Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Pro fighters make their picks for Rob Font vs. Cody Garbrandt
Cole Shelton - May 20, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 27, Rob Font and Cody Garbrandt are set for a pivotal bantamweight fight. It’s an evenly matched fight and the odds have it as a pure pick’em as both men are -110. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority believe Cody Garbrandt gets the job done by KO to extend his winning streak to two.
Darrion Caldwell expects to finish Leandro Higo again, plans to reclaim bantamweight title later this year
Cole Shelton - May 19, 2021
Darrion Caldwell is focused on reclaiming his bantamweight title. After Caldwell lost back-to-back fights to Kyoji Horiguchi for the RIZIN title and to lose his Bellator belt, he moved up to featherweight to take part in the grand prix. He beat Henry Corrales by decision and then submitted Adam Borics, but lost in the semis to AJ McKee.
Edson Barboza still "not sure what happened" to Shane Burgos, wants main event against top-five opponent
Cole Shelton - May 19, 2021
Edson Barboza still isn’t sure how he got the KO win over Shane Burgos at UFC 262. Opening up the main card, Barboza and Burgos were engaged in a back-and-forth fight. Both men were landing heavy shots. After the second round, many thought it would come down to the final round, but the Brazilian was dealing with a cut on his shin from all the kicks he landed.
Felicia Spencer eyes first-round stoppage over Noma Dumont, uncertain what her future holds in featherweight division
Cole Shelton - May 18, 2021
Felicia Spencer is just looking to fight and isn’t worried about what happens next. On May 22, Spencer returns to the Octagon against Norma Dumont after she was originally supposed to face Danyelle Wolf. Although she has an opponent change, there was never a time when she thought she wasn’t going to fight.
After being "disrespected" by Dana White, Danny Sabatello expects to "maul" Brett Johns and "make him quit"
Cole Shelton - May 17, 2021
Danny Sabatello thought he was for sure going to get a UFC contract after his dominant performance over Taylor Moore on the Contender Series in November. Sabatello landed three of four takedowns and had 14:06 of ground control and won the fight 30-24, 30-25, 30-26. It was a dominant performance and for the now 28-year-old he thought he was a shoo-in for the contract.
Austin Vanderford expects to drag Fabian Edwards into the "deep waters," believes a win puts him into title contention
Cole Shelton - May 17, 2021
Austin Vanderford is eager to share the cage with Fabian Edwards at Bellator 259 on Friday night. Vanderford is 10-0 and coming off a decision win over Vinicius de Jesus in his third fight in Bellator. Vanderford is currently the third-ranked middleweight while Edwards is ranked fourth. Although they are both up and comers in the division, Vanderford believes the fight makes sense now.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk recalls almost quitting MMA, 'There was no money'
Drake Riggs - May 14, 2021
In some parallel universe, Joanna Jedrzejczyk never goes on the historic run that she did as UFC strawweight champion from 2015 to 2017. But it very well could have been this universe. Every UFC fighter’s last fight before joining the biggest stage in the sport holds significance in their career. For Jedrzejczyk, if she never got her opportunity to shine against Rosi Sexton in London, that could have been it for her time as a competitor.
Beneil Dariush jokes he will try and "avoid" Justin Gaethje fight as long as possible like Darren Till did with Yoel Romero
Cole Shelton - May 14, 2021
Beneil Dariush has taken notice of what Darren Till said about Yoel Romero, and he believes he has the same thing going on with Justin Gaethje. In the lead-up to UFC 249 in May of 2020, Dariush was a big part of Gaethje’s training camp to prepare for Tony Ferguson. Since then, the two have become good friends and have trained together. However, the ninth-ranked lightweight, jokes he will be avoiding the Gaethje fight as long as possible.
Jack Hermansson expects to be able to finish Edmen Shahbazyan on the ground, but ready to strike with him
Cole Shelton - May 13, 2021
Jack Hermansson is eager to return to the Octagon at UFC Vegas 27 on May 22. Hermansson is coming off a decision loss to Marvin Vettori, in a fight Hermansson was scheduled to face Darren Till and then Kevin Holland. Early on in the fight, the Swede broke his orbital which he says impacted him greatly in the fight.
