Ex-UFC champion Benson Henderson wins boxing debut, hands Nate Diaz teammate Chris Avila his first loss

Ex-UFC champion Benson Henderson wins boxing debut, hands Nate Diaz teammate Chris Avila his first loss - MF & DAZN: X Series 18 HighlightsFormer UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson went 10 rounds against two different opponents in his pro boxing debut on…

Ex-UFC champion Benson Henderson wins boxing debut, hands Nate Diaz teammate Chris Avila his first loss - MF & DAZN: X Series 18 Highlights

Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson went 10 rounds against two different opponents in his pro boxing debut on Saturday night in Newcastle, England.

After dominating the MMA scene for more than a decade, ‘Smooth’ traded in his four-ounce gloves for a pair of 10-ouncers as the Colorado Springs native looked to take home two wins and become the Pro Stake Tournament champion at the MF & DAZN: X Series 18 event on Saturday.

First up was a scrap with Chris Avila, an undefeated boxer best known for his affiliation with Stockton’s own Nate Diaz.

Avila came out strong, taking the center of the ring and pressuring Henderson into the corner, but it was ‘Smooth’ who appeared to have the upper hand early, landing some big shots and more than holding his own against the more experienced boxer. Henderson ramped up the aggressiveness in the second and seemingly took the first two rounds, though his striking began to look a bit sloppy as the fight grew longer.

Henderson’s suffocating style continued in the third with him walking down Avila, showing the former MMA fight zero respect. Avila offered some nice work to the body of Henderson, but the fight slowly began to slip away from the Stockton native. It was more of the same in the fourth and fifth rounds with ‘Smooth’ dominating the action and leaving no room for Avila to catch his breath and look for the knockout shot he desperately needed.

By the time the final bell sounded, it was clear that Henderson would see his hand raised, handing Avila the first loss of his boxing career.

Official Result: Benson Henderson def. Chris Avila via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)

With the win, ‘Smooth’ moved on to a clash with Idris Virgo. ‘The Bodybreaker’ punched his ticket to the Pro Stake Tournament finals earlier in the evening with a big first-round KO against Mohammed Faisal.

Benson Henderson comes up short in pro stake tournament final

Returning to the ring a few hours later for their tournament final, Virgo flew out of his corner and immediately looked to land a booming right hand against the former UFC champion. Virgo’s pressure kept ‘Smooth’ backpedaling early, but was unable to land the knockout blow he was desperately looking for.

The second and third rounds saw both fighters continue to slug it out. Virgo landed the more impactful strikes while Henderson attempted to trap his opponent against the rope, emulating a game plan he perfectly executed multiple times throughout his mixed martial arts career. That decision proved successful, particularly in the fifth round where Virgo’s offense was largely stifled by the unending pressure of Henderson.

With 10 seconds left to go, Virgo and Henderson decided to slug it out, but neither was able to put the other away, sending us to the scorecards.

Official Result: Idris Virgo def. Benson Henderson via unanimous decision (49-47, 48-47, 48-46)

Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Results & Highlights: Diaz Wins Slugfest

Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal finally settled their differences in the boxing ring on July 6. MMA News has the results and highlights here! The long-awaited rematch between Diaz and Masvidal occurred on July 6 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Both fighters have waited nearly five years to fight each other again after […]

Continue Reading Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Results & Highlights: Diaz Wins Slugfest at MMA News.

Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal finally settled their differences in the boxing ring on July 6. MMA News has the results and highlights here!

The long-awaited rematch between Diaz and Masvidal occurred on July 6 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Both fighters have waited nearly five years to fight each other again after their first encounter at UFC 244 in 2019. However, instead of competing in MMA, they ran it back in the boxing ring.

In the fight, Diaz overwhelmed Masvidal with punches for ten rounds. The former BMF Champion did his best to keep his opponent off him with power punches but couldn’t stop the pressure from the California native. Ultimately, the fight went the distance, with Diaz winning by majority decision.  

Elsewhere on the card, Anthony Pettis faced Chris Avila in a light heavyweight contest. Pettis was coming off a debut win over boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. by a majority decision last year. However, the former UFC champion couldn’t replicate his success, as Avila controlled the fight to earn a comfortable unanimous decision win.

Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Fight Card Results

Main Card:

  • Light Heavyweight: Nate Diaz def. Jorge Masvidal via Majority Decision (95-95, 97-93, 98-92)
  • Super Middleweight: Shane Mosley Jr. def. Daniel Jacobs via Unanimous Decision (99-91×2, 100-90)
  • Light Heavyweight: Chris Avila def. Anthony Pettis via Unanimous Decision (58-56, 59-55×2)
  • Lightweight: Curmel Moton def. Nikolai Buzolin via TKO R2, 1:39
  • Lightweight: Amado Vargas def. Sean Garcia via TKO: R6, 0:46
  • Lightweight: Devin Cushing def. Manuel Correa via Unanimous Decision (77-75, 78-74, 80-72)

Preliminary Card:

  • Welterweight: Luis Lopez def. Alan Sanchez via Unanimous Decision (77-75×3)
  • Heavyweight: Gabriel Aguilar Costa def. Steve Dunn via KO: R2, 2:50

Main Card Highlights

Nate Diaz def. Jorge Masvidal

Curmel Moton def. Nikolai Buzolin

Amado Vargas def. Sean Garcia

Preliminary Highlights

Gabriel Aguilar Costa def. Steve Dunn

Continue Reading Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Results & Highlights: Diaz Wins Slugfest at MMA News.

Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Weigh-In Live Stream & Results

Former UFC stars Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal are set to weigh in today ahead of their rematch in the boxing ring this Saturday. MMA News has the results here! The rivalry between Diaz and Masvidal has returned to the surface this year. In 2019, they faced each other in the main event of UFC […]

Continue Reading Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Weigh-In Live Stream & Results at MMA News.

Former UFC stars Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal are set to weigh in today ahead of their rematch in the boxing ring this Saturday. MMA News has the results here!

The rivalry between Diaz and Masvidal has returned to the surface this year. In 2019, they faced each other in the main event of UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. UFC fans expected the matchup to be an action-packed fight, as both had an impressive win before the event. Unfortunately, it ended in anticlimactic fashion with Masvidal winning by doctor’s stoppage.

Both fighters will seek a more decisive victory in the boxing ring tomorrow. Ahead of the event, all fighters must weigh in today to make it official.

Fans of Diaz are hoping he is coming into his rematch against “Gamebred” more motivated than he has in past fights. In his most recent outing last August, he made his professional boxing debut against Jake Paul. Diaz showed spurts of competitiveness but was outmatched and knocked down in the contest, which Paul won by unanimous decision.

This Saturday marks a big night for the California native as he tries to prove that he still has more left in his combat sports career.

For Masvidal, he is no stranger to competing in a boxing ring. He has one win on his pro boxing record after defeating Joseph Benjamin by majority decision in 2005. Although he has fared better in the sport than Diaz, the former BMF champion’s win from 19 years ago was a four-round fight. Saturday’s matchup will be a 10-round affair, which some fans believe could benefit Diaz more than the Miami native.

That said, Masvidal has shared in the lead-up to his showdown with his rival that he plans to get a knockout to settle their issues for good.

Masvidal vs. Diaz will occur at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The main card will start at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT on Fanmio for $49.99. Fans looking to watch the card on DAZN must be subscribed and buy the pay-per-view.

Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz Weigh-In Results

(Fight Card Is Subject To Change)

Main Card:

  • Light Heavyweight: Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz
  • Super Middleweight: Daniel Jacobs vs. Shane Mosley Jr.
  • Light Heavyweight: Anthony Pettis vs. Chris Avila
  • Lightweight: Curmel Moton vs. Nikolai Buzolin
  • Lightweight: Amado Vargas vs. Sean Garcia
  • Lightweight: Devin Cushing vs. Manuel Correa

Continue Reading Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Weigh-In Live Stream & Results at MMA News.

Chris Avila Calls Out Chad Ochocinco For Boxing Match

Former UFC competitor Chris Avila has called out ex-NFL star Chad Ochocinco for a boxing match. Avila recently spoke to TMZ Sports about a potential matchup with Ochocinco, saying he’d love to fight the former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver in his next fight, which he’s targeting for August 13. “I think that’d be an exciting…

Continue Reading Chris Avila Calls Out Chad Ochocinco For Boxing Match at MMA News.

Former UFC competitor Chris Avila has called out ex-NFL star Chad Ochocinco for a boxing match.

