Exclusive MMA Interviews News
UFC 242 | Pro fighters make their picks for Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Dustin Poirier title fight
Cole Shelton - September 5, 2019
In the main event of UFC 242, undefeated lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov wil look to defend his belt against Dustin Poirier. Heading into this fight, the champ is a -500 favorite on Bovada, while the challenger is a +350 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The majority are leaning towards Khabib Nurmagomedov, but they think it is a closer fight than the odds suggest.
UFC 242 | Diego Ferreira expecting war against Mairbek Taisumov
Cole Shelton - September 4, 2019
Diego Ferreira is set to open the UFC 242 pay-per-view card against Mairbek Taisumov. He was set to do the same thing at UFC 237 in his native Brazil, but a bout of kidney stones forced him to pull out of the bout. Now, just four months later he will return and is excited for this rescheduled matchup against Taisumov. He knows their styles will make for an entertaining fight.
Brian Ortega: The Korean Zombie is 'due for another L'
Tom Taylor - September 3, 2019
Brian Ortega is ready to step back into the UFC’s Octagon and separate himself from a late 2018 loss to reigning featherweight champion Max Holloway. He even knows who he wants to fight in his return to action: “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung. While this matchup with The Korean Zombie still isn’t official, Ortega believes it makes plenty of sense. He also likes his chances against the fan favorite Korean fighter.
Edson Barboza not looking for another Fight of the Night in Felder rematch
Cole Shelton - September 3, 2019
Edson Barboza is set for the first rematch of his career when he takes on Paul Felder in the co-main event of UFC 242 this weekend. The two first fought back at UFC on FOX 16 in 2015, when Barboza won by decision. The fight was honored as the Fight of the Night. Now, however, when the two step back into the Octagon, Barboza, who is from Brazil and trains at American Top Team, is not looking for another Fight of the Night.
Andrea Lee fighting for a lot more than title contention at UFC 242
Mike Heck - August 30, 2019
Andrea Lee has put herself in a position where a title shot is getting closer and closer. She will look to take a big step in that direction next Saturday night when she faces Joanne Calderwood at UFC 242. The event will take place at The Arena, Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and the women’s flyweight matchup will be the featured preliminary bout.
Mairbek Taisumov confident he'll soon be fighting ranked opponents on US soil
Tom Taylor - August 30, 2019
Mairbek Taisumov has won his last six fights — five of them via knockout. Under ordinary circumstances, the Russian-Austrian lightweight would have earned a ranked opponent by now. Yet his situation has been anything but normal. Despite his incredible success in the UFC lightweight division, Taisumov has been hindered by a litany of issues unrelated to fighting — most notably a longstanding difficulty obtaining a United States visa, and more recently, a United States Anti-Doping Agency suspension due to a tainted dietary supplement.
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos not frustrated by having to fight unranked opponents
Cole Shelton - August 29, 2019
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos is currently ranked 14th in the UFC welterweight division and is on a seven-fight winning streak. Despite his success, the Brazilian continues to be matched up with unranked opponents. Yet dos Santos doesn’t care if he fights ranked or unranked opponents. Instead, he is just focused on fighting.
Jessica Andrade plans to call out Valentina Shevchenko after UFC Shenzhen
Cole Shelton - August 29, 2019
UFC strawweight champ Jessica Andrade is days out from her first title defense, as she’s set to take on Weili Zhang in the main event of UFC Shenzhen this Saturday. Although Zhang is a tough opponent, the Brazilian champ is already eyeing her next fight, and she wants it to be a super fight. She has been talking about fighting Valentina Shevchenko and now plans on calling her out if she wins on Saturday.
Jessica Andrade plans to prove she is 'the best in the world' at UFC Shenzhen
Cole Shelton - August 28, 2019
Jessica Andrade is set for her first title defense in the main event of UFC Shenzhen. She will be taking on Weili Zhang in the challenger’s home country of China. For Andrade, defending her belt in hostile territory will be a new experience, but fighting in someone else’s backyard will not be.
