Exclusive MMA Interviews News
50-year-old Houston Alexander ecstatic with TKO win over Joey Beltran at BKFC 33, has no plans of retiring anytime soon: "Even though Father Time is undefeated, it hasn't gotten me yet"
Cole Shelton - November 24, 2022
Houston Alexander improved to 3-0 in BKFC as he scored a second-round KO win over Joey Beltran. Alexander was headlining the event in his adopted hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, and dominated the fight from start to finish. He ended up scoring a second-round TKO over Beltran as he says the fight played out exactly how they thought.
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.
Brendan Loughnane makes it clear Bubba Jenkins won't "stand" with him, confident he'll become the PFL featherweight champion: "I'm a better mixed martial artist"
Cole Shelton - November 22, 2022
Brendan Loughnane is ready to finally say he’s a world champion. Loughnane is set to face Bubba Jenkins for the PFL’s featherweight title in the championship event at the Hulu Theater in New York on Friday. Loughnane defeated Chris Wade to get to the finals, while Jenkins beat Ryoji Kudo by submission.
Vanessa Demopoulos doubts Maria Oliveira will want to go to the ground with her at UFC Vegas 65
Cole Shelton - November 18, 2022
Vanessa Demopoulos was very familiar with Maria Oliveira when she was offered to fight her at UFC Vegas 65. Demopoulos is coming off a split decision win over Jinh Yu Frey and wasn’t sure what was going to be next for her. But, she was adamant she wanted to fight one more time in 2022 which is what happened.
Chris Gutierrez says KO win over Frankie Edgar was "bittersweet," believes he proved he belongs
Cole Shelton - November 18, 2022
Chris Gutierrez says his win over Frankie Edgar was bittersweet for a few reasons. Gutierrez was set for the biggest fight of his career at UFC 281 as he was taking on Frankie Edgar in his retirement fight. It was a big moment for Gutierrez and he delivered as he got a first-round KO. However, he says it was a bittersweet moment as it was hard to see a legend like Edgar end his career that way.
Fernie Garcia says his "back is against the wall" against Brady Hiestand after "dissapointing" UFC debut: "I see a war"
Cole Shelton - November 17, 2022
Fernie Garcia believes the pressure is on him to prove to everyone just how good he is. Garcia lost his UFC debut by decision to Journey Newson back at UFC 274 in May. It was a disappointing performance for Garcia who was frustrated that he didn’t fight like himself.
Brady Hiestand plans to be "the first person to finish" Fernie Garcia at UFC Vegas 65: "It will be a good win on my résumé"
Cole Shelton - November 17, 2022
Brady Hiestand is vieweing his UFC Vegas 65 fight against Fernie Garcia as his official UFC debut. Hiestand is coming off a split-decision loss to Ricky Turcios in August of 2021 in the TUF 29 finale. It was a very close fight and after the loss, Hiestand went under the knife for his knee as he was fighting through an ACL tear.
Pro fighters make their picks for Derrick Lewis vs. Serghei Spivac
Cole Shelton - November 16, 2022
In the main event of UFC Vegas 65, a heavyweight bout headlines the card as Derrick Lewis takes on Serghei Spivac. Heading into the fight, Lewis is a +165 underdog while the Moldovan is a -195 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros believe Lewis will find the KO now that he isn’t fighting in Texas and back at the Apex where he is undefeated.
Miles Johns explains why he left Fortis to train at Glory, hopes for stoppage win over Vince Morales: "I'm trying to be violent when I'm in there"
Cole Shelton - November 15, 2022
Miles Johns made a big change to his career ahead of his UFC Vegas 65 fight against Vince Morales. When Johns makes the walk to the Octagon, he will do so with a new coach as he left Fortis MMA to train under James Krause at Glory. Although the decision was a hard one, Johns said it was needed as he wanted to be closer to family.
