Exclusive MMA Interviews News
UFC 240 | Geoff Neal believes Niko Price bout will be 'Fight of the Night'
Cole Shelton - July 26, 2019
Geoff Neal did not expect to wait this long in between fights, but he is excited with the way things worked out. The Texan will now fight on the main card of UFC 240 against Niko Price in a fight that promises to deliver. “It is really cool. Everyone knows it will be a really fun fight,” Neal said to BJPENN.com. “This is the type of fight that I like to see, so I know fans will love to see. Just a great matchup.”
Frankie Edgar discusses possible featherweight title win, potential move to 135
Cole Shelton - July 25, 2019
In the main event of UFC 240, Frankie Edgar has the chance to become a two-division UFC champion. “The Answer” already held the lightweight title from 2010-2012. Since then, the 37-year-old has dropped down to featherweight, and has been chasing gold in the division ever since. At 145 pounds, Edgar has previously fought for the undisputed title and the interim title, both times against the former champ Jose Aldo, and both times losing by decision. Now, he has a chance to capture the belt once again, this time against reigning champ Max Holloway.
UFC 240 | Pro fighters make their picks for Max Holloway vs. Frankie Edgar title fight
Cole Shelton - July 25, 2019
In the main event of UFC 240, Max Holloway is looking to defend his featherweight title when he takes on the former lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar. Heading into this fight, the featherweight champion is a -400 favorite, while “The Answer” is a +300 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions. As the odds suggest, most are leaning towards Holloway.
UFC 240 | Felicia Spencer believes she finishes Cris Cyborg in the first round
Cole Shelton - July 24, 2019
Felicia Spencer has a ton of confidence heading into the biggest fight of her career. In the co-main event of UFC 240, “Feenom” is taking on Cris Cyborg in just her second UFC fight, which is a surreal thing for the Canadian.
UFC 240 | Frankie Edgar believes he has to make Max Holloway 'second guess himself'
Cole Shelton - July 22, 2019
Frankie Edgar will soon get his long-awaited title shot against UFC featherweight champ Max Holloway. The two have been matched up at UFC 218 and UFC 222 but injuries nixed their matchup on both occasions. At UFC 240, however, the former lightweight champion Edgar is set to take on Holloway in the main event.
Germaine de Randamie wants Amanda Nunes rematch, but not at featherweight
Cole Shelton - July 19, 2019
After Germaine de Randamie beat Aspen Ladd by knockout in just 16-seconds at UFC Sacramento, many believe she is next for the title shot against reigning bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes. After all, de Randamie was ranked number-one heading into the fight and beat the then fourth-ranked fighter. Yet, de Randamie isn’t certain if Nunes is next — especially if Nunes decides to defend her UFC featherweight title next.
UFC San Antonio | Pro fighters make their picks for Rafael dos Anjos vs. Leon Edwards
Cole Shelton - July 18, 2019
The Octagon returns to Texas this Saturday for UFC San Antonio. In the main event, top welterweights collide as Rafael dos Anjos takes on Leon Edwards. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the fight. Although Edwards is a slight favorite at -130, while dos Anjos is the underdog at +100, most are favoring the Brazilian to get it done.
Germaine de Randamie defends Aspen Ladd stoppage
Cole Shelton - July 18, 2019
Germaine de Randamie headlined her second UFC card on Saturday, taking on the undefeated Aspen Ladd in the main event of UFC Sacramento. But, fans were not happy with the ending of the fight as the former featherweight champion knocked out the 24-year-old in just 16 seconds with one punch. As soon as the fight was over, boos came down from the crowd, who evidently thought the referee intervened early. De Randamie had no idea if it was an early stoppage during the fight. But, now looking back on it, the Dutch fighter believes it was a good stoppage and wonders why fans want to see fighters take more damage than necessary.
Alexey Oleynik says UFC San Antonio fight could be his last
Cole Shelton - July 15, 2019
Alexey Oleynik is in for a tough fight. At UFC San Antonio, the Russian is set to take on Walt Harris in the co-main event. The 42-year-old is looking to get back into the win column after losing to Alistair Overeem back in April. Although he lost the fight, Oleynik says he was happy with his performance as he showed off his skills and at one point had his opponent hurt.
