Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Erin Blanchfield happy with dominant win over Miranda Maverick, 'wouldn't be opposed' to rebooking Maycee Barber fight
Cole Shelton - December 17, 2021
Erin Blanchfield knew she surprised a lot of people at UFC 269. Blanchfield entered her UFC 269 fight against Miranda Maverick as the betting underdog but she dominated the fight to win a clear-cut decision. Although this was Blanchfield’s second UFC fight, she knew after the opening seconds of the fight, she would be able to control Maverick with ease.
Andre Ewell aiming to win bonus money against Charles Jourdain at UFC Vegas 45: 'It's going to be a banger'
Cole Shelton - December 17, 2021
Andre Ewell always knew he would end up fighting at featherweight in the UFC, he just didn’t think it would happen this soon. At UFC Vegas 45, Ewell will move to 145lbs to take on Charles Jourdain. It is a move a long time in the making as Ewell says he would throw up in order to make bantamweight, so he’s eager to fight at 145lbs.
Kevin Lee reveals the only way he'd ever fight in the UFC again
Cole Shelton - December 16, 2021
Kevin Lee doesn’t see himself ever fighting for the UFC again unless one major thing happens. Lee was shockingly released from the UFC late last month and inked a multi-fight deal with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion. He will be competing at 165lbs and will make his debut on March 11 and will be paid in bitcoin. Although his focus is on Eagle FC right now, many believe he still should be in the UFC, yet “The Motown Phenom” doesn’t see himself ever stepping back into the Octagon unless he gets to rematch Charles Oliveira.
Pro fighters make their picks for Derrick Lewis vs. Chris Daukaus
Cole Shelton - December 16, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 45, top-10 heavyweights collide as Derrick Lewis is set to face rising contender, Chris Daukaus. Entering the fight, Lewis is a +120 underdog while the seventh-ranked heavyweight is -140. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros are nearly unanimous in thinking Lewis can eventually find the KO punch and will get back into the win column in a big way.
Diego Ferreira says he has no pressure on him ahead of Mateusz Gamrot fight despite losing streak
Cole Shelton - December 16, 2021
Diego Ferreira isn’t putting any pressure on him ahead of his UFC Vegas 45 fight against Mateusz Gamrot on Saturday. Ferreira is on a two-fight losing streak after losing to Beneil Dariush and Gregor Gillespie earlier this year. Now, the 12th-ranked lightweight is set to face Gamrot, but that was not his original opponent. The Brazilian was supposed to fight Grant Dawson in October but an injury forced him out and he’ll now take on the former KSW lightweight champ.
Kevin Lee reveals he's getting paid in bitcoin for his fights in Eagle FC: 'It gives me a lot more financial security'
Cole Shelton - December 15, 2021
Kevin Lee wants to be known as a trailblazer and will be just that when he fights for Eagle FC. Lee will make his debut for the promotion on March 11, against an opponent TBD – although Diego Sanchez is the name being thrown around. Although he doesn’t have his first fight booked, his multi-fight deal was announced on Wednesday which he’s excited about.
Stephen Thompson expecting a 'war' against Belal Muhammad but confident he will win: 'I do see some flaws in his style'
Cole Shelton - December 15, 2021
Stephen Thompson is excited to go out and erase his last fight from his memory. Thompson is coming off a lackluster decision loss to Gilbert Burns at UFC 264 and will now return against Belal Muhammad this Saturday at UFC Vegas 45. It’s an intriguing matchup and one Thompson is looking forward to.
Kevin Lee says Diego Sanchez will probably be his first opponent in Eagle FC: 'I'm going to kick his head into the third row'
Cole Shelton - December 15, 2021
Kevin Lee is the newest fighter to sign with Eagle FC and his debut fight is being closed to begin made. Lee was shockingly released from the UFC late last month and on Wednesday, Khabib Nurmagomedov officially signed Lee to a multi-fight contract. “The Motown Phenom” will have his debut on March 11 and according to Lee, he will likely be fighting Diego Sanchez.
Chris Daukaus expects to 'outwork' Derrick Lewis en route to a stoppage win, eyes Stipe Miocic next
Cole Shelton - December 14, 2021
Chris Daukaus didn’t expect to be headlining a UFC event or fighting Derrick Lewis in his fifth UFC fight. Daukaus is set to face Lewis in the main event of UFC Vegas 45 and when he heard the news he was stoked. He does admit it caught him by surprise but he is now eager for the challenge.
Chris Curtis knew he had to beat Brendan Allen or he 'wouldn't hear the end of it from Sean Strickland'
Cole Shelton - December 10, 2021
Chris Curtis knew he had pressure to beat Brendan Allen due to his teammate and cornerman, Sean Strickland. After Curtis shocked many with a knockout win over Phil Hawes at UFC 268 he said he was going to fight in December. According to Curtis, that fight was against Andre Muniz at UFC 269, but it never came to fruition, but days later he got the fight offer to face Allen.
Vince Morales wants Nathaniel Wood next after KO win over Louis Smolka
Cole Shelton - December 10, 2021
Vince Morales is pleased with his KO win over Louis Smolka at UFC Vegas 44. Morales entered his fight against Smolka in a unique scenario due to the fact his cousin in Ricky Simon is a training partner of Smolka. Although they originally didn’t want to fight one another, Morales is happy with his win as he became the first person to KO Smolka.
Coach: 'I wouldn't be mad' if Dustin Poirier retired after UFC 269 win: 'He doesn't have anything more to prove'
Cole Shelton - December 10, 2021
In the lead-up to UFC 269, there has been talk of Dustin Poirier retiring should he win the belt, and his coach, Phil Daru says that could happen. Daru, Poirier’s strength and conditioning coach, says any decision “The Diamond” has made hasn’t been talked about. Instead, everyone in the camp knows Poirier could very well retire after UFC 269 but he hopes he decides to defend the belt or move up to welterweight. However, if he decides to retire, Daru says he won’t be mad at Poirier at all.
Randy Costa excited for Tony Kelley matchup at UFC 269: 'I expect us to meet in the middle and throw'
Cole Shelton - December 9, 2021
Randy Costa knows his UFC 269 fight against Tony Kelley is a fan-friendly one. After Costa suffered a TKO loss to Adrian Yanez in July, he wanted to fight one more time this year. Although he wasn’t sure what would be next when he got the fighter offer to face Kelley at UFC 269 it was an immediate yes for Costa.
UFC 269 | Pro fighters make their picks for Charles Oliveira vs. Dustin Poirier title fight
Cole Shelton - December 8, 2021
In the main event of UFC 269, the lightweight title is up for grabs as Charles Oliveira looks to defend the belt for the first time against Dustin Poirier. Heading into the fight, Oliveira is the betting underdog as he’s +140 while the challenger is a -160 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 it will be Poirier finally becoming a UFC champion as he will dethrone Oliveira.
Eryk Anders expects to KO Andre Muniz at UFC 269: 'I'm looking to do me and put hands on him'
Cole Shelton - December 8, 2021
Eryk Anders is excited to get the chance to fight one more time before the year is up. Anders was supposed to fight on November 13 but after testing positive for COVID-19 he was pulled from the fight. Shortly after recovering, he got the call to face Andre Muniz at UFC 269 which Anders accepted as he says it is a similar style matchup to Roman Dolidze who he was supposed to face back in November.
Dustin Poirier added size and strength to overwhelm Charles Oliveira at UFC 269, says coach
Cole Shelton - December 8, 2021
Dustin Poirier spent the last couple of months adding size and strength to help him overwhelm Charles Oliveira at UFC 269. After Poirier beat Conor McGregor again at UFC 264, it cemented the fact he would be fighting Oliveira for the lightweight title. Once camp began, Poirier’s strength and conditioning coach, Phil Daru said they wanted to add strength. He believes that will overwhelm Oliveira and be the difference-maker in the fight.
Josh Emmett preparing for a '15-minute war' against Dan Ige at UFC 269 but hopes for a KO win to cement himself as a title contender
Cole Shelton - December 7, 2021
Josh Emmett is excited to finally get back into the Octagon. Emmett tore his ACL in the opening seconds of his June 2020 win over Shane Burgos. Since then he has been rehabbing and had other setbacks. During that time, Emmett admits he didn’t know how he would be when he was able to return.
John Lineker 'not surprised' by Demetrious Johnson's loss, open to eventual fight
Drake Riggs - November 27, 2021
For the vast majority of the time that John Lineker spent in the UFC, he found himself chasing the all-time great, Demetrious Johnson. Now, he’s chasing Johnson’s teammate. Despite Lineker being the heavier of the two with a new target in sight, “Hands of Stone” remains open to the prospect of taking on “Mighty Mouse”. Training with current ONE Championship flyweight champion Adriano Moraes, Lineker wasn’t too shocked by seeing his fellow Brazilian manage to knock out Johnson.