Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Damon Jackson wouldn't be surprised if him and Pat Sabatini "slug it out" at UFC Vegas 60: "This fight is going to be a test for both of us"
Cole Shelton - September 13, 2022
Damon Jackson thought he could’ve gotten a top-15 opponent next but is excited to face Pat Sabatini at UFC Vegas 60. Jackson is on a three-fight winning streak and after his last fight, he called for a ranked opponent or Cub Swanson, who ultimately dropped down to bantamweight. With that, he got a call to face Sabatini, who Jackson admits is very similar to him.
Daniel Rodriguez details hectic UFC 279 fight week, uncertain if Kevin Holland fight happens next: "I just said f**k it, I'm going to fight on Saturday"
Cole Shelton - September 13, 2022
Daniel Rodriguez says UFC 279 will go down as the most hectic and strange fight week in his career. Rodriguez was supposed to face Kevin Holland at a 180lbs catchweight bout, which is a fight that was years in the making. However, after Khamzat Chimaev missed weight badly, the UFC scrambled to change opponents, and right away the promotion wanted to make Chimaev-Holland. Although it was a big fight, Rodriguez says Holland messaged him to say he won’t take the fight unless the UFC takes care of him.
UFC 279 | Pro fighters make their picks for Nate Diaz vs. Tony Ferguson
Cole Shelton - September 9, 2022
In the new main event of UFC 279, Nate Diaz will take on Tony Ferguson at welterweight. Heading into the fight, Diaz is a +110 underdog while ‘El Cucuy’ is a -130 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority of pros believe Diaz gets it done and many think this will be a much better bout than Diaz-Chiamev was going to be. Many also believe Diaz preparing for five rounds while Ferguson was preparing for three should favor the Stockton, native.
Abus Magomedov "happy" with 19-second front kick KO over Dustin Stoltzfus at UFC Paris: "I know it's a very dangerous kick"
Cole Shelton - September 9, 2022
Abus Magomedov finally made his UFC debut and made quick work of Dustin Stoltzfus at UFC Paris. Magomedov hadn’t fought since December of 2020 in KSW and after that, he was signed to the UFC. He was booked to face Gerald Meerschaert, Aliaskhab Khizriev, and Makhmud Muradov but for different reasons, it never came to fruition. He finally made his debut at UFC Paris nearly two years after his last fight and for Magomedov, he was ready to finally fight again.
UFC 279 | Pro fighters make their picks for Khamzat Chimaev vs. Nate Diaz
Cole Shelton - September 8, 2022
In the main event of UFC 279, a welterweight bout headlines the card as Khamzat Chimaev takes on Nate Diaz, who’s fighting out his UFC contract. Heading into the fight, Chimaev is a massive -1200 favorite while the American is a +700 underdog on FanDuel. Heading into the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority of pros expect Chimaev to get a stoppage win, but they are rooting for Diaz to pull off the upset.
Darian Weeks plans to proves he belongs with stoppage win over Yohan Lainesse at UFC 279: "I'm better in a lot of positions than he is"
Cole Shelton - September 7, 2022
Darian Weeks believes he will finally get his first UFC win when he faces Yohan Lainesse at UFC 279. Weeks is coming off a decision loss to Ian Garry back in April and before that, he suffered a decision loss to Bryan Barberena in a fight he took on a couple of days’ notice. He was then booked to face Cedric Doumbe at UFC Paris, but due to French commission rules the fight was scrapped and he was then quickly re-booked to face Lainesse at UFC 279 a week later.
Chris Barnett expecting a "war" in "the king of the dad bods battle" against Jake Collier at UFC 279: "We are going to strike, we are going to spin"
Cole Shelton - September 7, 2022
Chris Barnett is excited to face Jake Collier at UFC 279 and to fight in front of fans again. Barnett is coming off a decision loss to Martin Buday, however, the entire camp was a hard one as his wife was in the hospital, and 30 hours before the fight he got a call that he had to make a decision about her. Following the loss, she, unfortunately, passed away. With that, Barnett spent the next few months with his kids but now finally feels ready to fight again.
Julian Erosa believes he has to make it a "dirty" and "crazy" fight against Hakeem Dawodu at UFC 279: "I'm a bonus chaser"
Cole Shelton - September 6, 2022
Julian Erosa is expecting a very fun fight at UFC 279 against Hakeem Dawodu. After Erosa beat Steven Peterson back in February, in a ‘Fight of the Night’ performance, he called out Dawodu and Alex Caceres. Erosa wanted a bigger step-up in competition and got his wish as he will face Dawodu this weekend at UFC 279. Although he got the matchup he wanted, Erosa says his return was pushed back a couple of times.
