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UFC

Joe Pyfer details "inspirational" documentary on his story from being abused as a kid to making the UFC

Cole Shelton - May 23, 2023

Joe Pyfer never thought he would have a documentary made about his life. Pyfer grew up in a troubled home as he dealt not only with poverty but also he and four sisters being abused by his father. During his childhood, Pyfer had run away from home numerous times and only his close friends knew how bad his childhood truly was, including Chandler Henry who went on to become a film director.

Miroslav Broz, OKTAGON, MMA
MMA News

OKTAGON MMA's Miroslav Broz plans to 'not leave anything to the judges' Saturday night

Zain Bando - May 20, 2023

Miroslav Broz comes into his welterweight (turned catchweight) bout with Robert Pukač having nothing to lose and everything to gain. Entering Saturday night, the 34-year-old Czech Republican native re-upped his contract while winning six of his last seven (with one draw) and is looking to continue his winning streak as part of OKTAGON 43’s main card, which is headlined by a highly anticipated middleweight rematch between promotional champion Patrik Kincl and Karlos Vémola.

Cody Stamann
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Cody Stamann planned to call out Movsar Evloev had he beat Douglas Silva de Andrade at UFC Charlotte

Cole Shelton - May 19, 2023

Cody Stamann had an interesting callout ready had he beat Douglas Silva de Andrade at UFC Charlotte. Stamann entered the fight with de Andrade with a ton of confidence as he felt like his wrestling would prove to be too much for his opponent. In the first round, Stamann got de Andrade to the ground but was then hit with an illegal upkick. However, instead of regaining position, the ref stood them up. The Brazilian then won the first round and ended up winning the fight because of that, which Stamann plans to appeal.

Bryan Battle
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Bryan Battle says Ian Garry will avoid fighting him as the Irishman knows he'd get knocked out

Cole Shelton - May 19, 2023

Bryan Battle was pumped when he got the short notice call to fight Gabe Green at UFC Charlotte. Battle was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, and has repped his home his entire career. With that, he knew fighting at home would be special and he says all fight week felt like a dream.

Vanessa Demopoulos
UFC

Vanessa Demopoulos confident her "superior" grappling will lead to stoppage win against Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Cole Shelton - May 18, 2023

Vanessa Demopoulos has made a big change to her fighting career ahead of her UFC Vegas 73 fight against Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Demopoulos was forced to leave Fight Ready and in the process of picking a new gym, she went to Factory X in Denver, Colorado, and loved it. She felt a great family atmosphere and she knows training at elevation will only help her game that much more.

Cody Stamann
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Cody Stamann "pretty confident" he will win his appeal to have Douglas Silva de Andrade fight overturned to a No Contest

Cole Shelton - May 17, 2023

Cody Stamann plans to appeal his loss to Douglas Silva de Andrade at UFC Charlotte. In the first round with just under two minutes, Stamann got a takedown and as he was on the ground, de Andrade landed an illegal up-kick. The ref then called time to make sure Stamann was okay, but instead of resetting the position or taking a point, the ref stood them up and de Andrade went on to win the first round.

Houston Alexander
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Houston Alexander doubts BKFC 43 main event fight against Jeremy Smith goes past two rounds

Cole Shelton - May 17, 2023

Houston Alexander is ecstatic to be fighting back at home in Omaha, Nebraska. Alexander is set to headline BKFC 43 against Jeremy Smith. The 51-year-old is 3-0 in BKFC and many thought he would get a title shot after he knocked out Joey Beltran his last time out. Yet, he isn’t worried about getting a title shot and just wanted to fight and when he got matched up against Smith, he admits he wasn’t too familiar with him.

Diego Ferreira
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Diego Ferreira admits he thought about retiring due to injures, expects a "war" against Michael Johnson

Cole Shelton - May 16, 2023

Diego Ferreira wasn’t sure if he was going to fight again. Ever since Ferreira suffered a TKO loss to Mateusz Gamrot in December of 2021 – which was his third loss in a row – he has dealt with a plethora of injuries. Those ailments kept him from competing and he admits the time off has been difficult.

Bryan Battle
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Bryan Battle says having hometown fight in the UFC is a "dream come true," believes he's a "step ahead" of Gabe Green

Cole Shelton - May 12, 2023

Bryan Battle is getting a homecoming of sorts. Battle is set for his fifth UFC fight after winning TUF 29 at middleweight and will be taking on Gabe Green at UFC Charlotte. Although the fight is in his hometown, he wasn’t booked on the card until he saw Jake Matthews pulled out of his bout with Gabe Green and asked his manager to get him that fight.

