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.”
[lawrence-related id=2648127,2645497,2643160]
For more on the matchup, visit MMA Junkie’s hub for Paul vs. Diaz.
Some incredible fights aired on big FOX during that era of the UFC from 2011 to 2018, and these are the best of the best.
With the UFC currently churning out cards across multiple platforms such as ESPN, ESPN+ and ABC, it can be easy to forget about the promotion’s history on previous networks that helped launch the world’s MMA leader into the juggernaut that it is today.
Initially reaching a broadcast deal with FOX Sports in August of 2011, the UFC went on to air live fight in primetime from November of that year until December of 2018. This also included additional UFC Fight Nights and broadcast content for FOX’s various cable properties, which included FOX Sports 1, FX and FUEL TV.
Not only would this agreement lead to the UFC’s first televised events on network television in the U.S., but it also sparked a more “corporate era” of the company in regard to the uptick of its show schedule and more mainstream marketing tactics that quietly contributed to its capability to make a multibillion-dollar sale to WME-IMG in 2016.
During this time, the UFC obviously looked to its top talent to fill these cards, even leaning on underappreciated and/or underpaid fighters such as Demetrious Johnson and Nate Diaz (whom the promotion traditionally butted heads with at the negotiating table).
This post pays homage to some of the UFC fighters who made the FOX era an incredibly fun follow-up to the organization’s “Golden Era.” Note: It would be too difficult of a list if I included Fight Nights from FS1, so this list will strictly be focused on the fights that aired on the big FOX network.
Without further ado, here are my top 10 fights that aired on FOX …
See the disclosed payouts for Anthony Pettis, Roy Jones. Jr., Vitor Belfort, Jose Aldo, and more, per the state of Wisconsin.
Gamebred Boxing 4 took place Saturday at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisc., where six fighters took home six-figure paydays as a result of their bouts.
Thursday, MMA Junkie acquired a list of the disclosed payouts from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, which oversees the state’s athletic commission and regulation of combat sports events.
The amounts reflect the disclosed payouts only and do not include any off-contract bonuses, sponsor payments, or discretionary bonuses.
Of the 26 fighters to compete on the card, 20 were on flat purse contracts, while the remaining six fighters were on show-win deals. Headliners [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] and [autotag]Roy Jones Jr.[/autotag] took home the largest purses of the bunch, as they combined for $1,350,000.
The total payout for all fighters on the card was $2,827,700.
Scroll below to see what the 26 fighters on Gamebred Boxing 4 were paid – disclosed amounts only.
Check out these photos of the fighters on the scale and the faceoffs from the Gamebred Boxing 4 ceremonial weigh-ins.
Check out these photos of the fighters on the scale and the faceoffs from the Gamebred Boxing 4 ceremonial weigh-ins, including [autotag]Roy Jones Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag], [autotag]Vitor Belfort[/autotag], [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag], [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag], [autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag], [autotag]Pearl Gonzalez[/autotag], and [autotag]Gina Mazany[/autotag]. (Photos courtesy of Phil Lamber, Gamebred Boxing)
July 5, 2009; London, ENGLAND; The Wimbleton trophy awaits the winner of the mens’ singles final round 2009 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Roger Federer (SUI) defeated Andy Roddick (USA) 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14. It was his record-breaking 15th major championship. Mandatory Credit: Steve Bardens/Offside Sports via USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10 2016; London, United Kingdom; General view of centre court at the trophy presentation after the Andy Murray (GBR) and Milos Raonic (CAN) men’s final match on day 14 of the 2016 The Championships Wimbledon. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
Roy Jones Jr. vs. Anthony Pettis headlines Gamebred Boxing 4. Check out video of the ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs.
There is not a UFC event this weekend, but stars from the MMA world have ascended on Milwaukee.
Gamebred Boxing 4 takes place at Fiserv Forum and is headlined by boxing legend [autotag]Roy Jones Jr.[/autotag] against former UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag].
Also on the card, former UFC light heavyweight champion [autotag]Vitor Belfort[/autotag] battles [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag], and former UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag] battles [autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag]. The rest of the card features a handful of other notable UFC alumni.
On Friday, the fighters weighed in and squared off. Check out the official weigh-in results below and check out the ceremonial faceoffs in the video above.
Not even Jorge Masvidal knows what to expect from Saturday night’s fights full of UFC veterans.
[autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] has returned to Milwaukee to fight in his home city for the first time in nearly a decade, but the circumstances are nothing like they were back then.
The last time Pettis competed in Milwaukee was in MMA for the UFC lightweight championship, which he claimed after submitting Benson Henderson in the first round at UFC 164. Ten years later, Pettis is gearing up for a boxing match this Saturday against legend [autotag]Roy Jones Jr.[/autotag] to headline Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Boxing 4 event at Fiserv Forum. It streams on UFC Fight Pass pay-per-view for $49.99.
The card is chalk full of former UFC fighters as [autotag]Vitor Belfort[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag] in the co-main event; [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag] and [autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag] run it back from their 2018 UFC fight; and [autotag]Pearl Gonzalez[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Gina Mazany[/autotag].
Not even Masvidal knows what to expect from Saturday night’s fights.
“If you’re on the fence about buying this pay-per-view, we don’t blame you,” Masvidal said in a statement. “You more than likely don’t have a clue how these fights will play out, and to tell you the truth, neither do I. …
“If there’s one thing we can promise and deliver on, it’s that we will be sheer violence and sweet science.”
