Connor Syme plays Royal Portrush during the second week of the BMW Indoor Invitational. (Photo: Screengrab)
Doctor Mike: Family physician, fan favorite and now professional fighter.
“Doctor Mike” Varshavski didn’t need professional boxing. He had plenty on his plate.
He’s a successful family physician in Summit, New Jersey. And he became (and remains) an internet sensation in the mid-2010s, when People Magazine named him The Sexiest Doctor Alive. More than 10 million subscribe to his medical-themed YouTube channel, on which he promotes a healthy lifestyle.
Boxing? That was a happy accident, one that has provided him with yet another platform to spread his gospel and gain experience he believes makes him a better doctor.
Varshavski, who makes his pro debut against Chris Avila in a four-rounder on the Jake Paul-Anderson Silva pay-per-view card Saturday in Glendale, Arizona, was in a dark place during his first year of medical school in New York more than a decade ago.
His father, a medical doctor in Russia, had moved his family to the United States when Mikhail was 6 years old. However, he had to return to medical school in his adopted country to practice here. His mother, a mathematics professor, swept floors to help make ends meet while her husband earned his degree.
Finally, with their lives back on track and their bright son on his way to following in his father’s footsteps, Varshavski’s mother died of leukemia.
“That was a rough year for my father and I,” Varshavski told Boxing Junkie. “… Now that my father graduated and started his business it was time for them to enjoy the fruits of his labor. But in that year, maybe a year and a half, my father lost him mom, his dad and his wife of 20-plus years.
“It was a really dark time for us as a family. I wasn’t doing much at that time. I wasn’t physical. My mental health was suffering.”
That’s when, out of desperation, he decided to try the boxing-for-fitness craze that continues to this day, meeting his longtime trainer – Thomas Baldwin – in the process.
Varshavski took to the sport and spent years training to stay in shape, even sparring as his skill level improved. However, a full decade into the experience, he still had no intention of fighting competitively.
Then Baldwin pointed something out: YouTubers like Jake and Logan Paul were using their fame as an inroad into big-time boxing. Why not Doctor Mike?
Varshavski, a 6-foot-3 light heavyweight, took part in his one and only amateur bout this past May, outpointing influencer iDubbbz. The doctor’s hobby turned into a passion and then a second career.
“My trainer said, ‘Mike, I think you have a chance to do something great, and I’m willing to go with you on that journey,’” Varshavski said. “… He didn’t just think I could do it. He just thought he believes in my skill so much so that he thinks there’s no one we can’t stop, we can’t beat. And I believe him.
“Thomas is an amazing boxing trainer, coach, friend, brother, all of that. And if he tells me I need to change something, if he thinks I’m ready for something, I put full trust in him.”
An obvious question: Why would a doctor who understands the dangers of boxing – particularly to the brain – be willing to step into the cauldron?
One, Varshavski fell in love with boxing. It’s part of who he is now. And, two, he has and continues to put in the work to learn how to protect himself as much as possible in an inherently risky sport.
As he put it, life is dangerous; the objective is to manage the risk.
“The goal here is to encourage people to live to the top of their potential, to stay active, to take a boxing class, to hit the heavy bag, to be aware of their fitness. And all the benefits they’re going to get from that will be immense,” he said.
“There are risks in everything we do. We just have to be aware of those risks. I discuss with my patients the activities they’re involved in. I tell them the risks, I don’t tell them what to do. I don’t tell them that they need to stop doing something or start doing something.
“I tell them the risks and as cognitive adults they make their decision.”
Varshavski sounded more like a fighter than a doctor at times during the interview for this article. For example, he could’ve been any Top 10-ranked contender talking when he described how well training camp went for his fight with Avila and that he feels he’s at the top of his game.
At the same time, he’s unique. Of course, he wants to succeed in the ring but he doesn’t dream of becoming pound-for-pound king. And he certainly doesn’t need the money. He’s donating his entire purse on Saturday to the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem.
No, Varshavski is one of a kind: a hybrid medical professional and social media star who happens to box. The message he wants to send? You can be or do whatever you want if you pour your heart and soul into it.
“I want to show people that you’re not just a single word in the dictionary,” he said. “I’m not just a boxer, I’m not just a doctor. I’m a human first that is capable of many things. And so are all my viewers, patients and friends.”
