Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Alexander Hernandez plans to return to featherweight after win over Jim Miller, says he needed to figure out "why" he was fighting
Cole Shelton - February 24, 2023
Alexander Hernandez had to figure out why he was fighting. Hernandez broke into the UFC with an upset KO win over Beneil Dariush on short-notice. After the win, Hernandez was thrown into the deep end and has since had many ups and downs. Yet, after losing two in a row in 2022, he said he needed self-redemption, so he decided to step up on short notice to face Jim Miller at UFC Vegas 69.
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.
Jasmine Jasudavicius hopes to rebook Cortney Casey fight after UFC Vegas 70, focused on just beating Gabriella Fernandes not a 50k bonus
Cole Shelton - February 23, 2023
Jasmine Jasudavicius was disappointed when Cortney Casey withdrew from their UFC Vegas 70 fight. Jasudavicius was set to face Casey this Saturday, but the veteran was forced to withdraw from the contest and was replaced by UFC newcomer Gabriella Fernandes. The news though was disappointing as the Canadian was eager to fight a well-known veteran.
Austin Trout responds to Diego Sanchez claims he cheated, eyes BKFC title shot: "I went and looked into BKFC's rules on vaseline and there is nothing"
Cole Shelton - February 23, 2023
Austin Trout wasn’t too surprised by how easily he was able to defeat Diego Sanchez at KnuckleMania 3. Trout is the former WBA super middleweight boxing champion and is currently a fight or two away from fighting for the belt again. Yet, he surprised many when he signed with BKFC and made his debut against Diego Sanchez at KnuckleMania 3.
Jordan Leavitt expects to "surprise a lot of people" at UFC Vegas 70 against Victor Martinez: "I think this fight will be a little bit more gritty than I would prefer"
Cole Shelton - February 22, 2023
Jordan Leavitt thought he would be fighting a lot sooner. Leavitt last competed back in July at UFC London as he took on Paddy Pimblett. It was a big opportunity for Leavitt but he suffered a submission loss. Yet, even though he lost, he says he learned a lot from that fight.
Tyron Woodley blasts KSI for ducking him after signing a contract to box the YouTuber: "You are not a real fighter"
Cole Shelton - February 22, 2023
Tyron Woodley believes YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI never truly wanted to box him but was using his name for clout. After Woodley lost back-to-back fights to Jake Paul, Paul mentioned Woodley as a possible opponent for his rival, KSI. The two sides then began negotiating a deal and Woodley says he signed a deal to box KSI but the YouTuber declined and decided to fight Dillon Danis instead.
Alan Belcher expects to KO Arnold Adams "early" to win BKFC heavyweight title, believes Ben Rothwell could be his first title defense
Cole Shelton - February 22, 2023
Alan Belcher is confident he will become the BKFC heavyweight champion on Friday in Louisiana at BKFC 36. Belcher is set to take on Arnold Adams for the heavyweight title in an intriguing matchup. Since signing with BKFC, Belcher is 3-0 and coming off a first-round knockout win over Frank Tate. After the win, he thought a title shot would be next, but was okay if he had to fight again.
Tyron Woodley not ruling out a return to UFC as free agency continues: "I don't get my feelings hurt in business"
Cole Shelton - February 21, 2023
Tyron Woodley isn’t ruling out fighting in the UFC again. Woodley is the former UFC welterweight champion and fought in the promotion from 2013 to 2021. He went 9-6-1 in the Octagon and defended his title three times. However, after having some disputes with Dana White and losing four straight fights, he was ultimately released from the UFC.
John Dodson says it's "embarassing" Reggie Barnett Jr. turned him down at KnuckleMania 3, vows to KO him in the first round to win BKFC flyweight title
Cole Shelton - February 20, 2023
John Dodson was supposed to be fighting for the inaugural BKFC flyweight title at KnuckleMania 3. Dodson was offered to face Reggie Barnett Jr. at KnuckleMania 3 – who is the current interim bantamweight champ – but Dodson says Barnett Jr. turned him down. With that, Jarod Grant took the fight in what BKFC billed as a number-one contender bout. The fight ended up not lasting long as Dodson made quick work scoring a first-round knockout.