Gabe Green
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Gabe Green plans to pressure Bryan Battle early and often at UFC Charlotte to get stoppage win: "I've knocked out guys who have never been knocked out before"

Cole Shelton - May 11, 2023

Gabe Green is just ready to fight. Green is coming off a decision loss to Ian Garry back at UFC 276 last July and since then, he’s taken some time off to add some size. He is a former lightweight that moved up to welterweight so he wanted to add some mass before his next bout. Unfortunately, once he had added the desired weight, he suffered an injury that kept him on the sidelines until now as he is finally set to return at UFC Charlotte.

Anthony Smith, Johnny Walker
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Pro fighters make their picks for Anthony Smith vs. Johnny Walker

Cole Shelton - May 11, 2023

In the co-main event of UFC Charlotte, a light heavyweight bout goes down as Anthony Smith takes on Johnny Walker. Heading into the scrap, the fight is lined as a pick’em as both Smith and Walker are listed at -113 on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight at UFC Charlotte, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. Although the scrap is listed as a pick’em, the pros are nearly unanimous in thinking Smith gets the win by using his wrestling.

Alex Morono
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Alex Morono expecting a "fun fight" against Tim Means at UFC Charlotte, eyes Matt Brown or Ian Garry next: "Bang it out with The Dirty Bird"

Cole Shelton - May 10, 2023

Alex Morono always figured he would face Tim Means eventually. Once Morono started to fight the more well known guys like Anthony Pettis and Donald Cerrone, he always thought a matchup against Means would make sense. He has watched Means for years and knew it would be a fun fight. Now, he got his wish as he was matched up against ‘The Dirty Bird’ at UFC Charlotte.

Matt Brown, coronavirus
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Matt Brown plans to make a "statement" with KO win over Court McGee at UFC Charlotte: "I'm going to show I could do many more whether I choose to or not"

Cole Shelton - May 9, 2023

Matt Brown will finally be back in action this weekend. Brown last fought at UFC Columbus in March of last year where he dropped a split decision to Bryan Barberena. It was a fight he thought he won, and since then injuries have kept him out of the Octagon. However, he is now back to full health and will fight at UFC Charlotte against Court McGee, which he is excited for.

Jairzinho-Rozenstruik
Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Jairzinho Rozenstruik doesn't think Jailton Almeida brings "anything different to the table," vows to KO him at UFC Charlotte: "I touch him, the fight is over"

Cole Shelton - May 9, 2023

Jairzinho Rozenstruik has a ton of confidence heading into his UFC Charlotte main event fight against Jailton Almeida. Rozenstruik and Almeida were originally booked as the co-main event, but the UFC decided to promote them to headliner status. While Jairzinho isn’t sure why the switch was made, he is glad to be headlining another card as he knows it’s big for his career and star power.

Aung La N Sang, ONE Championship
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Aung La NSang breaks down fight with Fan Rong: “I don’t see it going to the judges”

Zain Bando - May 5, 2023

Former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Aung La NSang will compete on U.S. soil for the first time in his ONE Championship career. La NSang returns to ONE for the first time since January, as he is coming off a first-round stoppage win against Gilberto Galvão, needing less than two minutes to get the job done.

Ben Rothwell
BKFC

Ben Rothwell says Josh Copeland is in the top-three "best chins" he's ever fought, eyes title fight against Alan Belcher after BKFC 41: "I'll see you in the ring and show you the truth"

Cole Shelton - May 5, 2023

Ben Rothwell is glad he was able to go a couple of rounds at BKFC 41. Rothwell was supposed to take on Josh Watson after his upset knockout win over Greg Hardy, but unfortunately, that fight never happened. Luckily for Rothwell, Josh Copeland stepped up which he was pleased with as he said it was a more anticipated fight.

Belal Muhammad, Gilbert Burns
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UFC 288 | Pro fighters make their picks for Belal Muhammad vs. Gilbert Burns

Cole Shelton - May 4, 2023

In the co-main event of UFC 288, a five-round welterweight bout goes down on short notice as Belal Muhammad takes on Gilbert Burns. Heading into the scrap, Burns is a -132 favorite while ‘Remember The Name’ is a +104 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight at UFC 288, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. All seven pros asked are picking Burns to get the job done on short notice, and many think it will be by decision, even though it is five rounds and both took it on short notice.

Devin Clark
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Devin Clark say his real UFC 288 opponent is coach Sayif Saud, expects to finish Kennedy Nzechukwu and face a ranked fighter next: "After I'm in the top-15, I'll start talking my shit"

Cole Shelton - May 3, 2023

Devin Clark has an interesting wrinkle ahead of his UFC 288 fight against Kennedy Nzechukwu. Clark is coming off an upset win over Da Un Jung in February and will now face Nzechukwu in an intriguing light heavyweight fight. Clark is well aware of how dangerous Nzechukwu can be, but he believes the Fortis light heavyweight is overlooking him.