Doctor Mike: Family physician, fan favorite and now professional fighter.
“Doctor Mike” Varshavski didn’t need professional boxing. He had plenty on his plate.
He’s a successful family physician in Summit, New Jersey. And he became (and remains) an internet sensation in the mid-2010s, when People Magazine named him The Sexiest Doctor Alive. More than 10 million subscribe to his medical-themed YouTube channel, on which he promotes a healthy lifestyle.
Boxing? That was a happy accident, one that has provided him with yet another platform to spread his gospel and gain experience he believes makes him a better doctor.
Varshavski, who makes his pro debut against Chris Avila in a four-rounder on the Jake Paul-Anderson Silva pay-per-view card Saturday in Glendale, Arizona, was in a dark place during his first year of medical school in New York more than a decade ago.
His father, a medical doctor in Russia, had moved his family to the United States when Mikhail was 6 years old. However, he had to return to medical school in his adopted country to practice here. His mother, a mathematics professor, swept floors to help make ends meet while her husband earned his degree.
Finally, with their lives back on track and their bright son on his way to following in his father’s footsteps, Varshavski’s mother died of leukemia.
“That was a rough year for my father and I,” Varshavski told Boxing Junkie. “… Now that my father graduated and started his business it was time for them to enjoy the fruits of his labor. But in that year, maybe a year and a half, my father lost him mom, his dad and his wife of 20-plus years.
“It was a really dark time for us as a family. I wasn’t doing much at that time. I wasn’t physical. My mental health was suffering.”
That’s when, out of desperation, he decided to try the boxing-for-fitness craze that continues to this day, meeting his longtime trainer – Thomas Baldwin – in the process.
Varshavski took to the sport and spent years training to stay in shape, even sparring as his skill level improved. However, a full decade into the experience, he still had no intention of fighting competitively.
Then Baldwin pointed something out: YouTubers like Jake and Logan Paul were using their fame as an inroad into big-time boxing. Why not Doctor Mike?
Varshavski, a 6-foot-3 light heavyweight, took part in his one and only amateur bout this past May, outpointing influencer iDubbbz. The doctor’s hobby turned into a passion and then a second career.
“My trainer said, ‘Mike, I think you have a chance to do something great, and I’m willing to go with you on that journey,’” Varshavski said. “… He didn’t just think I could do it. He just thought he believes in my skill so much so that he thinks there’s no one we can’t stop, we can’t beat. And I believe him.
“Thomas is an amazing boxing trainer, coach, friend, brother, all of that. And if he tells me I need to change something, if he thinks I’m ready for something, I put full trust in him.”
An obvious question: Why would a doctor who understands the dangers of boxing – particularly to the brain – be willing to step into the cauldron?
One, Varshavski fell in love with boxing. It’s part of who he is now. And, two, he has and continues to put in the work to learn how to protect himself as much as possible in an inherently risky sport.
As he put it, life is dangerous; the objective is to manage the risk.
“The goal here is to encourage people to live to the top of their potential, to stay active, to take a boxing class, to hit the heavy bag, to be aware of their fitness. And all the benefits they’re going to get from that will be immense,” he said.
“There are risks in everything we do. We just have to be aware of those risks. I discuss with my patients the activities they’re involved in. I tell them the risks, I don’t tell them what to do. I don’t tell them that they need to stop doing something or start doing something.
“I tell them the risks and as cognitive adults they make their decision.”
Varshavski sounded more like a fighter than a doctor at times during the interview for this article. For example, he could’ve been any Top 10-ranked contender talking when he described how well training camp went for his fight with Avila and that he feels he’s at the top of his game.
At the same time, he’s unique. Of course, he wants to succeed in the ring but he doesn’t dream of becoming pound-for-pound king. And he certainly doesn’t need the money. He’s donating his entire purse on Saturday to the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem.
No, Varshavski is one of a kind: a hybrid medical professional and social media star who happens to box. The message he wants to send? You can be or do whatever you want if you pour your heart and soul into it.
“I want to show people that you’re not just a single word in the dictionary,” he said. “I’m not just a boxer, I’m not just a doctor. I’m a human first that is capable of many things. And so are all my viewers, patients and friends.”
“I’ll fight any of these little YouTubers or any of these celebrities that want to get their ass whooped by a real fighter.”
