Silva vs Woodley added to Joshua vs Paul card
November 21, 2025
Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Netflix have announced that one the greatest MMA fighters of all time and Brazilian legend Anderson “The Spider” Silva (3-2, 2 KOs boxing, 34-11, 22 KOs MMA) makes his return to combat sports to face American MMA champion and combat sports icon Tyron Woodley (0-2 boxing, 19-7-1, 7 KOs MMA) on the main card of Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day on December 19th at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, and will air live globally, only on Netflix at no additional cost to its 300+ million members. The clash between the two MMA icons will be a professional 6-round cruiserweight bout contested at 195lbs as Woodley steps in to replace Silva’s initial opponent, Chris Weidman, who withdrew due to injury.
In the co-main MVP’s undisputed super featherweight world champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (16-1, 7 KOs) making a unified WBA, WBO, and IBF world title defense at 130lbs against Canada’s #2 IBF, #3 WBO and WBA contender Leila Beaudoin (13-1, 2 KOs). Baumgardner vs. Beaudoin will be contested over 12, three-minute rounds, equal to the men’s championship standard.
In the preliminary card headliner, MVP’s and Australia’s undisputed bantamweight world champion Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson (18-2, 8 KOs) will make an undisputed WBO, WBA, WBC, and IBF world title defense at 118lbs against MVP’s and Canada’s #4 IBF and #5 WBA contender Amanda “Bambola” Galle (12-0-1, 1 KO). Remaining on the preliminary card will be MVP’s Costa Rican star Yokasta Valle (33-3, 10 KOs) set to defend her WBC strawweight world title vs. Yadira “La Reina” Bustillos (11-1, 2 KOs) in a 10-round women’s championship bout at 105lbs, and MVP’s top contender Avious “Tha Underdog” Griffin (17-1, 16 KOs) vs. Justin “Stallion” Cardona (10-1, 5 KOs) in an 8-round bout at 147lbs in the welterweight division. Newly joining the card will be MVP’s two-time Brazilian Olympian Keno Marley, making his hotly-anticipated pro debut over 4 rounds in the cruiserweight division at 200lbs against American Diarra Davis Jr. (2-1, 1 KO). Two additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.
São Paulo, Brazil’s Anderson “The Spider” Silva is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. Silva became the longest-reigning UFC middleweight champion in history, holding the title for nearly seven years from 2006 to 2013 while recording an astonishing 17-fight winning streak and 10 consecutive title defenses. Silva transitioned to boxing in 2021, defeating former world champion Julio César Chávez Jr., knocking out fellow MMA legend Tito Ortiz, and facing Jake Paul in 2022.
“I believe that change always happens for a reason,” said Anderson Silva. “I am focused on doing a good job. Always respecting my opponent and showing total respect to the boxing world.”
Tyron Woodley is an American professional fighter, actor, and media personality best known for holding the UFC Welterweight Championship from 2016 to 2019. A native of Ferguson, Missouri, Woodley’s MMA career launched with a dominant 10-0 start, leading to the fastest knockouts in welterweight title history and four successful title defenses in less than one year. Post-UFC, Woodley made waves in boxing, including blockbuster bouts with Jake Paul.
“Rising to occasions like this are the moments where legends are born,” said Tyron Woodley.
“Anderson Silva vs. Tyron Woodley is an iconic matchup, continuing to elevate Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day into one of the most scintillating combat sports events of the decade,” said Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions. “This is the gladiatorial sport spectacle of the 21st century. A main event that has engaged the entire world. Bringing back two of the MMA GOATS into the spotlight on a global stage, live on Netflix, reflects the magnitude of this card. Alycia Baumgardner making a 12×3:00 unified title defense in the co-main event and stepping up beside Amanda Serrano in the history books with this statement for equality, and a championship-stacked undercard featuring Cherneka Johnson, Yokasta Valle, and more, Friday, December 19 is poised to become one of the most unforgettable nights in boxing history.”
MVP’s Keno Marley began boxing at age 11 before moving to São Paulo alone to pursue his boxing training at age 13. After taking home gold at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics, he took silver at the 2019 Pan American championships, then competed for Team Brazil at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, finishing as a quarter-finalist. He earned silver at the 2021 world championships, became the 2022 Brazilian national amateur champion, won the 2023 Strandja Tournament, and won silver at the 2023 Pan American Games before finishing as a quarterfinalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“I was supposed to debut in June, but the injury set me back for a reason,” said Keno Marley. “It gave me time to recover, refocus, and come back stronger. I’ve already represented my country on the Olympic stage, and now I get to step into the pro ranks on the Jake vs Joshua card. The spotlight is huge, and I’m ready to make a statement.”
Diarra Davis Jr. is a 35-year-old southpaw from Baltimore, Maryland. Standing at 6′2″, Davis has demonstrated determination and composure early in his professional career, continuing to progress as one of the promising fighters emerging from the Baltimore boxing scene.
“It’s incredible to have the opportunity to fight on the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua card,” said Diarra Davis Jr. “Being on a stage like that is a dream come true for me. I’m stepping into the ring fully prepared and ready to go get that win.”
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