Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Shawne Merriman explains how he got into MMA, hopes to make Lights Out XF the premier feeder promotion
Cole Shelton - June 12, 2024
Former NFL star Shawne Merriman didn’t expect to be running his own MMA promotion, but he is doing just that. Merriman, who was drafted with the 12th overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft and spent eight years playing in the National Football League was also around the sport of MMA. During his offseasons, Merriman would train MMA with Randy Couture and other fighters, which sparked his love for combat sports.
Liz Carmouche eyes another "quick finish" over Kana Watanabe at PFL 4
Cole Shelton - June 11, 2024
Liz Carmouche is looking to go 2-0 against Kana Watanabe. Carmouche and Watanabe fought back in 2021 at Bellator 261 and it was the American winning by TKO in just 35 seconds. Since then, Carmouche went on to become the Bellator women’s flyweight champion, but the two will rematch in the regular season of the PFL tournament at PFL 4 on this Thursday.
John Castaneda vows to submit Daniel Marcos at UFC Louisville: "Peru doesn't have good wrestling"
Cole Shelton - June 7, 2024
John Castaneda was hoping to return much sooner but he’s glad he’s getting a good opponent at UFC Louisville. Castaneda last fought in November when he defeated Kyung Ho Kang by decision at UFC 295. After that, Castaneda says he did get a fight offer in March but decided to turn it down, as he didn’t think it made sense for him.
Cody Stamann plans to go back to wrestling roots against Taylor Lapilus at UFC Louisville: "Going to set a single-fight takedown record"
Cole Shelton - June 6, 2024
Cody Stamann plans to go back to his roots and wrestle his way to a win at UFC Louisville. Stamann hasn’t fought since May of 2023 when he suffered a controversial decision loss to Douglas Silva de Andrade. After the loss, Stamann was hoping for a quick turnaround. He ended up getting booked to fight in October but as he started his fight camp, he tore his bicep which put him back on the shelf.
Jared Cannonier plans to "re-open some eyes" with his performance against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Louisville
Cole Shelton - June 4, 2024
Jared Cannonier will be making the walk to the Octagon again after a year off due to injuries. Cannonier last fought back on June 17, 2023, when he defeated Marvin Vettori by decision. He was then offered to fight Khamzat Chimaev on short notice in Abu Dhabi, but Cannonier injured his MCL which has kept him out of action until now.
Jailton Almeida hopes to secure his "dream fight" against Tom Aspinall with a win over Alexandr Romanov at UFC 302
Cole Shelton - June 1, 2024
Jailton Almeida is ready to climb up the heavyweight ranks again. Almeida is coming off a knockout loss to Curtis Blaydes back in March and is set to face Alexandr Romanov at UFC 302 on Saturday. The Brazilian is the betting favorite and he has confidence he will be able to get back into the win column in a big way.
Jailton Almeida explains why he doesn't feel the Curtis Blaydes fight was a loss, expecting a "great fight" against Alexandr Romanov
Cole Shelton - May 30, 2024
Jailton Almeida will be looking to return to the win column on the main card of UFC 302 on Saturday against Alexandr Romanov. Almeida is coming off a knockout loss to Curtis Blaydes at UFC 299 in the second-round, this after he dominated the first round. Although the Brazilian lost the fight, he says it was a good learning lesson which is why he isn’t viewing it as a loss.
Sean Strickland says the only way he loses to Paulo Costa at UFC 302 is if he "f***s up"
Cole Shelton - May 30, 2024
Sean Strickland knows he is a much better fighter than Paulo Costa. Strickland is set to face Costa in the co-main event of UFC 302 in a five-round fight. Strickland is looking to return to the win column after losing his middleweight title back in January to Dricus Du Plessis.
UFC 302 | Pro fighters make their picks for Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier title fight
Cole Shelton - May 29, 2024
In the main event of UFC 302, the lightweight title is up for grabs as Islam Makhachev looks to defend his belt against Dustin Poirier. Heading into the fight, Makhachev is a sizeable -620 favorite while ‘The Diamond’ is a +400 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the lightweight title fight. The majority of pros are rooting for Poirier to get the job done and become the champ, but they do believe Makhachev will be too much for him.