Chris Barnett reveals 30 hours before Martin Buday fight he had to make a decision on his sick wife, thanks Dana White for calling and taking care of him
Cole Shelton - September 5, 2022
Chris Barnett wishes he never fought Martin Buday back in April. Throughout the entire training camp for the Buday fight, his wife was battling encephalitis and unfortunately, she later passed away in May. With his wife in the hospital, Barnett says some days he wouldn’t get any training in, and on fight week, he got a phone call from the hospital that he needed to make a decision which caught him by surprise.
Coach says Ryan Spann is "one of the scariest dudes that gets into the Octagon," expects Dominick Reyes scrap to be "a great fight"
Cole Shelton - September 2, 2022
Fortis MMA head coach Sayif Saud is excited Ryan Spann is getting a massive opportunity as he faces Dominick Reyes at UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden. Reyes will be making his return after suffering a KO loss to Jiri Prochazka in May of 2021, a setback which marked his third defeat in a row. Spann, meanwhile, is coming off a dominating win over Ion Cutelaba and according to Saud, he believes Spann is one of the scariest guys that fights in the UFC.
Sayif Saud explains why Alonzo Menifield was so "pissed off" with "sauced up" Askar Mozharov: "We just kind of blocked it out""
Cole Shelton - September 2, 2022
Alonzo Menifield had one of the more unusual UFC fight weeks in recent memory. Menifield was set to welcome Askar Mozharov to the Octagon back at UFC Vegas 56 in June, in what was expected to be a banger of a fight. However, fight week was an unusual one as Mozahrov had a record of 25-7 but by the time he made the walk to the Octagon his record was 18-13 as he had used fake names and had fights that never took place on his record.
Sayif Saud knew Geoff Neal had to finish Vicente Luque to "make a big statement," hopes Gilbert Burns fight happens
Cole Shelton - September 1, 2022
Fortis MMA head coach Sayif Saud knew Geoff Neal had to not only beat Vicente Luque but had to finish him. Neal and Luque met in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 59 on August 6 in a big fight for both men. Luque was coming off the decision loss to Belal Muhammad, while Neal recently returned to the win column but had a rough couple of years due to health issues which Saud believes are finally solved.
John Dodson "wasn't surprised" with 40-second KO over Ryan Benoit in BKFC debut, hopes for quick turnaround in bare knuckle or MMA
Cole Shelton - August 31, 2022
John Dodson said he was going to KO Ryan Benoit in his BKFC debut and he did just that. In the co-main event of BKFC 28, Dodson scored a 40-second KO win against Benoit and although it was a sub-minute KO, he still was a bit disappointed with it. The only reason why Dodson was disappointed is due to the fact his brother Eric also made his BKFC debut on the card and got a 23-second KO on the prelims.
Pro fighters make their picks for Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa
Cole Shelton - August 31, 2022
In the main event of UFC Paris, a heavyweight bout between top contenders goes down as Ciryl Gane takes on Tai Tuivasa. Heading into the fight, Gane is a massive -530 favorite while the Aussie is a +360 underdog on FanDuel. Heading into the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros slightly lean towards Gane getting it done but some think Tuivasa can keep his streak going with another surprise KO.
Sayif Saud "proud" of Uriah Hall's career and everything he accomplished following his retirement from MMA: "Uriah had a great run"
Cole Shelton - August 30, 2022
Sayif Saud is proud of everything he accomplished coaching Uriah Hall. Hall joined Fortis MMA back in 2019 ahead of his fight with Antonio Carlos Junior. He won that bout and then went on to defeat both Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman. However, Hall went on to suffer a decision loss to Sean Strickland in a main event contest and then lost to Andre Muniz by deicison.
Ciryl Gane says he's fighting "for my country" at UFC Paris, plans to "put on a show" against Tai Tuivasa to get the "finish"
Cole Shelton - August 30, 2022
Ciryl Gane is excited to headline the first UFC event in Paris, France. Gane, who was born and raised in France is excited to fight in front of his family and friends again. The Frenchman hasn’t fought at home since his muay Thai career and he knows the walkout and the moment will be special.
Chris Weidman still training, hoping to return "middle of next year," reveals Stephen Thompson
Cole Shelton - August 26, 2022
Chris Weidman has made it known he will make the walk to the Octagon again. At UFC 261, Weidman broke his leg in a gruesome fashion as just 17 seconds into the fight, he threw a leg kick that Uriah Hall blocked and his leg snapped in half. It was a major injury that resulted in multiple surgeries but Weidman is back in the gym and getting closer to a return.
Stephen Thompson praises Leon Edwards for "perfect technique" to KO Kamaru Usman, but believes 'The Nigerian Nightmare' wins the trilogy
Cole Shelton - August 25, 2022
Stephen Thompson believes Leon Edwards landed the perfect technique to KO Kamaru Usman at UFC 278. Edwards entered the fifth round clearly losing the fight and did not get off to the best start in the final frame. It appeared that Usman would be defending his belt by decision but Edwards landed a clean head kick that KO’d Usman in the final minute which Thompson says was a great technique.