Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Davey Grant believes ref standing him and Raphael Assuncao up was fair but understands why his team was mad: "I was just squeezing for dear life"
Cole Shelton - March 15, 2023
Davey Grant knew Raphael Assuncao would be a tough out at UFC Las Vegas but admits it was a harder fight than he thought. Grant knew Assuncao was a good wrestler but the Brit was confident he would have his way on the feet and eventually get the KO. But, after ten minutes that wasn’t the case as Assuncao had won both rounds.
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.
Jonathan Martinez hopeful the judges are not needed for his UFC Las Vegas fight against Said Nurmagomedov: "I'm excited to prove that I should be ranked"
Cole Shelton - March 8, 2023
Jonathan Martinez wasn’t sure who he would be fighting next. Martinez picked up the biggest win of his career last time out as he scored a stoppage victory over Cub Swanson. It was a big win for Martinez who is now set to return at UFC Las Vegas against the 14th-ranked bantamweight in Said Nurmagomedov.
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.
Mana Martinez confident he will be "too quick and too strong" for Cameron Saaiman at UFC 285: "Come March 4, we can call it a derailing of a hype train"
Cole Shelton - March 2, 2023
Mana Martinez was happy when he was offered to fight Cameron Saaiman at UFC 285. When Saaiman won on the Contender Series, Dana White declared him the future of the division. Then, the South African cruised to a stoppage win in his debut and will now take on Martinez at UFC 285 who expects to be too much of a veteran for him.
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.
Bruce Buffer excited to see Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, believes 'Bones' is the "GOAT"
Cole Shelton - March 1, 2023
Bruce Buffer always thought Jon Jones would fight again. After Jones vacated his light heavyweight title after his win over Dominick Reyes in February 2020, he said the plan was to make his heavyweight debut. However, three years went by without him fighting, but Buffer always expected him back.
Jalin Turner expects Mateusz Gamrot to try and wrestle him "a lot more now than he ever has" at UFC 285: "I see myself finishing him"
Cole Shelton - February 28, 2023
Jalin Turner thought he was going to have to fight an unranked opponent at UFC 285. Turner was supposed to take on Dan Hooker but about a month out, the Kiwi was forced to withdraw from the scrap due to a broken hand. After Hooker was forced out, Turner thought he was going to have to fight someone unranked and was surprised when seventh-ranked Mateusz Gamrot stepped up on short notice.
"Pissed off" Geoff Neal expecting an early finish or "a three-round war" against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 285: "I just feel disrespected"
Cole Shelton - February 28, 2023
Geoff Neal doesn’t think he is getting the respect he deserves heading into his UFC 285 fight against Shavkat Rakhmonov. Neal is set to take on Rakhmonov in a big fight for the welterweight division. The two were originally booked to fight back in January, but an injury to Neal forced the fight to be moved to UFC 285. After news of Neal’s withdrawal was made public, he got flooded with comments suggesting that he was scared of Rakhmonov, which he wasn’t happy about.
Bruce Buffer believes he has another 10 years of being the voice of the Octagon, but explains when he knows it will be time to retire
Cole Shelton - February 28, 2023
Bruce Buffer doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon. Buffer first worked for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, at UFC 8 in 1996, and 27 years later, he is still the voice of the Octagon. Although in 1996, the UFC was not as big as it is now, he says he pushed to get the job as he had a feeling the UFC could become the biggest thing in sports.
Tyron Woodley shares what he thinks is the best performance of his career
Cole Shelton - February 27, 2023
Tyron Woodley thinks two fights stand out as the best performances of his career, but one more than the other. Woodley is the former UFC welterweight champion and defended his title three times and had great wins over Darren Till and Robbie Lawler to win the belt. Woodley says those two performances were the best of his career, but he says the win over Till was his best because it was clear the UFC wanted the Brit to win.
Josh Watson doubts Greg Hardy will fight in BKFC again, expects to face Ben Rothwell after KO win
Cole Shelton - February 24, 2023
Josh Watson figured Greg Hardy would overlook him at KnuckleMania 3. Hardy was making his BKFC debut against Watson who was 1-1 in the sans gloves promotion. When Watson was offered Hardy he was surprised, but was excited about the matchup. Yet, he knew he was likely picked because BKFC thought he would lose to Hardy.
Tyron Woodley shares his thoughts on Edwards-Usman 3, questions why he never got an immediate rematch
Cole Shelton - February 24, 2023
Tyron Woodley has noticed a ton of champions get a rematch after they lose their belt and now questions why he didn’t get one. Woodley lost his welterweight title at UFC 235 to Kamaru Usman and after the loss, Usman went on to face Colby Covington. Yet, after Usman lost his title to Leon Edwards, he will now get an immediate rematch on March 18 at UFC 286, in a fight Woodley believes Usman will have success in.