Alex Morono eyes KO win over Niko Price at UFC 302 to avenge 2017 loss: "Going to be a fun fight"
Cole Shelton - May 28, 2024
Alex Morono jumped at the chance to rematch Niko Price at UFC 302. After Morono defeated Court McGee in April, he returned to the gym to prepare for any short-notice fight that came up. Shortly after his win, Jeremiah Wells fell out of his fight against Price and Morono called the UFC to get his rematch.
Khaos Williams vows to finish Carlston Harris at UFC Vegas 92 to "let everyone know that I'm back"
Cole Shelton - May 17, 2024
Khaos Williams will be ending his year-long layoff on Saturday night in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 92 against Carlston Harris. Williams has not fought since last May when he defeated Rolando Bedoya by split decision. After the fight, Williams says taking time off was part of the plan as every time he steps into the Octagon he says he wants to make sure everything is 100 percent perfect.
Terrance McKinney expects Esteban Ribovics to "crumble" to his "power" at UFC St. Louis: "Show there are levels"
Cole Shelton - May 9, 2024
Terrance McKinney is excited to fight in front of fans again, as he takes on Esteban Ribovics at UFC St. Louis on Saturday. McKinney is coming off a 20-second knockout win back in October and was hoping to make a quick turnaround after the result. Unfortunately, it took seven months for ‘T-Wrecks’ to get his night fight booked, but he’s ready to bring the heat again this weekend in Missouri.
Diego Ferreira explains why Mateusz Rebecki is a "perfect match" for him at UFC St. Louis, wants Bobby Green with a win
Cole Shelton - May 7, 2024
Diego Ferreira will end his nearly year-long layoff at UFC St. Louis when he takes on Mateusz Rebecki. Ferreira hasn’t fought since May 20th of last year when he knocked out Michael Johnson. After the fight, Ferreira welcomed a baby girl into the world and also had to focus on his gym which kept him out of action.
Tristan Hamm details transition from influencer to boxer ahead of Le'Veon Bell boxing match, eyes future fight with Dillon Danis
Cole Shelton - May 2, 2024
Tristan Hamm made quick work in his boxing debut and now he wants to see how far he can take it. Hamm, also known as Mr. Adventure on social media with over two million Instagram followers, had his boxing debut in January on the Misfits card. He scored a quick knockout win, and although he’s only been boxing for six months, Hamm says being part of the influencer boxing was something he had been interested in.
UFC 301 | Pro fighters make their picks for Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg title fight
Cole Shelton - May 1, 2024
In the main event of UFC 301, the flyweight title is up for grabs as Alexandre Pantoja looks to defend his belt against Steve Erceg. Heading into the fight, Pantoja is a -200 favorite while the challenger is a +154 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the flyweight title fight. The pros are unanimous in thinking Pantoja will remain the flyweight champ as they believe this is too big of a step up in competition for Erceg.
Drakkar Klose claims Joaquim Silva is the "easiest fight," vows to KO him at UFC 301
Cole Shelton - April 30, 2024
Drakkar Klose called for the easiest fight in the lightweight division after his last win and he says he got his wish. After Klose scored a slam KO over Joe Solecki in December, he said he didn’t care who was next, as he just wanted the easiest guy for the most amount of money. Klose ended up getting the call to face Joaquim Silva at UFC 301 in Brazil, which is exciting for the American to go into enemy territory.
Cody Brundage believes he's too much of a "step-up in competiton" for Bo Nickal, confident he will finish him at UFC 300
Cole Shelton - April 12, 2024
Cody Brundage wanted to fight Bo Nickal and he was hoping he’d get the fight at UFC 300. Brundage is on a two-fight winning streak and after his last win, he thought it made sense for him to be Nickal’s next opponent. To no surprise, when his coach called with a fight offer, it was Nickal at UFC 300 which he jumped at.
UFC 300 | Pro fighters make their picks for Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsraukyan
Cole Shelton - April 11, 2024
On the main card of UFC 300, former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira takes on Arman Tsarukyan in a potential No. 1 contender fight. Heading into the fight, Oliveira is a +176 underdog while the Armenian is a -230 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the lightweight fight. The pros are actually going with the underdog in Oliveira as they feel like he is getting overlooked.