Exclusive MMA Interviews News
UFC 277 | Pro fighters make their picks for Brandon Moreno vs. Kai Kara-France 2 interim title fight
Cole Shelton - July 28, 2022
In the co-main event of UFC 277, Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara-France are set to rematch for the interim flyweight title. Heading into the fight, Moreno is a -235 favorite while the Kiwi is a +180 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros are unanimous in thinking Moreno will win the rematch and become the new interim flyweight champion.
Drakkar Klose knew Diego Ferreira would pull out of UFC 277, vows to "beat up" Rafa Garcia
Cole Shelton - July 27, 2022
Drakkar Klose had a feeling Diego Ferreira wouldn’t be fighting him at UFC 277. When Klose was booked to fight Ferreira, the Brazilian was in the lightweight rankings, despite being on a three-fight losing skid. Yet, he recently got dropped from the rankings and just two weeks from the event, Ferreira pulled out which didn’t surprise Klose.
UFC 277 | Pro fighters make their picks for Julianna Pena vs. Amanda Nunes 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - July 27, 2022
In the main event of UFC 277, Julianna Pena is looking to defend her bantamweight title for the first time as she rematches Amanda Nunes. Heading into the fight, Pena is a +230 underdog while the challenger is a -310 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros actually believe Pena will defend her belt as they think she has Nunes’ number and can outlast the Brazilian to get another finish.
Alex Morono planning to "put on a show" against Matthew Semelsberger at UFC 277: "I'm looking for an entertaining fight"
Cole Shelton - July 26, 2022
Alex Morono is hoping to put on a fan-friendly fight when he competes in his home state of Texas on Saturday at UFC 277. Morono is set to fight for the first time in 2022 as he will take on Matthew Semelsberger. Although it is a later start than what the Fortis MMA product is used to, Morono says this is the perfect time to return after a very active 2020 and 2021 that saw him have six fights.
Jimi Manuwa believes he will end retirement to fight again after watching UFC London: "It gives me more enthusiasm to get up and train and come back"
Cole Shelton - July 25, 2022
Jimi Manuwa believes he will fight again. Manuwa retired from MMA following his KO loss to Aleksandar Rakic at UFC Stockholm in June of 2019. That setback had marked his fourth in a row and prompted ‘The Poster Boy’ to hang up his gloves. However, since announcing his retirement, Jimi has always flirted with the idea of making a comeback.
Jimi Manuwa disagrees with Daniel Cormier, other fighters telling Alexander Gustafsson to retire after UFC London: "I don't think other fighters or fans should be telling fighters to retire"
Cole Shelton - July 25, 2022
Jimi Manuwa doesn’t think anyone should be telling Alexander Gustafsson to retire following UFC London. Gustafsson made his return to the sport and the light heavyweight division on the main card of UFC London as he took on Nikita Krylov. The Swede was on a three-fight losing skid, with all three losses coming by stoppage, and unfortunately for Gustafsson, he suffered another setback on Saturday.
Jimi Manuwa explains why he slapped "disrespectful" Aleksandar Rakic at UFC London: "I had to give him what he deserves for acting like a troll"
Cole Shelton - July 24, 2022
Jimi Manuwa wants to make it clear that he did not sucker-punch Aleksandar Rakic, but slapped him over some comments the Austrian made. Back in June of 2019 at UFC Stockholm, Manuwa and Rakic fought and it was the Austrian who won by head kick KO in just 42-seconds. Since the loss, Manuwa says Rakic has been disrespectful as he has been DM’ing him asking if the Brit needs money given Rakic earned 50k for his KO win.
Dustin Jacoby says Da Un Jung win "was one of the best performances of my career," eyes Volkan Oezdemir next
Cole Shelton - July 22, 2022
Dustin Jacoby was very happy with his UFC Long Island win over Da Un Jung. Jacoby entered the fight knowing it would be a tough test and the pressure was on him given the fact he was defending his spot in the rankings. He knew the fight would be tough but he landed a massive shot that dropped Jung and stopped the fight which Jacoby was pleased with.
Jonathan Pearce confident he'll finish Makwan Amirkhani at UFC London: "He doesn't have the will to win like I do"
Cole Shelton - July 21, 2022
Jonathan Pearce was excited when he got the call about fighting Makwan Amirkhani at UFC London. Pearce is 3-1 in the UFC but is 3-0 at 145lbs after losing to Joe Lauzon in his promotional debut. He will now get another big-name opponent in Amirkhani, who Pearce is excited to fight.