GLENDALE, Ariz. – With 17 professional MMA and two pro boxing bouts to his credit, [autotag]Chris Avila[/autotag] by definition is a “real fighter.” There’s also the fact that he’s part of the Diaz brothers’ crew and associated with Nate Diaz’s Real Fight Inc. promotion.
So when he steps into the ring this Saturday, Avila has one main goal.
“I’m out here trying to represent to the fullest and put on for my team and make sure that I show what real fighting’s about, go out there and put it down on this guy,” Avila told reporters Wednesday. “That’s what I’m coming to do on Saturday, come out there and put it down and show everybody what real fighting’s about.”
Avila, 29, is looking to make that statement against Mike Varshavski, better known as “Doctor Mike,” a 32-year-old family physician who’s garnered fame as a YouTuber. The two will meet in a four-round professional boxing match on the Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva undercard Saturday at Desert Diamond Arena (main card at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime pay-per-view).
“Doctor Mike’s” combat sports experience consists of one exhibition boxing match this past May against fellow social media influencer “iDubbz.” Varshavski’s fight with Avila will serve as his pro debut, and that’s something Avila gives him credit for.
“He signed up to fight, he’s going pro, so to me he’s a real fighter,” Avila said. “I ain’t looking past him. I’m not looking at him as whatever he is outside of fighting. I look at him as a real fighter for sure.”
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Avila, who’s 8-9 as an MMA pro after competing for both the UFC and Bellator, most recently won a majority decision against Anthony Taylor in the ring last December. When it comes to feeling like he can’t lose against someone as inexperienced as “Doctor Mike,” Avila said he’s “not paying attention to an of that.”
And if any other YouTubers want a piece of him after Saturday, he’s game.
“I’ll fight any of these little YouTubers or any of these celebrities that want to get their ass whooped by a real fighter,” Avila said. “Pull the f*ck up.”
For complete coverage of the card, check out MMA Junkie’s event page for Paul vs. Silva.
Nate Diaz isn’t the only member of Nick Diaz Army trading in MMA gloves for boxing ones.
Nate Diaz isn’t the only member of Nick Diaz Army trading in MMA gloves for boxing ones.
Former UFC fighter [autotag]Chris Avila[/autotag] has joined the Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva card. Sticking with the theme of MMA vs. YouTubers, Avila will battle content creator [autotag]Mikhail Varshavski[/autotag] (0-0), also known as “Doctor Mike.” Most Valuable Promotions announced the bout Tuesday after an initial report by ESPN.
The event takes place Oct. 29 at Gila Rivera Arena in Glendale, Ariz., with the main card airing on Showtime pay-per-view.
A previously scheduled MMA bout between Avila and [autotag]Lance Gibson Jr.[/autotag] at Bellator 286 on Oct. 1 has been canceled, per promotion officials. Gibson (6-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) will now face replacement [autotag]Dominic Clark[/autotag] (15-12 MMA, 0-2 UFC).
BOOM! Dr. Mike makes his pro debut versus Chris Avila, who is 1-1 as a pro boxer, opening the #PaulSilva pay-per-view on SAT OCT 29.
Other than Jake Paul, Dr. Mike is the first “YouTube creator” to get in the ring with a professional fighter in a sanctioned pro fight. pic.twitter.com/OetZKZa4Om
Avila, 29, has bounced around in major combat sports organizations in recent years. Following an 0-2 stint in the UFC, Avila has gone 3-5 with stops in Bellator and Combate Global, among other promotions.
He most recently competed in a boxing match on the Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley 2 undercard when he defeated former Bellator fighter Anthony Taylor by majority decision. Prior to that, his previous boxing bout came in 2014 and was a unanimous decision loss.
Varshavski, 32, has found internet success since 2015 through his Instagram and YouTube channels. Named “The Sexiest Doctor Alive” by People magazine in 2015, Varshavski has since amassed 10.1 million followers on YouTube and another 4.4 million on Instagram. His videos feature a doctor’s perspective on a wide range of topics from pop culture to health hacks to everyday encounters with physicians – viewed through a medical lens.
“Doctor Mike” competed in his first and only amateur boxing match in May when he defeated fellow YouTuber personality iDubbbz by unanimous decision in the headlining bout of “Creator Clash” in Tampa, Fla.
