Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Jonathan Pearce eyes Giga Chikadze or Dan Ige next after win over Darren Elkins: "I know there is not a guy in this division that can beat me"
Cole Shelton - December 10, 2022
Jonathan Pearce knew it would be hard to finish Darren Elkins, but is happy with his performance. Pearce was looking to improve to 5-0 at featherweight at UFC Orlando and was taking on Elkins. He had a ton of confidence heading into the scrap and he believes he showcased all his skills and showed how good he is.
Eryk Anders believes TKO win over Kyle Daukaus was one of "the best performances” he’s had in the UFC
Cole Shelton - December 9, 2022
Eryk Anders couldn’t be happier with his UFC Orlando TKO win over Kyle Daukaus. Anders entered the fight on a two-fight losing skid and knew he was probably fighting for his job. The pressure was on him but he lived up to it as he scored a second-round TKO in a one-sided fight.
Jay Perrin sends a wanrning to Raul Rosas Jr., confident he'll "clean this guy up" at UFC 282: "I'm a dog brother and you have never been in a dog fight"
Cole Shelton - December 8, 2022
Jay Perrin is ready to shock the world. Perrin’s first two UFC fights have not gone his way as he lost to Mario Bautista on short notice. He then dropped a very close decision to Aoriqileng at UFC 278. Yet, those losses have given him the chance to fight 18-year-old Raul Rosas Jr. at UFC 282 which Perrin is excited about.
Billy Quarantillo expects to "break" Alexander Hernandez at UFC 282: "I'm trying to drag it into deep waters and make it a grimy, grueling fight"
Cole Shelton - December 8, 2022
Billy Quarantillo was surprised when he got the call to face Alexander Hernandez at UFC 282. After Quarantillo lost to Shane Burgos at UFC 268 last year, he wasn’t sure what would be next for him. He was then supposed to face Bill Algeo at UFC Long Island. However, Quarantillo had to pull out due to an injury which was heartbreaking for him.
Danny Sabatello plans to "expose" and "dominate" Raufeon Stots at Bellator 289 to win interim belt: “I'm more than pumped to go f**k this guy up”
Cole Shelton - December 7, 2022
Danny Sabatello is happy he can finally share the cage with Raufeon Stots. Sabatello and Stots are set to headline Bellator 289 in a semi-final matchup of the grand prix. The fight is also for the interim bantamweight title – as Stots looks to defend it for the first time. It’s also a fight Sabatello has wanted for quite some time and is excited it’s finally happening.
Chris Curtis wants the "Fight of the Year" in a "bloody war" against Joaqun Buckley at UFC 282: "If all goes well, we both leave the cage on stretchers"
Cole Shelton - December 7, 2022
Chris Curtis has high expectations for his UFC 282 fight against Joaquin Buckley. Curtis is set to face Buckley on the prelims of UFC 282 in a fight that did catch him by surprise. Before Buckley’s last fight, he called out Curtis which was surprising but after they both lost, Curtis wanted to make the fight happen.
UFC 282 | Pro fighters make their picks for Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev title fight
Cole Shelton - December 7, 2022
In the main event of UFC 282, the vacant light heavyweight title is up for grabs as Jan Blachowicz takes on Magomed Ankalaev. Heading into the fight, Blachowicz is a +200 underdog while the Russian is a -265 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros believe Ankalaev is the real deal and will become the UFC’s new light heavyweight champion.
Chris Daukaus plans to make it an "MMA fight" against Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC 282: "I do think I'm a bad matchup for him and better in all areas"
Cole Shelton - December 6, 2022
Chris Daukaus wasn’t sure who was going to be next for him. After Daukaus lost back-to-back fights to Derrick Lewis and Curtis Blaydes, he knew he needed to take some time off. After taking several months off, he was booked to face Jairzinho Rozenstruik in October. Yet, the fight got pushed back to UFC 282 which Daukaus is fine with.
Natan Levy expects Genaro Valdez to "gas" at UFC Orlando en route to a stoppage win: "I'm looking forward to being the best fight on the card and getting a bonus"
Cole Shelton - December 1, 2022
Natan Levy is expecting to get a bonus when he faces Genaro Valdez at UFC Orlando. Levy is set to return to the Octagon at UFC Orlando on Saturday. The 31-year-old is coming off a decision win over Mike Breeden back in April but after the fight, he had to have minor surgery on his knee. Yet, the plan was to always return by the end of the year.