Edmen Shahbazyan wanted Jack Hermansson fight, eyes stoppage win: "I think stylistically this is a great matchup for me"
Cole Shelton - May 13, 2021
Edmen Shahbazyan had his eyes on Jack Hermansson after their recent fights. In August, Shahbazyan headlined his first UFC show but came up short against Derek Brunson. After the loss, the now 23-year-old wanted some time off to work on his skills, and after Hermansson lost to Marvin Vettori, he said to his team that is who he wants to fight next.
Edson Barboza "very happy" with new UFC contract, excited for a "war" against Shane Burgos at UFC 262
Cole Shelton - May 12, 2021
Edson Barboza didn’t know what his future in the UFC was going to be like after he beat Makwan Amirkhani last time out. After Barboza won, he said he either wanted to be released from the UFC or sign a new contract. The Brazilian ended up working with the UFC to sign a new deal which he says is a very fair deal.
UFC 262 | Pro fighters make their picks for Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler title fight
Cole Shelton - May 12, 2021
In the main event of UFC 262, Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler are set to fight for the vacant lightweight title. Heading into the fight, Oliveira is a -135 favorite while the former Bellator champ is a +115 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The majority believe Charles Oliveira will claim gold, but as the odds suggest it is a very close fight.
TJ Brown frustrated with backlash after win over Kai Kamaka III: "I would be lying if I said the backlash didn't bother me"
Cole Shelton - May 7, 2021
TJ Brown wants the fans to respect his and Kai Kamaka III’s fight, rather than focus on the judge’s scorecards. At UFC Vegas 25, Brown and Kamaka III had a phenomenal fight which was a back-and-forth one. When it went to the scorecards, many thought Kamaka III won, but it was a close fight. For Brown, he knew it was close but after watching it back he truly believes he won.
Maurice Greene promises he will submit Marcos Rogerio de Lima at UFC Vegas 26
Cole Shelton - May 6, 2021
Maurice Greene is glad he had some time off after his last fight. Greene suffered a TKO loss to Greg Hard in October, and after that, the goal was to take several months off to work with his team at JacksonWink. After some time off, Greene was looking to return in May and got his wish as he’ll return this Saturday against Marcos Rogerio de Lima.
Patrick Mix expects to finish Albert Morales, blasts James Gallagher: "I put together an amazing camp to whoop his ass and he didn't show up"
Cole Shelton - May 5, 2021
Patrick Mix had a feeling James Gallagher wouldn’t end up fighting him. At Bellator 258, Mix and Gallagher were booked to fight one another. Yet, just over a week before the fight, it was revealed the Irishman was out of the fight. For Mix, he wasn’t surprised when he got the news.
Diego Ferreira expects to finish Gregor Gillespie "impressively" at UFC Vegas 26, wants Dan Hooker or Paul Felder next
Cole Shelton - May 5, 2021
Diego Ferreira wanted a quick turnaround after his loss to Beneil Dariush in February and he got his wish. On the main card of UFC Vegas 26, Ferreira took a short notice fight against Gregor Gillepsie on a month’s notice. Although it is a tough matchup, Ferreira says it was an immediate yes to accept the fight.
Geoff Neal eyeing first or second round KO over Neil Magny to get top-ranked opponent next
Cole Shelton - May 4, 2021
Geoff Neal is excited he finally gets the chance to face Neil Magny. Last August, Neal and Magny were scheduled to fight but Neal had serious health problems that hospitalized him and forced him out of the scrap. The two then got different fights and Neal ended up losing a decision to Stephen Thompson back in December, which he says was a good learning experience.
Michelle Waterson eager to headline another UFC show, knows she's "dangerous" everywhere against Marina Rodriguez
Cole Shelton - May 4, 2021
Michelle Waterson didn’t hesitate to accept when the UFC offered her another short-notice main event fight. After TJ Dillashaw was forced out of the UFC Vegas 26 main event against Cory Sandhagen, the UFC was quick to book Waterson vs. Marina Rodriguez at flyweight. For “The Karate Hottie,” she’s ecstatic to be headlining another UFC card.