UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens to box Chris Avila on Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz card

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.

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.

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie