Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Jan Blachowicz shares interesting theory as to why Jon Jones vacated his light heavyweight belt
Cole Shelton - October 14, 2020
Jan Blachowicz has a theory as to why Jon Jones vacated his light heavyweight belt and now has a planned move up to heavyweight. At UFC 253, Blachowicz fought and beat Dominick Reyes to win the vacant light heavyweight title. Immediately after the fight, Jones tweeted asking fans if he should go try and reclaim his belt. Yet, for the Pole, he doesn’t think “Bones” has any interest in fighting him as he knows he would get knocked out.
Jan Blachowicz says people need to start "believing in my legendary Polish power" after UFC 253 win
Cole Shelton - October 13, 2020
Jan Blachowicz is constantly a betting underdog and when he fought Dominick Reyes at UFC 253 for the vacant light heavyweight title, that was no different. Blachowicz was around a +210 underdog and pulled off the upset with a second-round knockout over Reyes. For the Pole, he says the fight went better than he even anticipated.
Coach: "If Korean Zombie can hit Brian Ortega a third of what Max did, Zombie is going to put him away"
Cole Shelton - October 12, 2020
Korean Zombie’s striking coach, Eddie Cha, is confident his pupil will be able to knock Brian Ortega out. In the main event of UFC Fight Island 6, Zombie and Ortega will finally settle their differences after months of trash talk. It is a highly-anticipated fight and one even Cha is excited to watch.
Already on a new contract, Youssef Zalal looking to go 4-0 in 2020
Cole Shelton - October 8, 2020
Youssef Zalal might be in the conversation to be the UFC’s newcomer of the year. Zalal made his Octagon debut at UFC 247 in February and scored a decision win over Austin Lingo. Youssef then followed that up with a win over Jordan Griffin in June and a win over Peter Barrett in August. For many fighters, getting three fights in a year would be plenty. Yet, for the 23-year-old in Zalal on Saturday he will look to make it four.
Angela Lee expects to return "a completely different animal" after birth of first child
Tom Taylor - October 8, 2020
In the animal kingdom, there are few creatures more dangerous than a protective mother. If ONE atomweight champion Angela Lee is any indication, that rule also applies in mixed martial arts. Lee, who has held the ONE atomweight belt in a vice grip since 2016, is expecting her first child in April. While her pregnancy will keep her out of competition for some time, she plans to return better than ever once her baby has arrived.
Giga Chikadze planning to submit Omar Morales to show off improved ground game on Fight Island
Cole Shelton - October 7, 2020
Giga Chikadze hopes to show everyone he isn’t just a kickboxer. When Chikadze signed with the UFC, he was a decorated kickboxer, and in his first three UFC fights he was able to show off his striking. Yet, many thought he would be able to show off his ground game against Alex Caceres. Unfortunately, Chikadze had tested positive for COVID-19 leaving that fight to be canceled.
Cheick Kongo expects to finish Tim Johnson again, says Ryan Bader getting KO'd was "karma" for eye pokes in their fight
Cole Shelton - October 7, 2020
Cheick Kongo thought he would be having an immediate rematch with Ryan Bader. Kongo and Bader fought at Bellator 226 for the heavyweight title. It was a very intriguing matchup but the fight ended due to eye pokes from Bader and was ruled a no-contest. Yet, Bader claimed he never poked Kongo in the eye. For the Frenchman, he knows that was inaccurate and actually revealed he and Bader agreed to rematch in June before the pandemic hit.
Marlon Moraes expecting a "war" against Cory Sandhagen, believes a win earns him next title shot
Cole Shelton - October 6, 2020
Marlon Moraes has had a frustrating last couple of months. Back in December at UFC 245, Moraes edged out a very close decision over Jose Aldo. Yet, many fans and even Dana White thought Aldo won the fight and when Moraes’ fight against Petr Yan was canceled due to the pandemic, it was Aldo and Yan fighting for the vacant title. For the number one contender, it was something that was hard to deal with.
Casey Kenney says all Heili Alateng has is "a basic right hand and wrestling," expects to finish him
Cole Shelton - October 1, 2020
Casey Kenney was surprised Heili Alateng was his next opponent but knows it is a good matchup for him. Kenney is coming off a very impressive submission win over Louis Smolka and he thought a ranked opponent could be next. Yet, that will not be the case but he will take on Alateng who is 2-0 in the UFC, but Kenney still isn’t too impressed with him.
