Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Demetrious Johnson plans to 'go out there and compete and not be afraid' in special rules fight against Rodtang
Cole Shelton - October 12, 2021
Demetrious Johnson didn’t have any hesitation when he got the call to have a special rules fight against Rodtang. At ONE X in December, Johnson and Rodtang will fight in a special rules bout. The first and third rounds will be muay Thai will the second and fourth will be MMA. The rounds will also be three minutes and for Johnson, he’s super excited for the fight.
Jared Vanderaa expects to be 'beat up' Alexandr Romanov on the feet and get a gatekeeper next time out
Cole Shelton - October 7, 2021
Jared Vanderaa didn’t expect his next opponent to be Alexandr Romanov. After Vanderaa picked up his first UFC win back in May against Justin Tafa, Vanderaa wasn’t sure who would be next for him. However, when he was offered Romanov he was surprised but he did immediately accept it.
Charles Rosa confident he'll 'choke out' Damon Jackson and get a top-guy next time out: 'I feel like I'm back'
Cole Shelton - October 6, 2021
Charles Rosa believes he has finally put everything together ahead of his UFC Vegas 39 fight against Damon Jackson. After Rosa returned to the win column in June against Justin Jaynes, he said he wanted to return in October or November and he got his wish.
Tim Elliott plans to take Matheus Nicolau 'into deepwater' to get the win, wants Askar Askarov or Cody Garbrandt next
Cole Shelton - October 6, 2021
Tim Elliott is now in a place where he doesn’t have to take any fight that comes his way, and that is what happened when Su Mudaerji pulled out of their fight in June. After his opponent pulled out, Elliott was offered Manel Kape on short notice which he turned down as for him, he only wants ranked guys. He also says he’s in a position now where he is being smart about his career and not taking any fight that comes his way.
Randy Brown believes he's better everywhere than Jared Gooden, confident he can get a finish
Cole Shelton - October 5, 2021
Randy Brown wanted to get another fight in this year and he jumped at the chance to take a fight at UFC Vegas 39 against Jared Gooden. Brown is coming off a submission win over Alex Oliveira at UFC 261 and many thought he would get another high-profile name. Yet, that isn’t the case as he will battle Jared Gooden in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 39. For Brown, he says he just wanted to fight and this was a chance to get back in there.
Claressa Shields targets 2023 as year for first PFL tournament
Drake Riggs - October 1, 2021
FORT LAUDERDALE — Claressa Shields is fully committed to forging a strong and viable MMA career. The former three-division 11-0 boxing champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist joined MMA as a PFL lightweight in 2021. The tournament formatted promotion currently has Shields on the outside looking in as she keeps gaining experience after successfully debuting in June with a third-round TKO against Brittney Elkin.
Kayla Harrison challenges MMA fans to 'be better' ahead of 2021 PFL Finals
Drake Riggs - October 1, 2021
FORT LAUDERDALE — Kayla Harrison is as dominant of a force as anyone in MMA in 2021. But with great success comes great detractors – or at least several in abundance. Beginning her run in June 2018 and now 11-0 in her professional MMA career, the Judo master has found the fans to be a lot more vocal than she’d experienced prior.
Jalin Turner says submission win over Uros Medic was 'perfect execution,' says his UFC 266 foe was 'nervous'
Cole Shelton - October 1, 2021
Jalin Turner called a first-round stoppage over Uros Medic at UFC 266 and he did just that. In the lead-up to his fight on the stacked pay-per-view card, Turner made his return against the undefeated Medic and many thought Turner would get finished early. Yet, it was the other way around as Turner submitted Medic in the first and he said he’s still not surprised people continue to doubt him.
Petr Yan blasts Aljamain Sterling, says he doesn't have 'the balls to enter the Octagon with me again'
Cole Shelton - September 30, 2021
Petr Yan wasn’t surprised when he heard Aljamain Sterling pulled out of their rematch at UFC 267. Yan and Sterling were supposed to have their highly-anticipated rematch in Abu Dhabi at UFC 267 in an intriguing matchup. They first fought back at UFC 259 in March where Sterling became the new champion due to Yan throwing an illegal knee and being DQ’d.
Jared Gordon plans to make Joe Solecki fight 'as dirty as possible' to secure the win: 'I would like to hurt him on the feet'
Cole Shelton - September 29, 2021
Jared Gordon wanted to make a run at featherweight but will be moving back up to lightweight at UFC Vegas 38. Gordon dropped down on Fight Island last summer and beat Chris Fishgold by decision. He then beat Danny Chavez by decision in a fight he missed weight so the UFC told him he had to move back up to lightweight.
Pro fighters make their picks for Thiago Santos vs. Johnny Walker
Cole Shelton - September 29, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 38, Thiago Santos looks to snap his losing streak when he battles Johnny Walker. Ahead of the fight, Santos is a -160 favorite while the comeback on the Brazilian is +140. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority believe Santos will get back into the win column in a big way as he will KO Walker.
Johnny Walker confident he'll finish Thiago Santos in his first UFC main event: 'It's going to be fireworks'
Cole Shelton - September 28, 2021
Johnny Walker is glad to finally be headlining a UFC show. Walker is a fan-favorite and many have thought he would be a top-five contender for years to come. He knows gets his opportunity in the main event of UFC Vegas 38 against Thiago Santos, and for Walker, he’s ecstatic to be heading a card.
Jalin Turner expects to 'put away' Uros Medic in the first round at UFC 266: 'I'm going to take his hype'
Cole Shelton - September 24, 2021
Jalin Turner knows he’s being overlooked ahead of his UFC 266 fight. Turner is set to return to the Octagon for the first time in over a year as he faces the undefeated, Uros Medic at UFC 266. It’s an intriguing matchup but for Turner, he says he’s just glad to be able to fight again after everything he has gone through in the past year.
Nick Diaz protégé Martin Sano Jr. ready to 'throw down' with Matthew Semelsberger at UFC 266
Cole Shelton - September 23, 2021
Martin Sano Jr. is eager to finally make the walk to the Octagon. Sano Jr., a protégé of Nick Diaz, has not fought since 2017 and is 0-2-1 in his last three fights. However, he still is 4-2-1 as a pro and has fought for promotions likes Bellator and WSOF, but when Diaz was announced to make his return, he got his pupil in Sano Jr. signed to the UFC and to fight Matthew Semeslberger at UFC 266.
UFC 266 | Pro fighters make their picks for Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler 2
Cole Shelton - September 23, 2021
On the main card of UFC 266, Nick Diaz is set to make his highly-anticipated return as he rematches Robbie Lawler in a middleweight bout. Diaz is a +120 underdog while the former UFC welterweight champ is a -140 favorite. 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 Robbie Lawler wins due to activity but the pros admit this is a tough one to call.
UFC 266 | Pro fighters make their picks for Valentina Shevchenko vs. Lauren Murphy title fight
Cole Shelton - September 22, 2021
In the co-main event of UFC 266, Valentina Shevchenko is looking to defend her flyweight belt as she faces Lauren Murphy. Ahead of the fight, the champ is a massive -1250 favorite while the challenger is a +750 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. To no surprise, the pros are unanimous in thinking Shevchenko remains the flyweight champ, the bigger question for the pros was whether or not the champ finishes the fight.
Cynthia Calvillo plans to finish Jessica Andrade at UFC 266: 'If I see the opening for the kill, I'll take it'
Cole Shelton - September 22, 2021
Cynthia Calvillo did something not many people do, call out Jessica Andrade and she got her wish. On the main card of UFC 266, Calvillo is set to return to the Octagon for the first time since she lost to Katlyn Chookagian at UFC 255 last year. When she does step into the Octagon on Saturday she’ll be facing Andrade who she called out as Calvillo says she wants to fight the best.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik confident he'll KO Curtis Blaydes at UFC 266: 'Any mistakes he makes will be the end of the fight'
Cole Shelton - September 21, 2021
Jairzinho Rozenstruik had a feeling he would be fighting Curtis Blaydes. After Rozenzstruik knocked out Augusto Sakai, he looked at the heavyweight division and saw Blaydes didn’t have an opponent. He began game-planning for the fight and shortly thereafter, the UFC offered him the fight which he accepted right away.