Pro fighters make their picks for Curtis Blaydes vs. Tom Aspinall
Cole Shelton - July 21, 2022
In the main event of UFC London, an intriguing heavyweight clash headlines the card as Curtis Blaydes takes on rising contender Tom Aspinall. Heading into the fight, Blaydes is a +114 underdog while the Brit is a -146 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. Heading into the fight, the pros are slightly leaning towards Aspinall to get the win at home and prove he’s a legit contender.
Charles Rosa excited to go into enemy territory at UFC London against Nathaniel Wood: "I'm smashing this kid's face in"
Cole Shelton - July 20, 2022
Charles Rosa wanted to fight in front of fans in his next fight and he got his wish. Rosa has fought six straight times in front of no fans and after his latest effort, he told his manager and the UFC that he wanted to fight in front of fans again. He ended up getting his wish, as on about five weeks’ notice he got the call to face Nathaniel Wood at UFC London.
Muhammad Mokaev confident he'll submit Charles Johnson after training with him in 2019, vows to become the youngest UFC champion in history: "None of them are special"
Cole Shelton - July 19, 2022
Muhammad Mokaev is excited to return to London and perform in front of his hometown fans again. Mokaev made good of his UFC debut back in March as he submitted Cody Durden in 58-seconds. After the win, Mokaev wanted a quick turnaround but it was hard for him to get an opponent until former LFA flyweight champ Charles Johnson, who he previously trained with, agreed to fight.
Chris Gonzalez plans to bring the fight to Usman Nurmagomedov and make him "uncomfortable" at Bellator 283 to earn a title shot
Cole Shelton - July 18, 2022
Chris Gonzalez always wanted to fight Usman Nurmagomedov ever since both men signed with Bellator. At Bellator 283, Gonzalez is set to face Nurmagomedov in a crucial lightweight scrap and one that Gonzalez has wanted.
David Onama says UFC Vegas 58 fight "wasn't one of my best performances" but believes he put the featherweight division on notice
Cole Shelton - July 15, 2022
David Onama was worried he wasn’t going to fight at UFC Vegas 58. Onama was booked to face Austin Lingo, but his opponent was forced out of the fight due to an injury. After that, Onama says a couple of fighters turned him down before Garrett Armfield – who he fought as an amateur – agreed to take the fight which Onama is grateful for.
Pro fighters make their picks for Brian Ortega vs. Yair Rodriguez
Cole Shelton - July 14, 2022
In the main event of UFC Long Island, a pivotal featherweight scrap headlines the card as top-three featherweights collide as Brian Ortega takes on Yair Rodriguez. Heading into the fight, Ortega is a -180 favorite while the Mexican is a +140 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority of pros are leaning towards Ortega getting his hand raised and likely doing it by submission.
Felice Herrig explains why she ended retirement to sign with BKFC, reveals they "tripled my UFC contract"
Cole Shelton - July 13, 2022
Felice Herrig ended her retirement rather quickly. After Herrig suffered a submission loss to Karolina Kowalkiewicz in June she announced her retirement from MMA. Yet, she recently signed with BKFC, and according to Herrig, she retired from MMA, not from fighting.
Dustin Jacoby expecting a "15-minute war" against "durable" Da Un Jung at UFC Long Island: "I'm there to defend my spot"
Cole Shelton - July 12, 2022
Dustin Jacoby has been in talks to fight Da Un Jung to fight in the past, so he’s excited it’s finally coming to fruition at UFC Long Island. Jacoby is coming off a decision win over Michal Oleksiejczuk in a fight he barely threw any kicks due to an ankle injury. Given kicks are a big part of his game, he needed to take some time off and now that he’s healthy he’s excited to return on Saturday at UFC Long Island.
Michelle Waterson reveals she used to train with Amanda Lemos, hopes to earn "knockout of the night" at UFC Long Island
Cole Shelton - July 12, 2022
Michelle Waterson will be fighting a familiar opponent in the co-main event of UFC Long Island on Saturday. After Waterson was forced out of her Amanda Ribas fight at UFC Columbus in March, she said it might be a career-ending injury if she never took care of it. After rehabbing the injury, she is set to return against Amanda Lemos on Saturday.