Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Cung Le looks back on drug-testing fiasco with UFC: They "threw me under the bus"
Tom Taylor - June 18, 2020
In 2014, shortly after a TKO loss to Michael Bisping in Macau, Cung Le tested positive for elevated levels of Human Growth Hormone (HGH). The UFC promptly handed Le a nine-month suspension, which was later elevated to a twelve-month term. Fight fans were quick to pile-on and vilify Le—but things were not as cut-and-dry as they seemed.
Pro fighters make their picks for Curtis Blaydes vs. Alexander Volkov
Cole Shelton - June 18, 2020
In the main event of UFC on ESPN 11, aka UFC Vegas 3, Curtis Blaydes looks to extend his winning streak when he battles perennial contender, Alexander Volkov. Heading into the fight, Blaydes is a -380 favorite while the Russian is a +290 underdog. Some sportsbooks have the American wrestler as big as a -490 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. It is a classic striker vs. grappler matchup, but the pros are with the odds as the majority think Blaydes’ wrestling will be too much for Volkov.
Lyman Good eyes win over Belal Muhammad in memory of his late father
Cole Shelton - June 17, 2020
Lyman Good and Belal Muhammad were supposed to fight back at UFC 249 on April 18. However, Good was forced to pull out of the bout due to an ‘injury’, and the fight card was later canceled entirely. Once the card was officially canceled, Good revealed that he pulled out the contest due to contracting COVID-19. The welterweight contender did overcome it and once he did, he told the UFC to get him back in there ASAP and preferably against Muhammad.
Josh Emmett plans "on making a statement" with KO win over Shane Burgos
Cole Shelton - June 16, 2020
Josh Emmett knows all he needs to do is land one punch to end the fight and it’s no different ahead of his co-main event scrap against Shane Burgos. Emmett will be making the walk for the first time since UFC Sacramento last July where he scored a first-round TKO win over Mirsad Bektic. Since the fight, Emmett was looking to return a lot sooner. But, he couldn’t get a fight booked and was then planning on testing free agency before inking a new deal.
Gray Maynard slams UFC over pay: They keep us broke and starving
Cole Shelton - June 15, 2020
Gray Maynard has spoken out about the way the UFC conducts its business and fighter pay. Maynard has been a UFC staple since 2007 where he had the two back-to-back title fights against Frankie Edgar including one being the Fight of the Year in 2011. Yet, for his efforts, he was only paid $26,000.
Patrick Mix eyes submission win over Juan Archuleta for vacant belt, trashes James Gallagher
Cole Shelton - June 11, 2020
Patrick Mix is looking to claim Bellator’s vacant bantamweight title. Bellator MMA is currently on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the promotion is eyeing a July return. If they do return in July, Mix is hoping to be on the first card and is eyeing a fight against Juan Archuleta for the vacant bantamweight title.
Sean O'Malley "interested" in fighting Marlon Vera but says it's up to UFC on who he fights next
Cole Shelton - June 10, 2020
Sean O’Malley has some interest in finally fighting Marlon Vera inside the Octagon. O’Malley and Vera were expected to fight at UFC 239. Yet, the fight was scrapped due to the undefeated contender was forced off the card after traces of Ostarine was found in his system. “Chito” then took shots at O’Malley, so the 25-year-old is not opposed to finally getting the chance to fight Vera. But, he says it’s up the UFC on who he fights next.
Sean O'Malley "knew it wouldn’t take me long" to finish Eddie Wineland at UFC 250
Cole Shelton - June 9, 2020
Sean O’Malley is pleased with his UFC 250 win over Eddie Wineland. In the lead up to the fight, O’Malley told BJPENN.com he was expecting a viral knockout. He wanted something spinning, but says the one-punch walk-off KO win is good enough for him.
Mike Winkeljohn says if Jon Jones fights Francis Ngannou "it would be heavyweight from then on"
Cole Shelton - June 5, 2020
Mike Winkeljohn says if Jon Jones does move up in weight to fight Francis Ngannou it would be the end of his light heavyweight tenure. For weeks now, Jones and Ngannou have been talking about fighting one another. Recently, however, pay has been an issue for the light heavyweight champ. He then said he was going to retire and vacate the belt, which coach Winkeljohn said to BJPENN.com is 100 percent true.
