Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Rani Yahya says wrestling is key to success against Montel Jackson, expects to secure Cody Garbrandt fight with stoppage win at UFC Vegas 71
Cole Shelton - April 18, 2023
Rani Yahya is finally set to return to the Octagon. Yahya has not fought since November of 2021 when he beat Kyung-ho Hang by decision. He was then booked to fight Cody Garbrandt twice in 2022, but a neck injury forced him out of both fights. Now, after over a year away, he is finally set to return on Saturday at UFC Vegas 71.
Steve Garcia eyes TJ Brown or Damon Jackson after TKO win over Shayilan Nuerdanbieke at UFC 287
Cole Shelton - April 14, 2023
Steve Garcia doesn’t understand why he’s always the underdog and overlooked in his fights. At UFC 287, Garcia was once again the underdog as he took on Shayilan Nuerdanbieke. Early on, Nuerdanbieke had success as he got takedowns and even dropped Garcia in the first round.
Loopy Godinez "confident" she beat Cynthia Calvillo at UFC 287 but disappointed how "close" the fight was
Cole Shelton - April 13, 2023
Loopy Godinez is disappointed by how close her fight with Cynthia Calvillo was. Godinez entered the fight coming off a loss to Angela Hill last August, in what she admits was a disappointing fight for her. She was then booked to face Calvillo at UFC 287 in a fight Godinez thought she would dominate in.
Gillian Robertson explains decision to drop down to strawweight, expects to submit Piera Rodriguez early at UFC Kansas City: "I expect it to be over fast"
Cole Shelton - April 13, 2023
Gillian Robertson will be returning to the strawweight division. Before Robertson went on TUF and made her way into the UFC, she was competing at 115lbs but admittedly had a tough time making the weight. Once she signed with the UFC, she made 125lbs her home and went 8-5 inside the division. But, after really figuring out her diet, she believes the time is right to return to 115lbs.
Zak Cummings reveals Ed Herman scrap at UFC Kansas City will likely be his retirement fight: "I can't think of a better way to go out"
Cole Shelton - April 12, 2023
Zak Cummings says Saturday night at UFC Kansas City will be the final time he makes the walk to the Octagon. Cummings is finally set to return at UFC Kansas City after a back injury that left him bedridden for months. During that time, Cummings knew he had to get one more fight and when he found out the UFC was returning to his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri he knew he had to be on the card.
Pro fighters make their picks for Max Holloway vs. Arnold Allen
Cole Shelton - April 12, 2023
In the main event of UFC Kansas City, a featherweight fight headlines the card as former champ Max Holloway takes on Arnold Allen. Heading into the scrap, Holloway is the -196 favorite while the Brit is a +152 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros believe Holloway is the better striker and he will get his hand raised, likely by decision.
Billy Quarantillo eyes "viral" knockout over "legend" Edson Barboza at UFC Kansas City: "I'm not going in there to milk out a decision"
Cole Shelton - April 11, 2023
Billy Quarantillo is pumped to fight Edson Barboza in the co-main event of UFC Kansas City. After Quarantillo scored a TKO win over Alexander Hernandez back in December, he called out Barboza to be his next opponent. Although the callout garnered a lot of interest from fight fans, he wasn’t sure if the Brazilian veteran would actually accept. But when he found out that the fight was set, he was absolutely pumped.
Brandon Royval expects to "drown" Matheus Nicolau at UFC Kansas City, hopes to serve as backup for flyweight title fight
Cole Shelton - April 11, 2023
Brandon Royval was confident he would be fighting Matheus Nicolau next. After Royval was cleared from his hand injury, he called out both Nicolau and Kai Kara-France as he wanted a top-five opponent. But, once Kara-France told him he was still injured, he turned all of his focus to Nicolau.
UFC 287 | Pro fighters make their picks for Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal
Cole Shelton - April 6, 2023
In the co-main event of UFC 287, an intriguing welterweight scrap goes down as Gilbert Burns takes on Jorge Masvidal. Heading into the fight, Burns is a sizeable -530 favorite while ‘Gamebred’ is a +360 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. To no surprise, the pros believe Burns will get it done by using his wrestling and grappling, but some think Masvidal will be able to get the KO win.
Adrian Yanez hopes to secure Sean O'Malley fight after "starching" Rob Font at UFC 287
Cole Shelton - April 5, 2023
Adrian Yanez is ready to show the mainstream just how good he is. Yanez is set to make his pay-per-view debut on Saturday in the featured fight right before the main and co-main events. It’s a massive opportunity as he will also be facing the sixth-ranked bantamweight in Rob Font who is someone Yanez knows likes to bring the fight.
UFC 287 | Pro fighters make their picks for Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - April 5, 2023
In the main event of UFC 287, the middleweight title is up for grabs as Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya have their rematch in MMA. Heading into the fight, Pereira is a +114 underdog while the challenger is a -146 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros have a slight lean towards Adesanya getting the belt back but many think Pereira’s power will be too much for the former champ.
Rob Font plans to "mix it up" and submit Adrian Yanez at UFC 287 to silence his doubters: "I want to get him down and get him out of there"
Cole Shelton - April 4, 2023
Rob Font is excited to remind everyone just how good he is at UFC 287. Font will be making his return to the Octagon for the first time in a year after losing a decision to Marlon Vera. The 35-year-old knew he needed to take some time off absorbing a lot of damage in back-to-back fights with ‘Chito’ and Jose Aldo.
Daniel Pineda says he will retire from MMA "unless the money is right" after fighting out deal at UFC San Antonio
Cole Shelton - March 31, 2023
Daniel Pineda expected his fight at UFC San Antonio against Tucker Lutz to be his last. Pineda was fighting out his UFC contract last weekend and at 37 years old, he thought retirement was the likely move after the bout. Yet, in the fight, Pineda says it was the best he has felt in quite some time and put on a great performance as he submitted Lutz as a sizeable underdog.
Maycee Barber says the people who thought she lost at UFC San Antonio are "uneducated," remains focused on getting rematch with Alexa Grasso
Cole Shelton - March 31, 2023
Maycee Barber thinks it was clear that she beat Andrea Lee at UFC San Antonio. In the fight, Lee got timely takedowns and controlled Barber, but she didn’t land many strikes from the top. Instead, it was Barber landing elbows and creating damage from the bottom, which ‘The Future’ knows is one of the main credentials for how judges score fights.
Brendan Loughnane expecting "a high-level technical kickboxing match" against Marlon Moraes at PFL 1: "My pressure will be too much for him"
Cole Shelton - March 30, 2023
Brendan Loughnane was excited when he found out he would be fighting Marlon Moraes in the 2023 PFL season opener. Loughnane is the reigning PFL featherweight champion and is back for season 2023 as he looks to repeat as champion. When Loughnane won the title last year, he said it was surreal as years of hard work had finally paid off.
Marlon Moraes expects to finish Brendan Loughnane at PFL 1 and prove he's still "one of the best in the world"
Cole Shelton - March 29, 2023
Marlon Moraes still believes he can be a world champion. After Moraes lost his fourth fight in a row to Song Yadong, he announced his retirement from MMA. Yet, not even a year later, he unretired and signed with PFL to face Sheymon Moraes last November where he ultimately suffered a third-round knockout loss.
Jack Shore "really happy" with his UFC 286 submission win over Makwan Amirkhani, eyes return at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi
Cole Shelton - March 24, 2023
Jack Shore knew he had a ton of pressure on him heading into his fight at UFC 286. Shore was moving up to featherweight after suffering his first career loss to Ricky Simon at bantamweight. After that loss and a knee injury, Shore decided the time was right to make the move to featherweight.
Austin Lingo expecting a "firefight" against Nate Landwehr at UFC San Antonio: "It will be a great striking fight"
Cole Shelton - March 23, 2023
Austin Lingo wasn’t sure when he was going to fight again. After Lingo got injured in 2022 and had to pull out of two fights, he was booked to face Ricardo Ramos at UFC Las Vegas on March 11. Yet, on weigh-in day, Ramos missed weight by eight pounds and the fight was scrapped which was frustrating for Lingo.