Andrea Lee signs new six-fight extension heading into UFC 242
Mike Heck - August 28, 2019
Andrea Lee will return to action next weekend in a pivotal women’s flyweight matchup with Joanne Calderwood at UFC 242 and will do so with a new contract with the organization. In a recent interview with BJPENN.com, “KGB” revealed that she has signed a six-fight deal with the organization heading into her bout with Calderwood, which takes place Sept. 7 The Arena, Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Weili Zhang open to Valentina Shevchenko fight after UFC Shenzhen
Tom Taylor - August 28, 2019
There has never been a Chinese champion in the UFC. Hebei’s Weili Zhang is looking to change that. This Saturday, when the UFC touches down in Shenzhen, China, the streaking strawweight contender will battle Brazilian champion Jessica Andrade for divisional gold. Zhang can imagine no outcome more perfect than becoming the UFC’s first Chinese champion in front of an arena-full of Chinese fans, and believes a victory will inspire people all over her country.
UFC Shenzhen | Pro fighters make their picks for Jessica Andrade vs. Weili Zhang title fight
Cole Shelton - August 28, 2019
This weekend, the Octagon heads to Shenzhen, China. In the card’s main event, Jessica Andrade will put her strawweight title on the line against China’s Weili Zhang. Heading into the fight, the champion is a -160 favorite, while the challenger from China is a +130 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The majority are leaning towards Jessica Andrade’s power being too much for Weili Zhang.
TUF 28 winner Juan Espino explains absence, gives timeframe for return
Cole Shelton - August 26, 2019
If you watched The Ultimate Fighter 28 you would know the two winners were Juan Espino and Macy Chiasson. Since winning it, Chiasson has fought twice and has her third fight booked. Juan Espino, meanwhile, has still yet to fight. He beat Justin Frazier at The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale in November of 2018 and has been out of action since. There has been no news on when he will fight, and no details on whether he was hurt or on what was keeping him out of the Octagon.
Mark De La Rosa is ready to make some noise in the flyweight division
Natasha Hooper - August 26, 2019
Mark De La Rosa is ready to up the ante as he faces off against Kai Kara-France at UFC Shenzhen. The former 135-pounder is moving down to flyweight for the second time to face Kara-France in China on Saturday, August 31. Despite losing his most recent fight to Alex Perez earlier this year, De La Rosa is feeling confident about his upcoming fight.
Austin Vanderford gives update on wife Paige VanZant
Cole Shelton - August 23, 2019
Paige VanZant has not fought since January of this year, when she submitted Rachael Ostovich. Since then, she has been sidelined due to yet another broken arm. For her husband Austin Vanderford, it has been hard to see her be on the shelf once again. “The hardest part of our relationship has been her arm. It is hard to relate it to anything else. Really, it just takes away from what she wants to do,” Vanderford told BJEPNN.com. “She has her foot in a lot of things and is very smart and has built her brand to go further than fighting. But, her fighting is the most important thing. If anything has proven that is this injury. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t get to see that. She is a fighter first and foremost.”
Volkan Oezdemir hopes to battle Jan Blachowicz or KO Dominick Reyes
Cole Shelton - August 23, 2019
Switzerland’s Volkan Oezdemir has wanted to run it back with Dominick Reyes ever since his controversial loss to the American earlier this year. But Reyes is set to take on Chris Weidman, so the fight isn’t possible right now. For that reason, Oezdemir is turning his attention to Jan Blachowicz.
Austin Vanderford wants 'marquee names' after Bellator 225
Cole Shelton - August 22, 2019
Austin Vanderford will return to the cage at Bellator 225 and will take on Joseph Creer. Both men are undefeated. When he makes the walk to the cage he will be fighting at middleweight for the first time. He decided to move up a division for a simple reason, but also notes a return to welterweight is not impossible.
Javy Ayala expects Vitaly Minakov fight to be 'fireworks'
Cole Shelton - August 22, 2019
Javy Ayala is coming off of the biggest win of his career, as he TKO’d Frank Mir back in December. Now, in the co-main event of Bellator 225 this weekend, he’s set to take on the former champion in Vitaly Minakov. Although Javy Ayala hasn’t fought since December, he isn’t worried about his layoff. Instead, he says he used that time to better his game and was excited when he finally got a fight offer — especially when he saw Minakov’s name on the contract.