Tag Archives: The MMA Hour

Chris Avila to Fight Jeremy Stephens in Pro Boxing Match

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Chris Avila has lined up his next opponent…

The Latino pro mixed martial artist turned boxer, a longtime teammate of Nate Diaz, will face UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens in a pro boxing match on the undercard of the Jake Paul–Nate Diaz card on August 5 in Dallas.

Chris AvilaThe bout is contracted for 168 pounds over eight rounds, according to a release.

Avila, who first mentioned the fight Wednesday on The MMA Hour, is the more experienced boxer, but Stephens spent 14 years in the UFC.

Stephens made his pro boxing debut in April with a draw against UFC legend Jose Aldo. The San Diego resident fought in the PFL last year after departing from the UFC, where he was a heavy hitter with the second-most knockdowns in promotion history (18, tied with Anderson Silva).

Avila is 3-1 as a pro boxer and has won three in a row. The Stockton, California, native is coming off a four-round unanimous decision win over social media influencer Paul Bamba in April. Avila, who also has fought for the UFC and Bellator, was on Paul’s undercard last October, beating YouTube star Mikhail “Dr. Mike” Varshavski.

The Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) also announced Wednesday that Paul and Diaz will be taking part in its program for the August 5 bout.

Stephens vs. Avila is the second undercard bout announced for the event. In the semi main event, Amanda Serrano will put her featherweight titles on the line against Brooklyn rival Heather Hardy.

Shane Burgos Reveals Plans to Join the Professional Fighters League (PFL)

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Shane Burgos is makin’ money moves….

The 31-year-old half-Puerto Rican professional mixed martial artist has announced plans to join the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

Shane Burgos Burgos, a popular featherweight fighter, announced his plans to leave the UFC on Monday’s The MMA Hour.

Burgos fought out his UFC contract with his win over Charles Jourdain on July 16, becoming a free agent.

He said he’ll likely compete in PFL before the end of the year in an out-of-season fight and then enter either the lightweight or featherweight PFL season in 2023.

It’s a two-season contract with PFL, Burgos said. PFL season champions make $1 million in addition to their fight purses.

“I like the idea of the [season and playoffs] format being black and white,” Burgos told host Ariel Helwani. “There’s no gray area.”

Burgos said PFL offered him a significant raise, a deal where he would make in one fight what it took him multiple fights in the UFC to make. He did not go into specifics on the numbers, but said PFL will also offer him commentary opportunities in the future, which has been a post-career goal of his. Burgos said by the end of next year, he believes here’s a good chance he’ll be a “multi-millionaire.”

“I’m going to make the absolute most out of this deal,” Burgos said. It wasn’t an easy decision to leave the UFC, Burgos said. Being a UFC fighter and potential champion has been a goal of his since he was a child. But Burgos said from a financial standpoint signing with PFL was a “no brainer.”

Burgos (15-3) is on a two-fight winning streak. The New York native has won four $50,000 Fight of the Night bonuses in his last 10 fights and is known as an action fighter.

Burgos has won five of his last seven bouts overall.

Patricky “Pitbull” Freire to Fight Peter Queally for His Brother’s Vacated Bellator Men’s Lightweight Title

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Patricky “Pitbull” Freire is hoping to keep it in the family…

The 35-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist is set to fight Peter Queally on November 5 in Ireland for the Bellator men’s lightweight title.

Patricky “Pitbull” Freire

The announcement comes on the heels of news that Patricky’s brother Patricio “Pitbull” Freire has vacated his lightweight title, according to Bellator president Scott Coker.

Coker announced the news on The MMA Hour.

Patricio dropped his featherweight title to AJ McKee on July 31. Patricio said on The MMA Hour that he will now turn focus to getting the McKee rematch at featherweight, which opens the door for his brother to become lightweight champion.

“First thing is, I lost the featherweight division,” Patricio said. “For me, it doesn’t make sense to be a champion in the lightweight division. If I lost at 145 pounds, I can’t be the champion at 155.”

Queally (13-5-1), an SBG Ireland product, is coming off a second-round TKO (doctor’s stoppage) over Patricky “Pitbull,” a result that Freire’s team disputed at the time. Patricky (23-10) has dropped two straight.