Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Yana Kunitskaya says Aspen Ladd's last fight proved she is beatable
Cole Shelton - December 4, 2019
Yana Kunitskaya is looking to put Aspen Ladd on losing streak for the first time in her career. On the main card of the UFC’s imminent return to Washington D.C., Ladd is returning after the quick 16-second knockout loss to Germaine de Randamie in July. Kunitskaya believes that fight proved Ladd is beatable and she is confident she will make it two losses in a row.
Mike Winkeljohn hopes atomweight division happens for Michelle Waterson; also want Namajunas rematch
Cole Shelton - December 3, 2019
Michelle Waterson had a chance to earn a strawweight title shot with a win over Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the main event of UFC Tampa. Yet she lost by decision which sent her back to the drawing board. Her coach Mike Winkeljohn knows Waterson can be a top-fighter at 115-pounds but hopes the UFC starts an atomweight division. If that happens, he is confident Waterson would become a UFC champion.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik eyes knockout over Alistair Overeem en route to a title shot in 2020
Cole Shelton - December 2, 2019
Jairzinho Rozenstruik may be the newcomer of the year in 2019 for the UFC. He didn’t have his first UFC fight until February of this year where he knocked out Junior Albini in the second round. It was an impressive debut, but Rozenstruik did even better in his next fights, with a nine-second knockout win over Allen Crowder, then a 29-second knockout win over Andrei Arlovski.
Mike Winkeljohn says Holly Holm will return early 2020, wants Aspen Ladd fight
Cole Shelton - November 29, 2019
Holly Holm is coming off of a knockout loss to Amanda Nunes, which marked a failed bid to reclaim the UFC bantamweight title. She was expected to return against Raquel Pennington at UFC 243, but an injury forced her to pull out. Now, according to JacksonWink MMA coach, Mike Winkeljohn, the hope is that Holm will return in early 2020.
Mike Winkeljohn discusses possible heavyweight move for Jon Jones
Cole Shelton - November 29, 2019
One of the biggest question fans ask Jon Jones is when will he move to heavyweight and will he fight Daniel Cormier again? The Cormier trilogy is a massive fight, and many want to see him try his luck at heavyweight given he is practically cleared out the light heavyweight division. Yet, according to Jones’ coach in Mike Winkeljohn, “Bones” is committed to 205 pounds right now.
Mike Winkeljohn believes Jon Jones vs. Israel Adesanya will happen but it won't be a close fight
Cole Shelton - November 27, 2019
Jon Jones and Israel Adesanya have been going back-and-forth at one another on social media and a fight between the two seems likely. Yet, “The Last Stylebender” has said it won’t happen until 2021 once he clears out the middleweight division.
Mike Winkeljohn details why Diego Sanchez left JacksonWink: 'There was some goofball in our gym'
Cole Shelton - November 27, 2019
UFC 239 was expected to be a big card for JacksonWink. They had Jon Jones defending his light heavyweight title in the main event, Holly Holm challenging for the bantamweight strap in the co-main. Also on the main card was Diego Sanchez battling Michael Chiesa. Yet, just days before the fight, Sanchez left JacksonWink and was cornered by one person: a self-awareness coach with no martial arts experience.
Dan Lambert believes UFC should re-book Dustin Poirier vs. Nate Diaz
Cole Shelton - November 27, 2019
Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz were expected to fight at UFC 230 in late 2018. It was a fight many fans were excited about, but it ended up not happening. Diaz accused Poirier of pulling out due to a hip injury, yet Poirier said when he pulled out of the fight the Stockton, California native already withdraw.
Mike Winkeljohn says Jon Jones 'loves' Dominick Reyes matchup
Cole Shelton - November 25, 2019
Jon Jones is looking to defend his light heavyweight title once again when he battles Dominick Reyes on Feb. 8. For “Bones” it came down to “Dom” or Corey Anderson, but according to coach, Mike Winkeljohn, he believes Reyes posed the biggest challenge. And, it is a matchup Jones loves.
Dan Lambert expects Joanna Jedrzejczyk to fight Weili Zhang in early 2020
Cole Shelton - November 25, 2019
Joanna Jedrzejczyk is expected to fight strawweight champion Weili Zhang in early 2020. When Jedrzejczyk fought Michelle Waterson at UFC Tampa, the expectation was that she would get a title shot with a win. She ended up earning a dominant decision win, so for American Top Team owner Dan Lambert and everyone at Jedrzejczyk’s training headquarters of American Top Team, it’s now just a question of when it happens.
Josh Thomson previews Bellator London
Natasha Hooper - November 22, 2019
MMA analyst and fighting veteran, Josh Thomson discusses his predictions for this Saturday’s blockbuster Bellator London event with BJPenn.com’s Natasha Hooper. During the interview, Thomson also explained why UFC President Dana White is scared of engaging in a cross-promotion fight and who he believes would win in Bellator vs UFC showdown.
Josh Thomson taunts UFC President Dana White: ”Don’t be scared homie”
Natasha Hooper - November 22, 2019
Josh Thomson explains why UFC President Dana White is afraid of cross-promotional fights. During Thomson’s recent interview with BJPenn.com’s Natasha Hooper, the former Strikeforce lightweight Champion compared Bellator fighters to the top-ranked UFC welterweights. He said:
Allen Crowder announces retirement from MMA: 'I’ve had some memory problems'
Cole Shelton - November 21, 2019
Allen Crowder has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts. The former UFC heavyweight went 1-2 inside the Octagon.
Isaac Vallie-Flagg skeptical 'Iranian Hulk' will do well in BKFC
Tom Taylor - November 20, 2019
During the broadcast of last weekend’s BKFC 9 card, it was announced that the “Iranian Hulk” Sajad Gharibi has joined the bare knuckle promotion’s roster. Gharibi, who allegedly weighs almost 400lbs, is expected to make his debut in 2020.
Jason Knight open to Artem Lobov trilogy but also wants to shut up Johnny Bedford
Cole Shelton - November 20, 2019
Jason Knight is now 1-1 in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship as he TKO’d Artem Lobov at BKFC 9 over the weekend. It was a very good performance for Knight, who predicted he would finish Lobov. But he believes, had he not hurt his hand, the knockout would have come a lot sooner.
Isaac Vallie-Flagg eager for more fights, bigger opportunities in BKFC ring
Tom Taylor - November 19, 2019
When Isaac Vallie-Flagg walloped his fellow UFC veteran — and former roommate — Melvin Guillard to a stoppage win at BKFC 7 in August, he improved to 3-0 as a bare knuckle fighter. To long-time fans of MMA or boxing, that record might not seem like much, but in a sport as new as North American bare knuckle fighting, it’s about as impressive as it gets. In the brief period that bare knuckle fighting has been legal on this side of the world, very few people have had as much success as Vallie-Flagg.
Dan Lambert breaks down Colby Covington vs. Kamaru Usman
Cole Shelton - November 19, 2019
Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington will finally share the Octagon in the main event of UFC 245. The two have been rumored to fight each other ever since Usman won the title at UFC 235. Yet, until now, the two sides could never agree to a contract.
How Rich Franklin became the Anthony Bourdain of combat sports
Tom Taylor - November 14, 2019
Where in the world is Rich Franklin? Depending on when you ask that question, the answer might be Singapore, Mongolia, Australia, Myanmar, Pakistan — any far-flung corner of the planet you can imagine. As the President and host of ONE Warrior Series, the former UFC middleweight champion is almost always on the move.