Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Maycee Barber expects to finish Miranda Maverick: "I’m not going out there to play around, I’m planning to put her away"
Cole Shelton - July 19, 2021
Maycee Barber wasn’t surprised when she was offered Miranda Maverick as her next fight. After Maverick beat Gillian Robertson at UFC 260, Barber saw all the posts about how fans wanted to see the fight happen. However, given they are two of the up and comers at flyweight, some thought it didn’t make sense. Yet, for Barber, she says she likes the fight and is eager for it.
Miles Johns expects to finish Anderson dos Santos in a "fan-favorite fight" at UFC Vegas 31
Cole Shelton - July 15, 2021
Miles Johns has a ton of confidence in himself coming off a highlight-reel KO win in his last fight. Johns last fought back on Halloween night where he knocked out Kevin Natividad. Following that, many thought he would get a quick turnaround, but nine months later, Johns will return which he says is later than he thought but still is good timing.
Billy Quarantillo expects to finish Gabriel Benitez at UFC Vegas 31 after getting much-needed eye surgery
Cole Shelton - July 14, 2021
Billy Quarantillo expects to be a much better fighter on Saturday night at UFC Vegas 31 when he faces Gabriel Benitez. Quarantillo is coming off his first career UFC loss back at UFC 256 against Gavin Tucker. Following the loss, the rising featherweight contender got married and got eye surgery which he says was much-needed.
Thiago Moises expects to earn stoppage win over Islam Makhachev to steal his hype
Cole Shelton - July 13, 2021
Thiago Moises didn’t expect to fight Islam Makhachev next time out but immediately accepted the scrap when it was offered to him at UFC Vegas 31. Moises, who is on a three-fight winning streak and coming off a win over Alexander Hernandez, figured he’d fight someone ranked right near him. Yet, when he got the call to fight Makhachev, it was an immediate yes for the Brazilian.
Stephen Thompson doubts Kamaru Usman would strike with him: "He's going to be shooting for my legs"
Cole Shelton - July 9, 2021
Stephen Thompson knows he’s a bad matchup for the current welterweight champ, Kamaru Usman. Thompson is set to face Gilbert Burns in the co-main event of UFC 264. If he wins, he could very well get a title shot due to the fact he’s the only fighter in the top-five that Usman hasn’t fought. If he does end up getting the title shot, “Wonderboy” knows there’s no chance the champ will strike with him. Instead, he’ll go back to the wrestler, grinding style that got him the title.
Dustin Poirier would "be successful" and "dominant" at welterweight if he moves up, says coach
Cole Shelton - July 8, 2021
Dustin Poirier started his UFC career at featherweight and may end it at welterweight, his strength and conditioning coach, Phil Daru says. Poirier is set to headline UFC 264 in a highly-anticipated trilogy bout against Conor McGregor. It’s a massive fight for both men and in the lead-up to the scrap, “The Diamond” asked if it could take place at welterweight. He wanted the trilogy to take place at three different weight classes but for Daru, that is also due to the fact Poirier is a big lightweight that does cut a lot of weight.
Jerome Rivera plans to "shut down" Zhalgas Zhumagulov at UFC 264: "I'm looking to expose him"
Cole Shelton - July 8, 2021
Jerome Rivera knows his UFC 264 fight against Zhalgas Zhumagulov is do-or-die for his UFC career. Rivera enters the fight being 0-3 in the UFC and not many fighters get the fourth fight if they are winless through three. Yet, Rivera did the UFC a favor in taking a fight against Ode Osbourne up two weight classes at featherweight on just three day’s notice. With that, the UFC promised him another fight regardless of the result and they stuck to their word.
UFC 264 | Pro fighters make their picks for Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor 3
Cole Shelton - July 8, 2021
In the main event of UFC 264, Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor have their highly-anticipated trilogy match. Heading into the fight, Poirier is the -130 favorite while the Irishman is the +110 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros are split on this one but the slight majority favor Poirier to get the win although all think the fight ends inside the distance.
Max Griffin says Carlos Condit fight at UFC 264 is "a dream come true," expects to "take his soul"
Cole Shelton - July 7, 2021
Max Griffin had no hesitation to accept his UFC 264 fight against Carlos Condit. After Griffin scored a one-punch KO over Song Kenan he knew he would be getting a big fight. He had back-to-back vicious KO’s as prior to that he TKO’d Ramiz Brahimaj where he nearly tore his ear off with an elbow. When he got a call to face Condit, he said it was an immediate yes but there was some hesitation on the former interim champs side.