William Knight called for Aleksa Camur fight, interested in Tafon Nchukwi rematch down the line
Cole Shelton - September 30, 2020
Before William Knight even fought on the Contender Series he told the UFC he wanted his debut to be against Aleksa Camur. The two were supposed to fight on the regional scenes but finally fought one another at UFC 253. Knight had a successful stint on the Contender Series and made a quick turnaround to fight Camur.
Yorgan De Castro doesn't expect Carlos Felipe fight to last long: "One of us will fall down"
Cole Shelton - September 30, 2020
Yorgan De Castro is looking to get back into the win column when he battles Carlos Felipe in the co-main event of UFC Fight Island 4. De Castro is coming off his first career loss back at UFC 249 where he suffered a decision loss to Greg Hardy. Since the fight, the 32-year-old has learned a ton about himself and how he needs to fight differently.
After having a "really bad" case of COVID-19, Irene Aldana eyes stoppage win over Holly Holm to earn title shot
Cole Shelton - September 29, 2020
Irene Aldana is glad she will still be the main event against Holly Holm. Aldana was supposed to fight Holm in Las Vegas on August 1, yet she had tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to pull out of the fight. It was also a bad case of the coronavirus and Aldana said it had impacted her training quite a bit.
Damon Jackson says return to UFC is "surreal," knew he would submit Mirsad Bektic
Cole Shelton - September 25, 2020
After May 23, 2019, Damon Jackson thought his chances of getting back to the UFC were over. Jackson, who had three fights in the UFC from 2014-2016 and did not get a win and was cut, fought in LFA hoping to get another crack. Yet, after years of trying nothing came up. So, Jackson signed with the PFL and hoped winning the tournament would open that door again. However, in his first fight, he was knocked out by Movlid Khaibulaev in just 10 seconds by a flying knee. He was then pulled from the tournament and he asked for his release.
After back-to-back KO wins, Tyson Nam wants Joseph Benavidez next
Cole Shelton - September 25, 2020
Tyson Nam is looking to jump up the UFC rankings and fight Joseph Benavidez. Nam, who was once considered one of the best fighters not signed to the UFC, made his debut in 2019 and dropped a decision to Sergio Pettis. Nam then lost his next fight to Kai Kara-France but has since rallied off back-to-back KO wins.
Brandon Royval planning on bringing the fight to Kai Kara-France: "I’m known to finish motherf*****s"
Cole Shelton - September 24, 2020
Brandon Royval is looking to go 2-0 in the UFC with two stoppage wins. On the main card of UFC 253, Royval is set to fight Kai Kara-France in a pivotal flyweight bout. For the former LFA flyweight champion in Royval, it is surreal for him to already be fighting someone ranked in the top-10 this early into his UFC tenure. Yet, he knows he belongs and plans to prove that on Saturday.
UFC 253 | Pro fighters make their picks for Dominick Reyes vs. Jan Blachowicz title fight
Cole Shelton - September 24, 2020
In the co-main event of UFC 253, the vacant light heavyweight title is on the line as Dominick Reyes takes on Jan Blachowicz. Heading into the fight, Reyes is a -300 favorite while the Pole is a +230 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros are unanimous in thinking it will be Reyes winning the fight and finally becoming the champion after many thought he beat Jon Jones last time out.
Sijara Eubanks planning her own "David and Goliath story" against Ketlen Vieira at UFC 253
Cole Shelton - September 23, 2020
Sijara Eubanks is making history on Saturday night as she will tie Hannah Cfiers for the fastest turnaround for a female fighter in UFC history. She will also be the first fighter in this COVID-19 era to fight in Jacksonville, the UFC Apex and Fight Island, the three spots the UFC has held events. Eubanks, who is coming off a decision win over Sept. 12, got a call just days later to fly out to Fight Island to fight Kelten Vieira.
UFC 253 | Pro fighters make their picks for Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa title fight
Cole Shelton - September 23, 2020
In the main event of UFC 253, Israel Adesanya is looking for his second title defense when he battles Paulo Costa. Heading into the fight, Adesanya is a -185 favorite while the Brazilian challenger is a +150 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority believe it will be Adesanya using his technical striking to piece up Costa and defending his belt.