Former UFC and Bellator MMA talent Chris Avila
will square off against social media influencer Mikhail “Doctor
Mike” Varshavski on the Jake Paul vs.
Anderson
Silva undercard.
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Showtime announced the booking on Tuesday. The bout will be
contested over four rounds at 185 pounds. The event takes place at
Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz., on Oct. 9 and is headlined by
the aforementioned clash between Paul and Silva. It will be
available on pay-per-view via Showtime.
Avila, who gained a measure of notoriety as a disciple of UFC star
Nate
Diaz, is 8-9 in MMA and 1-1 in professional boxing. The
Cesar
Gracie Fight Team export went 0-2 in the UFC and 1-2 in
Bellator. He is coming off back-to-back first-round KO/TKO wins
under the North Iowa Fights banner in 2021 in MMA, while he took a
majority decision over former Bellator foe Anthony
Taylor in the boxing ring this past December.
“Hmmmm, let’s see. I am giving him a height advantage, a reach
advantage and a medical degree advantage,” Avila said in a release.
“It’s whatever though. If he wants to go to boxing fantasy camp,
then I’m glad to give him the lesson he wants. A real fight against
a real fighter who is not here to play games or clout chase for
Instagram.”
The 6-foot-3 Varshavski, who was voted “Sexiest Doctor Alive” by
People Magazine and has more than 10 million subscribers to his
YouTube channel, will be making his professional boxing debut. He
was victorious in an exhibition bout against YouTube personality
Ian “iDubbbz” Washburn in May.