Stephen Thompson expects Gilbert Burns to shoot early, "confident" he'll keep it standing to get the win and earn a title shot
Cole Shelton - July 6, 2021
Stephen Thompson is excited to finally fight up in the ranks. Ever since Thompson had his back-to-back fights against Tyron Woodley for the title his next five fights were fighters ranked below him. Yet, on Saturday night at UFC 264 that will change as he faces the second-ranked welterweight, Gilbert Burns in a scrap Thompson is excited about.
Joey Beltran reveals he had COVID just two weeks prior to BKFC title defense, plans to retire by the end of 2022
Cole Shelton - July 5, 2021
Joey Beltran is still the BKFC heavyweight champion. Beltran was looking for his second title defense when he faced Sam Shewmaker in the main event of the stacked BKFC 18 card. Entering the scrap, the UFC and Bellator veteran was confident he would get his hand raised and he ended up doing so by decision.
Artem Lobov blasts fans for saying Conor McGregor needs to switch camps, reveals UFC 264 camp took place in Dubai
Cole Shelton - June 30, 2021
Artem Lobov doesn’t think Conor McGregor needs to leave John Kavanagh to become a world champion again. After McGregor suffered a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257, many said the Irishman needed a change of camps. Yet, for Lobov, he says that will never happen due to the fact McGregor is loyal. He also says it doesn’t make sense to leave the coach that made him become a two-weight world champ.
Charles Rosa believes Justin Jaynes only added more pressure on himself with his bet, eyes fall return
Cole Shelton - June 29, 2021
Charles Rosa was shocked when he saw that Justin Jaynes was betting his entire fight purse on himself. Rosa and Jaynes were set to fight on the prelims of UFC Vegas 30 and on paper, it was a competitive fight. Yet, the fight garnered major attention on fight week when Jaynes revealed he was betting his entire fight purse on himself. For Rosa, he says he doesn’t know why he did that as he believes it added more pressure on him than necessary.
Kevin Lee wants Sean Brady fight rebooked for UFC 265 after pulling out of UFC 264 due to a "minor" rib injury
Cole Shelton - June 24, 2021
Kevin Lee is disappointed he won’t be making the walk to the Octagon on July 10 at UFC 264. Lee was set to move back up to welterweight to face Sean Brady in a highly-anticipated bout. Yet, on Thursday, Brady revealed Lee was out of the fight due to an injury which Lee confirmed to BJPENN.com.
Pro fighters make their picks for Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov
Cole Shelton - June 24, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 30, Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov meet in a battle of top-five heavyweights. Gane is the -157 favorite while the Russian is a +130 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority of pros believe Volkov will pull off the upset as his striking and range will be too much for Gane.
Ike Villanueva expects to KO Marcin Prachnio at UFC Vegas 30: "If I touch that chin it will be a short night"
Cole Shelton - June 24, 2021
Ike Villanueva is glad to be fighting back at the UFC Apex as he’s looking for some redemption in Las Vegas. The last time Villanueva fought in Vegas was when he suffered a TKO loss to Jordan Wright which was stopped by cut. Now, he’ll return on Saturday at UFC Vegas 30 against Marcin Prachnio where Villanueva likes the style matchup.
Renato Moicano plans to prove he belongs among lightweight best with win over Jai Herbert
Cole Shelton - June 23, 2021
Renato Moicano was hoping to get some ranked opponents when he moved up to lightweight, but that hasn’t happened. The Brazilian was a top-10 featherweight but when he moved up he fought Damir Hadzovic and won by submission. In his next fight, he suffered a TKO loss to Rafael Fiziev. He will now face Jai Herbert at UFC Vegas 30.
Khaos Williams eyes fall return but won't give "anyone extra clout" by calling them out: "I'll let my hands do the talking"
Cole Shelton - June 23, 2021
Khaos Williams was happy he got back into the win column on Saturday night at UFC Vegas 29. Williams broke onto the UFC scene with two sub-30 second KOs over Alex Morono and Abdul Razak Alhassan. In his third fight, he suffered a close decision loss to Michel Pereira, but on Saturday he earned a hard-fought decision win over Matt Semelsberger which Williams was happy about.