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Beasley–Stephenson MMA Bout Draws Fire After Viral UFC PI Choke Clip

A training video of Michael Beasley locking a rear‑naked choke has spurred intense questions about fighter readiness and safety on influencer‑run fight cards.

Overview

  • Brand Risk 14 staged the ex‑NBA matchup between Michael Beasley and Lance Stephenson at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streamed the card across multiple platforms.
  • A clip from Beasley’s session at the UFC Performance Institute with Xtreme Couture members and Jordan Leavitt showed him learning a rear‑naked choke and asking if a choke could be fatal.
  • The training footage went viral the day before the fight and drew heavy social‑media criticism that called into question Beasley’s short preparation time and overall readiness.
  • Reports from the event show the fight turned into a rapid scramble that ended with Lance Stephenson securing a rear‑naked choke about one minute into round one.
  • The episode highlights a broader tension in influencer promotions: access to legitimate coaches and facilities can coexist with compressed training windows and public safety concerns that may prompt closer scrutiny of these events.