Pro fighters make their picks for Stephen Thompson vs. Kevin Holland
Cole Shelton - November 30, 2022
In the main event of UFC Orlando, a welterweight bout headlines the card as Stephen Thompson takes on Kevin Holland. Heading into the fight, Thompson is a +118 underdog while ‘Trailblazer’ is a -150 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros believe it will be a very close and entertaining fight but they give the edge to Thompson due to his experience.
Jonathan Pearce "excited" to face Darren Elkins at UFC Orlando, knows he has to be careful against him: "I have to fight smart and fight perfectly for 15 minutes"
Cole Shelton - November 30, 2022
Jonathan Pearce was pumped when he got the call to fight Darren Elkins at UFC Orlando. After Pearce beat Makwan Amirkhani at UFC London in July he wasn’t sure what was going to be next for him. He thought he could’ve gotten a ranked opponent. But, is excited to face Elkins who is someone he grew up watching.
Kyle Daukaus details injuries he sustained in Roman Dolidze fight, reveals Eryk Anders fight at UFC Orlando is the final one on his contract: "This is do-or-die for me"
Cole Shelton - November 29, 2022
Kyle Daukaus didn’t think he would be fighting again in 2022. Back in June at UFC Austin, Daukaus suffered a first-round KO loss to Roman Dolidze. Daukaus got caught quickly with a knee and the fight was stopped 73 seconds in, which was disappointing for the Philly native.
Houston Alexander "would love to take a crack" at boxing Jake or Logan Paul: "I have a ton of respect for them"
Cole Shelton - November 28, 2022
Houston Alexander is open to taking a boxing fight and has two names in mind. Alexander – who is 50 years old – is coming off another knockout win in BKFC as he is 3-0 in the promotion. The veteran has also competed for the UFC, Bellator, KSW, and many other promotions but he has never had a pro boxing fight.
Brady Hiestand disappointed he didn't finish Fernie Garcia at UFC Vegas 65, hopes for a quick turnaround: "I dominated the entire fight"
Cole Shelton - November 26, 2022
Brady Hiestand is disappointed he didn’t finish Fernie Garcia but is pleased with how dominant it was. Hiestand was set to fight Garcia at UFC Vegas 65 in his first fight after having knee surgery and coming off TUF. It was the longest layoff of his career but it didn’t appear to impact him as Hiestand used his wrestling to control the fight.
Miles Johns admits not having James Krause in his corner was "challenging," explains why he's "not happy" with his win over Vince Morales
Cole Shelton - November 25, 2022
Miles Johns is disappointed with how he fought at UFC Vegas 65. Johns stepped up on short notice to take on Vince Morales in his first fight off suspension and changing camps. With that, he says that impacted him too much, which is why didn’t fight the way he usually does.
Kevin Croom explains why he signed with BKFC, pleased with KO win in his debut: "It is a good way to get paid without fighting world-class athletes"
Cole Shelton - November 24, 2022
Kevin Croom decided to give BKFC a try after he was released from the UFC. After Croom lost three fights in a row in the UFC he was released and then fought on the regional scene and picked up a win. After he returned to the win column in MMA, he signed with BKFC which was an easy decision for him.
Stevie Ray plans to be the first person to finish former training partner Olivier Aubin-Mercier to win the PFL lightweight title: "We have both submitted each other"
Cole Shelton - November 23, 2022
Stevie Ray is happy to shut up the doubters as he fights for the PFL lightweight title. Following Ray’s majority decision win over Michael Johnson, it was reported he retired from MMA. Yet, he then told BJPENN.com that he only retired because the UFC released him and went on to sign with the PFL. Ray then ended his two-and-a-half-year layoff but dropped his debut to Alex Martinez. After losing to Martinez, he submitted Anthony Pettis to earn a playoff spot and beat Pettis once again to advance to the finals.
Larissa Pacheco expects Kayla Harrison to return for 2023 season after she wins PFL title: "I'm going to win and she will not take that"
Cole Shelton - November 23, 2022
Larissa Pacheco believes she is at her best ahead of her PFL Championship fight against Kayla Harrison. Pacheco fought Harrison twice in 2019 in the regular season and for the inaugural PFL women’s lightweight title with Harrison winning both by decision. Since then, Pacheco believes she is a true lightweight now and has only improved since their first two fights.