UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens is returning to the boxing ring to fight a friend of Nate Diaz.
Stephens has been booked to meet Chris Avila 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.”
For more on the matchup, visit MMA Junkie’s hub for Paul vs. Diaz.