Blake Bilder pleased with upset win over Shane Young at UFC 284, hopes to be active in 2023: "This is a race to the belt"
Cole Shelton - February 17, 2023
Blake Bilder knew going to Australia to fight Shane Young at UFC 284 would pose some problems. Bilder was making his debut against Young who hails from New Zealand and is used to the time zone and didn’t have a long flight. Along with that, with what time the card was on in Australia, it meant fighters not having the usual time to rehydrate as well as an early wake-up call to fight.
After overcoming "the fear of losing" Evan Elder expects UFC Vegas 69 fight against Nazim Sadykhov to be a "three-round drag-out war"
Cole Shelton - February 16, 2023
Evan Elder had a sense of relief when he lost to Preston Parsons in his UFC debut last April. Elder stepped up on short notice and moved up to welterweight to face Parsons and dropped a decision. It was his first career loss, and although he would’ve liked to remain undefeated, Elder says the loss has actually helped him quite a bit.
Zac Pauga plans to "test" Jordan Wright's cardio at UFC Vegas 69, expects to "redeem" himself after KO loss: "He's a super dangerous fighter"
Cole Shelton - February 15, 2023
Zac Pauga wasn’t sure if he would get to make his UFC debut. Pauga competed on TUF 30 and lost in the finale by KO to Mohammed Usman. Although before the fight, Pauga signed a contract should he win or lose the contest, he still wasn’t guaranteed to get a UFC bout.
John Dodson expects to "break" Jarod Grant in the first round at KnuckleMania 3, plans to be BKFC and RIZIN champ by end of 2023
Cole Shelton - February 15, 2023
John Dodson was excited when he got the call to be on KnuckleMania 3. Dodson returned to MMA on New Year’s Eve and scored a first-round TKO at RIZIN 40 as the former UFC title challenger inked a multi-fight deal with the promotion. Although he is signed with RIZIN, Dodson remains on the BKFC roster and wanted to be part of KnuckleMania 3, and he got his wish.
Austin Trout plans to be a champion in boxing and BKFC, vows to KO Diego Sanchez at KnuckleMania 3: "Shoutout to him for signing up to take this ass-whooping"
Cole Shelton - February 14, 2023
Austin Trout surprised many when he signed with BKFC. Trout is the former WBA light middleweight champion and still a top-five contender and many expected him to try and get a title shot this year. The former champ has fought the likes of Canelo Alvarez and the Charlo twins, but he wanted to be more active so inked a deal with BKFC.
Diego Sanchez sends warning to Austin Trout ahead of KnuckleMania 3: "You are not who you think you are and you are in for a rude awakening"
Cole Shelton - February 14, 2023
Diego Sanchez believes Austin Trout is overlooking him. Sanchez is set to make his BKFC debut at KnuckleMania 3 against Trout who is the former WBA light middleweight champion. The pro boxer has fought the likes of Canelo Alvarez and the Charlo twins. Given Trout is a big name in boxing, Sanchez was excited when he got the call to fight him as he wanted the biggest name possible for his debut.
Adam Fugitt knew he'd be able to finish Yusaku Kinoshita on the ground: "Kind of like a chess player, I switch up my strategy"
Cole Shelton - February 10, 2023
Adam Fugitt was confident he’d pull off the upset and finish Yusaku Kinoshita at UFC Vegas 68. Fugitt was set for his second UFC fight against Kinoshita and was a sizeable underdog. Many were thinking the Japanese fighter would run through him and get the stoppage win. However, in the first round, Fugitt got Kinoshita down and got a TKO win.
Don Shainis knows he can't leave it up to the judges against local fighter Jack Jenkins at UFC 284: "I know deep down if it is a close decision it probably isn't going my way"
Cole Shelton - February 9, 2023
Don Shainis knows he has to finish Jack Jenkins at UFC 284 if he is going to win. Shainis made his UFC debut last October on short notice and was submitted in 30 seconds against Sodiq Yusuff. Although the fight didn’t go his way, he already had his eye on Jenkins as he watched the Contender Series live the week of his fight and saw Jenkins get a win.