Pearl Gonzalez and Gina Mazany during the Gamebred Boxing 4 news conference. (YouTube)
Pettis, 36, is making his boxing debut against former multiple-time champion Jones in an eight-round cruiserweight (200 pounds) matchup. For a period during his prime, Jones was considered boxing’s pound-for-pound No. 1, but that was many moons ago.
Jones is 54 now. There’s nothing at stake in this fight except proving something to themselves.
“It feels good to be back in Milwaukee,” Pettis said during Thursday’s news conference. “Last time I was here, I won the UFC world title 10 years ago. Coming back here to fight a legend in Roy Jones Jr., it’s a blessing.”
Said Jones: “Thank God for giving us all the opportunity to come perform. I want to say I’m delighted to be able to be here to perform, but I’m so damn old I ain’t sure if I get delighted no more. It’s kind of fun to be able to still do what you love doing at my age.”
Souza, known more for his standout Brazilian jiu-jitsu, hinted at hearing from people who are against him stepping in a boxing ring for the first time at 43. “Jacare” said he took his preparation seriously.
“I did a very hard camp for this fight,” Souza said. “Everybody’s sad for me. ‘Why, Jacare, are you boxing right now?’ Because I can. … I’ll show ‘Jacare’ can box, too.”
Can he against a once-dangerous knockout artist in Belfort? The former UFC light heavyweight champion got a taste of the ring in September 2021 when he TKO’d Evander Holyfield in the first round of a Triller Fight Club headliner.
Belfort is grateful to be able to compete on his birthday for the first time.
“God is everything in my life. I’m gonna be 46 on Saturday, so first time I’m fighting on my birthday. And I’m fighting a tremendous, legendary fighter from Brazil,” Belfort said. “I have a lot of respect for ‘Jacare.’ … It’s a privilege to be an example for my kids, how to live a righteous life. Sports has helped me a lot. It’s good to give back and be able to perform at this age. I’m very privileged.”
That was the general sentiment from all eight fighters on stage: blessed, privileged to be able to fight, regardless if it’s MMA or boxing.
This just so happens to be the latter.
“The fight gods have blessed us,” Stephens said. “This is an honor to be up here with Roy Jones and Pettis and Vitor right here. I’ve been watching this guy a long time, and here I am sitting right next to him on the big stage, on the big show. It’s a tremendous opportunity. If you really, truly knew what this meant, it’s amazing. I feel like I’m in a dream right now.”
Check out which UFC veterans are in MMA and boxing action across the globe this weekend.
The UFC idle this week after a trip to San Antonio for UFC on ESPN 43, where [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] picked up a big bantamweight win over [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag].
Elsewhere, many other MMA events are taking place, including Bellator and PFL kicking off their 2023 regular season. Those events, and others feature a number of familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.
This week, there are a total of 32 veterans of the global MMA leader competing in MMA and boxing this week from March 30-April 1.
Check out the names and details about their bouts below.
The full fight card for Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Boxing 4 has been released with nine UFC alumni on the card.
The finalized lineup for [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag]’s Gamebred Boxing 4 is set, and it features nine former UFC fighters.
Monday, the promotion announced its fight card, which is headlined by boxing legend [autotag]Roy Jones Jr.[/autotag] against former UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag]. The event takes place Saturday at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee and streams on UFC Fight Pass pay-per-view for $49.99.
Also on the card, former UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag] fights [autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag], an opponent he defeated by TKO in MMA. Former UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Vitor Belfort[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag].
Also familiar to UFC fans, promotional alumni [autotag]Pearl Gonzalez[/autotag] and [autotag]Gina Mazany[/autotag] square off. A bout between former UFC fighters [autotag]Joe Riggs[/autotag] and [autotag]Markus Perez[/autotag] is also scheduled.
Gamebred Boxing 4 to feature Anthony Pettis vs. Roy Jones Jr., Jose Aldo vs. Jeremy Stephens, and many more former UFC fighters.
[autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] fighting a legend in his next outing, but not in MMA.
The former UFC and WEC lightweight champion is scheduled to take on former boxing champion [autotag]Roy Jones Jr.[/autotag] in the main event of Gamebred Boxing 4 on April 1 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. The event will stream on pay-per-view on UFC Fight Pass.
UFC star [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag], owner of Gamebred Boxing, announced the news Monday, revealing the event and full fight card on The MMA Hour.
Pettis has no history of competing in professional boxing. He was last seen in the MMA world in August, when he lost a unanimous decision to Stevie Ray in the 2022 PFL lightweight semifinals.
On the other hand, Jones Jr. will be competing in his first fight since boxing Mike Tyson in an exhibition bout back in November 2020. The two fought to a draw. Jones Jr., 54, has a professional boxing record of 66-9. He held championships in four different weight classes, including titles at middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight. Jones Jr. also won a silver medal in boxing at the 1988 Olympics.
[lawrence-related id=2614493,2613125]
In the co-main event of the card, former UFC and WEC featherweight champion [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag] will take on former foe [autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag].
The rest of the card is compiled of many other former UFC fighters as [autotag]Vitor Belfort[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag], [autotag]Paul Daley[/autotag] fights [autotag]Anthony Taylor[/autotag], and [autotag]Pearl Gonzalez[/autotag] meets [autotag]Gina Mazany[/autotag].
Below are all the matchups announced for Gamebred Boxing 4:
