Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Thiago Santos expecting "fireworks" against Rob Wilkinson at PFL 1 but confident he will finish him: "I can finish anyone, so it's what I'm going to do"
Cole Shelton - March 28, 2023
Thiago Santos is set to make his PFL debut on Saturday against the reigning champion Rob Wilkinson. Santos asked for his UFC release and was granted it so he could sign with the PFL. The news caught many by surprise but at 39 years old, the Brazilian said he wanted a new challenge given he doesn’t have much time left.
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.
Daniel Pineda frustrated he was suspended for taking Adderall, vows to finish Tucker Lutz on final fight of his deal at UFC San Antonio
Cole Shelton - March 23, 2023
Daniel Pineda doesn’t understand why he was suspended for taking Adderall which was prescribed by his doctor. After Pineda fought Andre Fili at UFC Vegas 30 in June of 2021, he was notified he was flagged for a positive drug test and would be suspended. Yet, Pineda wasn’t sure why he was getting suspended as he told the commission that he took Adderall which is prescribed to him, and the commission didn’t say anything about it.
Steven Peterson explains why he didn't want to fight in Texas, vows to finish Lucas Alexander in the first round at UFC San Antonio
Cole Shelton - March 21, 2023
Steven Peterson didn’t think he would ever fight in Texas again. After Peterson had a controversial decision loss to Alex Caceres in San Antonio in 2019, he vowed he would never fight in his home state of Texas again. The Fortis MMA fighter felt as if he was robbed by the commission but after not fighting since February of last year, he took an offer to fight in Texas because he wanted to be active.
Mario Bautista wants "firefight" with Cody Garbrandt after submission win over Guido Cannetti: "I think I could bring his wild style out"
Cole Shelton - March 17, 2023
Mario Bautista knew he would be able to finish Guido Cannetti early at UFC Las Vegas. After Bautista submitted Benito Lopez in the first round, he wasn’t sure what would be next for him but was surprised when he was offered Cannetti. Although it wasn’t the fight he was hoping for, Bautista knew he had to make a statement and finish Cannetti early.
Chris Duncan plans to "throw down" with Omar Morales at UFC 286 to earn 50k bonus and prove he's "one of the most exciting fighters"
Cole Shelton - March 16, 2023
Chris Duncan wants to be known as an exciting fighter. Duncan is set to make his UFC debut at UFC 286 against Omar Morales. He is coming off a wild Contender Series fight that saw him get an incredible comeback KO. After that, he was booked to face Michal Figlak, but his scheduled foe pulled out and it took some time for him to get a replacement opponent for Saturday’s event in London.
UFC 286 | Pro fighters make their picks for Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev
Cole Shelton - March 16, 2023
In the co-main event of UFC 286, a banger of a lightweight bout takes place as Justin Gaethje takes on Rafael Fiziev. Heading into the fight, Gaethje is a +190 underdog while Fiziev is a -225 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros slightly lean towards the underdog in Gaethje getting his hand raised. But, all the fighters are expecting it to be a very entertaining scrap for however long it lasts.
UFC 286 | Pro fighters make their picks for Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman 3 title fight
Cole Shelton - March 15, 2023
In the main event of UFC 286, the welterweight title is up for grabs as Leon Edwards is defending his welterweight title for the first time in the trilogy match against Kamaru Usman. Heading into the fight, Edwards is a +196 underdog while the challenger is a sizeable -260 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The majority of the pros expect Usman to have a wrestling-heavy game plan to get his hand raised and reclaim his welterweight title.
Vitor Belfort reveals he was orignally supposed to box Roy Jones Jr. at Gamebred Boxing 4, vows to KO Jacare Souza: "When I come to the ring, I come to knock people out"
Cole Shelton - March 14, 2023
Vitor Belfort was hoping to box Roy Jones Jr. at Gamebred Boxing 4. When Belfort was first offered to box on the card, the Brazilian says he was going to headline the card against Jones Jr. in a massive fight for both men. Yet, the former UFC light heavyweight champion revealed Jones Jr. turned him down as he wanted an easier matchup.
Pro fighters make their picks for Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili
Cole Shelton - March 9, 2023
In the main event of UFC Las Vegas, Petr Yan is looking to snap his two-fight losing skid as he takes on Merab Dvalishvili. Heading into the fight, Yan is a -290 favorite while the Georgian is a +215 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros slightly lean towards Yan getting it done, and possibly by stoppage.
Tyson Nam expecting "a car accident right from the get-go" against Bruno Silva at UFC Las Vegas: "We will see whose right-hand lands first"
Cole Shelton - March 8, 2023
Tyson Nam is excited about his UFC Las Vegas matchup against Bruno Silva as he knows it is will be a fun one. After Nam knocked out Ode Osbourne in August, the hope was to return in January against David Dvorak but that didn’t come to fruition. Instead, he was booked to face Silva at UFC Las Vegas on March 11 which he’s excited about.
Mario Bautista "surprised" to be fighting Guido Cannetti, vows to finish him and prove he belongs "at the top"
Cole Shelton - March 7, 2023
Mario Bautista was surprised when he was offered to face Guido Cannetti on March 11 at UFC Las Vegas. Bautista extended his current win streak to three last time out with a first-round submission win over Benito Lopez. After the win, he thought he could get someone ranked but was offered Cannetti which was surprising.
Davey Grant eyes KO win over Raphael Assuncao at UFC Las Vegas to earn a spot in the rankings: "I'm here for exciting fights"
Cole Shelton - March 7, 2023
Davey Grant thought he would’ve been fighting a lot sooner. After Grant scored a third-round KO win over Louis Smolka last May, he thought he would get at least another two fights in 2022. Yet, for whatever reason, Grant did not get another fight offer until he was called to step in on short notice against Raphael Assuncao at UFC Las Vegas.
Bruce Buffer admits Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler coaching TUF will make him a viewer again: "It's going to be exciting"
Cole Shelton - March 3, 2023
Bruce Buffer was ecstatic when he heard that Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler would be the coaches of TUF 31. McGregor and Chandler are set to coach TUF 31 and fight later this year in a massive fight for the sport. It will also bring new eyeballs to TUF, including Buffer who admits he hasn’t watched TUF in a bit but will be tuned into every episode to see what happens.
David Kozma aims to regain his OKTAGON MMA welterweight strap in the Tipsport Gamechanger tournament
Zain Bando - March 2, 2023
David Kozma aims to regain his OKTAGON MMA welterweight strap starting Saturday night, as he will be competing in the Tipsport Gamechanger tournament on March 4. The 30-12 Czech Republican is looking to bounce back from his one-thousand-plus day reign as champion, as he’ll take on Łukasz Siwiec (8-1) in his first bout of 2023. Ahead of his fight, BJPenn.com‘s Zain Bando spoke with “Pink Panther” about his future goals and a potential dream fight later in his career.
UFC 285 | Pro fighters make their picks for Valentina Shevchenko vs. Alexa Grasso title fight
Cole Shelton - March 2, 2023
In the co-main event of UFC 285, the women’s flyweight title is up for grabs as Valentina Shevchenko takes on Alexa Grasso. Heading into the fight, Shevchenko is a massive -850 favorite while the Mexican is a +500 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. Unsurprisingly, the pros are unanimous in thinking Shevchenko will continue to reign over the division with another title defense.
Bruce Buffer explains what happened when the New York State Athletic Commission was changing the scorecard in the Octagon at UFC 281: "That is probably a mistake on their part"
Cole Shelton - March 1, 2023
Bruce Buffer didn’t know what to think when the New York State Athletic Commission was changing the scorecard in the Octagon at UFC 281. Before the scorecard between Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Silvana Gomez Juarez was read, the commission came into the Octagon to change the score in front of everybody. According to Buffer, he says he couldn’t read the score so told the commission to write it better, but instead of writing it in private, they changed it while inside the Octagon cage.