Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Vince Morales excited for Miles Johns fight, plans to "do something spectacular" at UFC Vegas 65: "We will both meet in the middle and find right hands"
Cole Shelton - November 16, 2022
Vince Morales was happy when Miles Johns stepped up on short notice to fight him. Morales was supposed to face Jose Johnson, which is a fight Morales didn’t want. He and Johnson have trained in the past and have become close which also includes them playing video games with one another. So, when he pulled out and Johns replaced him at UFC Vegas 65, Morales was excited.
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.
Grant Dawson reveals he nearly pulled out of Mark Madsen fight, says he plans to fight Tony Ferguson and Dan Hooker in 2023
Cole Shelton - November 14, 2022
Grant Dawson is quite happy with his third-round submission win over Mark Madsen – especially with everything he overcame. Dawson took the fight on short notice as he knew it was a fight that would likely get him in the rankings. Yet, on weigh-in day, Dawson came in heavy which he isn’t making excuses for. Instead, he turned his attention to the fight and put on a great performance.
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.
UFC 281 | Pro fighters make their picks for Carla Esparza vs. Zhang Weili title fight
Cole Shelton - November 10, 2022
In the co-main event of UFC 281, the strawweight title is on the line as Carla Esparza looks to defend her belt for the first time as she takes on Zhang Weili. Heading into the fight, Esparza is a +285 underdog while the challenger is a massive -400 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro-fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros expect Weili to reclaim her strawweight title and even some expect her to finish Esparza.
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.
Chris Gutierrez says "the fans are going to be in for a good fight" when he faces Frankie Edgar at UFC 281: "I'm always trying to get the finish"
Cole Shelton - November 9, 2022
Chris Gutierrez is honored to be Frankie Edgar’s retirement fight at UFC 281. Edgar is making the walk to the Octagon for the final time against Gutierrez at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. It’s a big moment for Edgar but is also a big moment for Gutierrez who finally gets the chance to fight a big name he has wanted.
Renato Moicano says he has no game plan for Brad Riddell, but plans to "put on a show" at UFC 281 to earn a fight with Tony Ferguson or Dan Hooker next: "I'm going to call out names"
Cole Shelton - November 8, 2022
Renato Moicano was hoping to fight Brad Riddell after his short-notice loss to Rafael dos Anjos back in March. After Moicano submitted Alexander Hernandez at UFC 271, he stepped up on just days’ notice on the next pay-per-view to face dos Anjos. The fight did not go his way but he showed a ton of heart and after the loss, he called for a scrap with Riddell.
Frankie Edgar says he'll have "goosebumps" when he walks out for final time, expects to wrestle Chris Gutierrez often at UFC 281: "It's no secret I always look for takedowns"
Cole Shelton - November 8, 2022
Frankie Edgar knew he wanted his retirement fight to happen at UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden. Edgar last fought back at UFC 268 in November last year at MSG against Marlon Vera. He had success early on but in the third round, he suffered a KO loss. After the defeat, Edgar took some time off and this summer, he realized he wanted to fight one more time and wanted it at MSG.
Johnny Munoz Jr. plans to submit Liudvik Sholinian on last fight of deal to earn a new UFC contract
Cole Shelton - November 4, 2022
Johnny Munoz Jr. knows there is pressure on him as he’s fighting out his UFC contract on Saturday at UFC Vegas 64. Munoz Jr. is 1-2 in the UFC and coming off a first-round TKO loss to Tony Gravely back in June. Following that, he wasn’t sure what would be next for him but when he got the call to face Sholinian he was excited as he knows a ton about him.
Mario Bautista reveales he was supposed to fight Benito Lopez as an amateur, expects to get a stoppage win: "There are some big holes in his game"
Cole Shelton - November 3, 2022
Mario Bautista was ecstatic when he got the call to fight Benito Lopez. After Bautista submitted Brian Kelleher back in June he wasn’t sure what would be next. Yet, when he got the call to face Lopez it did surprise him as Benito hasn’t fought since 2019. However, Bautista was excited about the matchup given the two were supposed to fight as amateurs in 2013.
Chase Sherman asked the UFC for Josh Parisian fight, says if he doesn't get a "highlight-reel finish" he'll be "slightly disappointed"
Cole Shelton - November 2, 2022
Chase Sherman wanted Josh Parisian next and approached the UFC with the matchup. After Sherman scored a third-round TKO over Jared Vanderaa he wasn’t sure what would be next. But, after going on social media he saw many mention a fight against Parisian made sense. He then talked to his coaches who also liked the matchup, so he pitched the fight to Mick Maynard who made it happen as the two will meet at UFC Vegas 64.
Grant Dawson reveals six fighters turned him down before taking short notice bout against Mark Madsen, vows to finish him and get ranked
Cole Shelton - November 1, 2022
Grant Dawson has had a hard time getting a fight. Dawson hasn’t fought since April when he submitted Jared Gordon. Since then, he revealed he was offered six opponents with some of the names being Dan Hooker, Rafael dos Anjos, Damir Ismagulov, and Gregor Gillespie, but all six turned him down. Although some got different fights, Dawson says it is frustrating waiting on the sidelines.