Matt Frevola says KO of Ottamn Azaitar was the biggest win of his career, wants to fight Paddy Pimblett in London: "I could finish him anywhere"
Cole Shelton - November 15, 2022
Matt Frevola let the fans decide his game plan for his UFC 281 fight against Ottman Azaitar. After Frevola had weighed-in, he posted a poll on Twitter asking fans if he should wrestle or stand and trade with Azaitar. Of course, the stand and trade option won, which is exactly what Frevola did and led to a first-round KO.
Andre Petroski disappointed he lost his 100 percent finish rate at UFC 281, believes he'd submit Bo Nickal: "I don't think he has that dog in him"
Cole Shelton - November 14, 2022
Andre Petroski remained undefeated in the UFC with a decision victory over Wellington Turman at UFC 281. Andre entered the fight being 3-0 in the UFC with three stoppage wins. The hope for Petroski was to submit Turman and continue to prove he’s the best grappler in the UFC. Although that didn’t happen, Petroski earned a clear-cut decision win, which he’s happy with.
Johnny Munoz Jr. says it's "looking good" that he will re-sign with the UFC after UFC Vegas 64 win over Liudvik Sholinian
Cole Shelton - November 11, 2022
Johnny Munoz Jr. knew he had to beat Liudvik Sholinian at UFC Vegas 64 to keep his job. Munoz Jr. was fighting out his contract and was 1-2 in the UFC so he knew he had to beat the Ukrainian fighter. He ultimately did just that as he scored a dominant decision win, which he’s happy about.
Mario Bautista "super happy" with first-round submission win over Benito Lopez, hopes for a ranked opponent next
Cole Shelton - November 11, 2022
Mario Bautista couldn’t be happier with his win over Benito Lopez at UFC Vegas 64. Bautista was set to face the returning Lopez who hadn’t fought since 2019 and the goal for Bautista was to put him away early. He wanted to prove he is a lot better than Lopez and he did just that as he scored a first-round submission win.
Frankie Edgar reflects on career ahead of retirement fight, reveals the one opponent he wishes he could've fought
Cole Shelton - November 11, 2022
Frankie Edgar will make the walk – rather run – to the Octagon for the final time at UFC 281. Edgar is set to take on Chris Gutierrez on the main card of UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden. It will also be Edgar’s 36th professional fight and 30th in the UFC between three weight classes and also being the former lightweight champ. Yet, he says he still hasn’t truly reflected on how great his career is, but it is something he’s looking forward to doing.
Andre Petroski plans to submit Wellington Turman at UFC 281 to prove he's "the best grappler" at middleweight, blasts Bo Nickal
Cole Shelton - November 11, 2022
Andre Petroski is hoping to prove he is the best grappler in the middleweight division at UFC 281. Petroski is set to face Wellington Turman on the prelims of the stacked card at Madison Square Garden. After Petroski’s first-round submission win over Nick Maximov, he wasn’t sure what would be next but he wanted to fight at MSG. In order to get this fight, he had to make sacrifices. His coaches left for Abu Dhabi to corner Sean Brady, but that didn’t stop Petroski’s training.
UFC 281 | Pro fighters make their picks for Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler
Cole Shelton - November 10, 2022
On the main card of UFC 281, a highly-anticipated lightweight bout goes down as Dustin Poirier takes on Michael Chandler. Heading into the fight, Poirier is a -230 favorite with the former Bellator champ being a +176 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro-fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros expect Poirier to get it done – and likely by finish – in a very fan-friendly fight.
Matt Frevola plans to drag Ottman Azaitar into deep waters to finish him at UFC 281 after 2021 fight cancellation: "I owe that dude an ass beating"
Cole Shelton - November 9, 2022
Matt Frevola couldn’t have picked a better opponent for his return to Madison Square Garden. Frevola is set to take on Ottman Azaitar who is an opponent the ‘Steamrolla’ has wanted to fight for quite some time. The two were booked to face one another at UFC 257 on Fight Island, but after Azaitar snuck a bag and people into the hotel, he was released from the promotion.