Avila recently spoke to TMZ Sports about a potential matchup with Ochocinco, saying he’d love to fight the former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver in his next fight, which he’s targeting for August 13.

“I think that’d be an exciting fight for people to watch,” said Avila. “If he wants to fight a real fighter, he can box me.

“I don’t know if he’d accept it — or maybe he wants to stick to fighting celebrities. But if he’s down to test his boxing skills, I’m down to fight him.”

Ochocinco does have some boxing experience under his belt. He competed on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul boxing card back in June of last year. He faced Brian Maxwell in an exhibition bout.

Due to the bout being an exhibition contest, no winner was declared. Ochocinco was knocked down in the fight, but got back up and was able to finish.

As for Avila, the Nate Diaz training partner is currently 8-9 in his professional career. He’s had a wealth of experience; competing for promotions such as the UFC, WSOF, Combate Americas, Bellator, and more.

One thing is for certain, if he does get into the ring with Ochocinco, Avila won’t be pulling any punches.

“I’m knocking his ass out.”

What do you think about a potential boxing match between Chris Avila and Chad Ochocinco down the line? Sound off in the comments below!

Continue Reading Chris Avila Calls Out Chad Ochocinco For Boxing Match at MMA News.

Report – Anthony Taylor vs. Chris Avila Added To Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury Undercard

Anthony TaylorA rematch between Bellator alums, Anthony Taylor and Chris Avila is reportedly set to land on the undercard of the upcoming December 18. professional boxing match between the undefeated, Jake Paul, and fellow unbeaten puncher, Tommy Fury in Florida. Slated to meet in a boxing match following a professional mixed martial arts bout back in […]

Anthony Taylor

A rematch between Bellator alums, Anthony Taylor and Chris Avila is reportedly set to land on the undercard of the upcoming December 18. professional boxing match between the undefeated, Jake Paul, and fellow unbeaten puncher, Tommy Fury in Florida.

Slated to meet in a boxing match following a professional mixed martial arts bout back in January of last year, Taylor looks to move to 2-0 against Avila having bested the Stockton native in a majority decision victory back at Bellator 238 last year. The matchup will come as Taylor’s third professional boxing match, while Californian welterweight, Avila will make his professional boxing debut — having boasted an 8-9 professional mixed martial arts résumé.

Anthony Taylor and Chris Avila set to meet on December 18. in professional boxing rematch

Per a report from Ariel Helwani this evening, the matchup between Taylor and Avila is slated to serve as an undercard pairing beneath the headlining bout between the aforenoted duo of Taylor’s training partner, Paul, and past-foe of Taylor, the undefeated, 7-0, Fury. 

Anthony Taylor vs. Chris Avila has been signed for the Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury undercard on Dec. 18.,” Helwani posted on his official Instagram. “168 pounds. The fight is a rematch of a Bellator bout in 2020.

1-1 as a professional boxer, Taylor made his debut against the aforenoted, Fury back in August as part of the undercard of Paul and former UFC welterweight champion, Tyron Woodley, where he suffered a unanimous decision loss to the Manchester native.

Returning two months later, Taylor would level up his professional record with a unanimous decision victory of his own over Jose Camargo Cabanez. 

Embarking on a two-fight winning streak since his decision loss to Taylor, Avila, a training partner of both Nick and Nate Diaz in Stockton, California — managed to score a pair of knockout triumphs over both Jessy Ebrecht, and Jon Kennedy. 

An alum of Combate Global, Bellator MMA, and WSOF — Avila competed twice under the UFC’s banner — suffering a pair of unanimous judging losses to both Artem Lobov and Enrique Barzola. 

6 Fights to Watch at Bellator 238: Budd vs. Cyborg

Bellator 238 will be the promotion’s first event of the year and its main event features a title fight and debut for Cris “Cyborg” Justino. She will be welcomed to Bellator by current featherweight champion Julia Budd this Saturday an…

Bellator 238 will be the promotion’s first event of the year and its main event features a title fight and debut for Cris “Cyborg” Justino. She will be welcomed to Bellator by current featherweight champion Julia Budd this Saturday and while that is certainly a fight to watch, Bellator is bringing a lot of talent […]

The post 6 Fights to Watch at Bellator 238: Budd vs. Cyborg appeared first on MMA News.