Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Chris Curtis wants main event fight against Dricus Du Plesiss or Gastelum-Imavov winner after KO win over Joaquin Buckley at UFC 282
Cole Shelton - December 16, 2022
Chris Curtis figured he would have to be the aggressor against Joaquin Buckley at UFC 282. When the fight was offered, Curtis was surprised as he didn’t understand why Buckley even called him out. But, once he started training camp, he says the plan was to be the aggressor and force Buckley to be active and likely gas out later in the fight.
Billy Quarantillo says he knew he would break Alexander Hernandez at UFC 282, wants Edson Barboza next
Cole Shelton - December 16, 2022
Billy Quarantillo was expecting a dog fight when he fought Alexander Hernandez at UFC 282 and that is exactly what he got. When Quarantillo got the call to face Hernandez, he was surprised Alexander was dropping down to featherweight. Yet, after studying him, Quarantillo knew the first round would be tough, which is exactly what happened.
Journey Newson expects a "high-pace" fight against Sergey Morozov but believes he will KO him: "I can easily KO this guy, honestly"
Cole Shelton - December 15, 2022
Journey Newson wanted to get one more fight this year and he has gotten his wish. Newson ended his layoff in May at UFC 274 as he beat Fernie Garcia by decision. After the win, the plan was to fight at the end of the year and he will return at UFC Vegas 66 against Sergey Morozov.
Saidyokub Kakhramonov believes he will "make it look easy" against Said Nurmagomedov, vows to fight for the belt by the end of 2023
Cole Shelton - December 15, 2022
Saidyokub Kakhramonov is confident he will beat Said Nurmagomedov with ease. Kakhramonov is set to return to the Octagon at UFC Vegas 66 against Nurmagomedov as the 27-year-old wanted to fight one more time this year. He improved to 2-0 in the UFC back in July with a decision win over Ronnie Lawrence. Now, he will fight on the final card of the year against Nurmagomedov.
Pro fighters make their picks for Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland
Cole Shelton - December 14, 2022
In the main event of UFC Vegas 66 on Saturday, a middleweight bout headlines the card as Jared Cannonier takes on Sean Strickland. Heading into the fight, the oddsmakers have it as a pick’em as Cannonier is -111 while the comeback on Strickland is -115 on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros believe Cannonier will get his hand raised, with some even expecting the fight to end by KO.
Cody Brundage believes Michal Oleksiejczuk has holes in his game that he will "exploit" at UFC Vegas 66: "I think I can get him out of there"
Cole Shelton - December 13, 2022
Cody Brundage is excited to fight one more time in 2022. Brundage was supposed to face Rodolfo Vieira in November but the Brazilian pulled out on fight week. The news was disappointing for Brundage as no replacement opponent was found – despite him being offered one.
Julian Erosa believes Alex Caceres won't be able to keep up with his pressure, plans to "break him in the third round" at UFC Vegas 66
Cole Shelton - December 13, 2022
Julian Erosa has gotten his wish for the third straight fight. After Erosa beat Charles Jourdain, he called out Steven Peterson and got that fight and won a decision. He then called out Hakeem Dawodu – and once again got his wish. Then, after his win over Dawodu, he called out Alex Caceres who he will fight at UFC Vegas 66.
Sean Strickland can beat Jared Cannonier "pretty easily" at UFC Vegas 66 if he fights smart, says teammate: "He should do well in this if he fights with his head and not his pride"
Cole Shelton - December 12, 2022
Chris Curtis believes Sean Strickland should beat Jared Cannonier with ease in the main event of UFC Vegas 66 on Saturday. Strickland and Cannonier were supposed to fight in October but the bout was rescheduled due to Strickland’s finger being infected. Although the two have more time to prepare for one another, Curtis and everyone at Xtreme Couture after confident Strickland will get his hand raised if he fights smart. Yet, that is the big question of if he will fight smart.
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.
UFC 282 | Pro fighters make their picks for Paddy Pimblett vs. Jared Gordon
Cole Shelton - December 8, 2022
In the co-main event of UFC 282, a lightweight scrap goes down as Paddy Pimblett makes his pay-per-view debut against Jared Gordon. Heading into the fight, Pimblett is a -250 favorite while the American is a +190 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros believe Pimblett’s hype is real and will likely get a stoppage win here and continue his rise and improve to 4-0 in the UFC.
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.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik plans to come out "guns blazing" against Chris Daukaus to get a KO win at UFC 282: "You can train everything but your chin"
Cole Shelton - December 6, 2022
Jairzinho Rozenstruik has a ton of confidence heading into his UFC 282 fight against Chris Daukaus. Although Rozenstruik is on a two-fight losing skid, he still knows he is a top heavyweight in the promotion. Yet, after the losses, he wasn’t sure who would be next but was excited when he was offered to face Daukaus.
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.