Story by
"That sh*t hurted" - Michael Beasley reacts to Lance Stephenson’s Brand Risk MMA win
- Story by
- "That sh*t hurted" - Michael Beasley reacts to Lance Stephenson’s Brand Risk MMA win
Talk about polar opposites from day one. Michael Beasley burst into the league as the highly touted No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Lance Stephenson ? He arrived two years later just to get picked 40th overall in the second round. With different backgrounds like that, the expectations couldn't have been more different.
Outside the Indiana Pacers organization, practically nobody believed Lance would become a foundational piece for a team crashing the gates of the NBA Finals.
Advertisement
On the flip side, Beasley, the dominant Kansas State product, put together one of the most legendary individual college seasons ever witnessed. The script was already written for him to become the league's next mega-superstar, generating a mountain of hype that ultimately became a heavy burden to carry.
Stephenson and Beasley decided to square off again
Yet, through all the twists and turns of their careers, their eccentric personalities kept them connected. Lately, Beasley has been going viral for some truly mind-bending quotes, while Stephenson perfectly crafted his role as one of the NBA's ultimate villains. But along the way, the two eccentric hoopers became incredibly close friends.
Advertisement
That bond set the stage for a 2025 showdown that absolutely hijacked the basketball world: a $100,000 winner-take-all 1-on-1 hoops game. At that TNC 02 event, Beasley handled business, downing his former fellow NBA alum Stephenson 31-21 to pocket the $100,000 bag. It was the undisputed main card of the night, surrounded by a slate of smaller matchups.
Diehard hoops fans knew Lance was walking into that basketball game as a massive underdog, given the pure, unadulterated basketball pedigree Michael possessed. Controversies aside, if there was one thing you never questioned about Beasley, it was his elite, god-given basketball talent.
But if you thought the story ended on the blacktop, you were dead wrong.
Advertisement
The UFC Apex was rocking for a major MMA event, but this wasn't a standard Dana White production. With the world's premier MMA organization taking the weekend off, White loaned the famous Apex facility to "Brand Risk Promotions." Run by influencer Adin Ross, the promotion pulled off the unthinkable, convincing the two former NBA stars to settle their differences in the cage.
Sanctioned as an amateur MMA bout scheduled for three 3-minute rounds, this one didn't even make it past the 60-second mark. Beasley opened up early, cooking Stephenson with some crisp hand combinations. Realizing he was in trouble, Stephenson decided it was time to take things to the canvas. Stephenson shot for the takedown, and while Beasley briefly threatened with a guillotine attempt, Stephenson powered right through it to complete the takedown.
Right then and there, it became obvious that Lance had been putting serious hours into his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The moment the fight hit the mat, the discrepancy was clear. Just over a minute into the action, Stephenson expertly locked up a submission from a highly unorthodox position, forcing the tap.
Advertisement
They want a rematch
Once the dust settled, the hostility immediately melted away. Both guys were all smiles, sharing a warm embrace and snapping photos before hopping on the mic for a joint post-fight interview.
"He choked me and I was like damn," Stephenson laughed after the match, clearly loving the moment. "He had me in a choke. I was going to sleep bro, that sh-t hurted. That was a tough fight, I ain't gonna lie man."
Both of these guys, and yeah, we can officially call them fighters now, made it clear they want a rematch. But Lance is looking for even more smoke, declaring he's ready to throw hands with literally anyone he ever had "beef" with during his NBA days.
Advertisement
The 2018-19 Los Angeles Lakers teammates have officially broken the internet once again. It might not be for their basketball hoops skills this time, but hey, it's still sports entertainment at its absolute finest.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