Alonzo Menifield eyes stoppage win over Devin Clark at UFC 250
Cole Shelton - June 4, 2020
Alonzo Menifield believes the pressure is on him to make his fight against Devin Clark entertaining for the fans. Menifield and Clark are the second fight from the bottom on the UFC 250 card, which will be Menifield’s first fight in nearly a year. Since his last fight, a first-round knockout of Paul Craig, the undefeated prospect dealt with a serious neck injury.
Raphael Assuncao not focusing on Cody Garbrandt's past losses, knows a win puts him in title contention
Cole Shelton - June 3, 2020
Raphael Assuncao believes his UFC 250 co-main event fight against Cody Garbrandt could very well have title implications on the line. Assuncao is currently on a two-fight losing streak while Garbrandt is on a three-fight skid. Yet, both are still ranked in the top-10, with Assuncao at five.
UFC 250 | Pro fighters make their picks for Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer title fight
Cole Shelton - June 3, 2020
In the main event of UFC 250, Amanda Nunes is looking to defend her featherweight belt for the first time when she takes on Felicia Spencer. Heading into the fight the champ is a massive -650 favorite while the Canadian challenger is a +425 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros are unanimous in thinking Amanda Nunes will get it done, with many thinking it will be by stoppage.
Sean O'Malley planning for "viral knockout" of Eddie Wineland at UFC 250
Cole Shelton - June 2, 2020
Coach would be "surprised" if Jon Jones never fights again but adds he is "serious about vacating the belt"
Cole Shelton - June 1, 2020
Mike Winkeljohn says Jon Jones is happy with vacating the light heavyweight belt and walking away from the sport for a few years. Recently, Jones and Dana White have not seen eye-to-eye about his pay to move up to heavyweight and fight Francis Ngannou. “Bones” has come out and said he would walk away from the sport and on Sunday night claimed he was vacating the belt. According to his coach in Winkeljohn, the champ is 100 percent serious about it.
Felicia Spencer believes she will "shock the world" with stoppage win over Amanda Nunes
Cole Shelton - June 1, 2020
Felicia Spencer believes she’ll pull off one of the biggest upsets in MMA history on Saturday night. In the main event of UFC 250, Amanda Nunes is looking to defend her featherweight title against Spencer. It was originally supposed to happen at UFC 249 on May 9 but Nunes needed it delayed until June.
Giga Chikadze wants Edson Barboza next: "It would be the Fight of the Year"
Cole Shelton - May 29, 2020
Giga Chikadze has all the accolades in kickboxing and karate and he’s looking to add to that in MMA. Chikadze, who’s 10-2 in MMA and 3-0 in the UFC, is coming off a decision win over Irwin Rivera back at UFC on ESPN 8.
Dan Ige doesn't “see the argument” that he didn’t beat Edson Barboza, wants Jeremy Stephens next
Cole Shelton - May 28, 2020
Dan Ige doesn’t understand how people thought Edson Barboza beat him. Back at UFC on ESPN 8, Barboza made his featherweight debut against the 15th-ranked, Dan Ige. Early on in the fight, the Brazilian dropped Ige but the Hawaiian rallied in the second and third rounds to win a split decision.
Blagoy Ivanov confident he earns first UFC finish against Augusto Sakai: "I’m taking him into deep waters"
Cole Shelton - May 27, 2020
Blagoy Ivanov is confident he will earn his first UFC finish this Saturday night when he battles Augusto Sakai. Ivanov is coming off a split decision loss to Derrick Lewis at UFC 230 in a fight he thought he won. It was a disappointing outcome for the Bulgarian as a win over “The Black Beast” would’ve changed his career.
Louis Smolka promises to finish Casey Kenney: "I’m going to hit him until he breaks"
Cole Shelton - May 27, 2020
For Louis Smolka, he wishes every fight would be like his upcoming one on Saturday night against Casey Kenney. Smolka was offered the bout just one week ago, but for the Hawaiian, he didn’t hesitate to take the fight on short notice. Instead, he says he loves short notice fights and the chaos that comes with it.