UFC Sacramento | Pro fighters make their picks for Urijah Faber vs. Ricky Simon
Cole Shelton - July 11, 2019
UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber is set to return to the Octagon this Saturday when he takes on Ricky Simon at UFC Sacramento. This bout will be Faber’s first since he retired in 2016. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions. Although the 26-year-old in Simon is a -340 favorite, compared to Faber who is a +260 underdog, many are leaning towards the Hall of Famer getting it done.
Jorge Masvidal calls new KO record 'a real f**king achievement'
Cole Shelton - July 10, 2019
Jorge Masvidal is now a UFC record holder. At UFC 239, “Gamebred” took on Ben Askren. To start the fight, he ran across the cage and landed a perfectly placed flying knee that knocked his foe out cold. The official time of the knockout was five seconds, which is still the record. But, as Joe Rogan pointed on the broadcast, had the ref gotten in position faster, it could have very well been two or three seconds.
Marvin Vettori wants Israel Adesanya rematch, confident he 'will finish him'
Cole Shelton - July 9, 2019
Israel Adesanya is 17-0 as a pro mixed martial artist and 6-0 inside the UFC’s Octagon. While many of his UFC wins have looked quite effortless, others have come a little less easily, such as his second bout, which saw him defeat Marvin Vettori by split decision. At UFC on FOX 29, Adesanya fought Vettori and ended up winning, but it was close. One judge sided with the Italian, who is still the only person to win a judge’s favor against Adesanya in the UFC. Now, the 25-year-old wants the rematch against the interim champion and is confident he not only wins but finishes Adesanya.
Jorge Masvidal: Kamaru Usman is 'not going to hold me down'
Tom Taylor - July 9, 2019
Jorge Masvidal didn’t need to show off his impeccable defensive grappling in his UFC 239 fight with Olympic wrestler Ben Askren — you know, because he knocked him out in five seconds. That being said, Masvidal will likely have to exercise his defensive wrestling if he finds himself in the cage with reigning UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Usman, like Askren, is a tremendous takedown artist, and will probably look to punish Masvidal on the canvas.
Jorge Masvidal open to future grappling match with Ben Askren
Tom Taylor - July 9, 2019
Jorge Masvidal made very short work of his nemesis Ben Askren, flattening the former ONE and Bellator champ with a flying knee just five seconds into their UFC 239 fight. While this decisive outcome initially looked like it would put an end to the beef between Masvidal and Askren, it’s become clear that there’s still some bad blood between them.
Ricky Simon: It's a 'bad idea' for Urijah Faber to return against me
Cole Shelton - July 9, 2019
Ricky Simon did not expect to get the offer to fight UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber. Simon believed the UFC would give Urijah Faber a winnable fight in his return to action, and assures that he is not that. The 26-year-old is 15-1 as a pro and undefeated in the UFC. He is coming off of a decision win over Rani Yahya at UFC 234, which cemented him as a top-15 bantamweight. While he was waiting for his next fight contract, he was in the midst of planning a wedding and honeymoon, which he had to cancel the latter when the call to fight Faber came.
Colby Covington says win over Robbie Lawler makes him 'the best welterweight of all time'
Cole Shelton - July 9, 2019
Colby Covington will return to the Octagon in the main event of UFC Newark. On this card former interim champion will not be fighting for the welterweight title, as many expected. Instead, he is set to take on the former welterweight champion, Robbie Lawler. It will no doubt be an exciting fight, which “Chaos” admits, but he also wanted this fight for another reason. He believes a win over “Ruthless” will improve his legacy even more, and make him the greatest welterweight of all time.
Michael Chiesa glad he no longer has to worry about 'the Conor effect'
Cole Shelton - July 5, 2019
Michael Chiesa is set for his second welterweight fight this Saturday at UFC 239, where he will take on Diego Sanchez. Moving up to welterweight was something was considering for a long time given how big he is. He says he would wake up a “couple of pounds” over 180 pounds with two-weeks until fight night — quite a distance from the lightweight division’s 156-pound limit. Not having to cut as much weight as a welterweight is a huge bonus and a big stress reliever for Chiesa.
ONE Championship's Gianni Subba hoping to compete again soon
Tom Taylor - July 4, 2019
Gianni Subba was less than a day out from a fight when he received the news. The talented ONE Championship flyweight contender was informed by the promotion’s medical team that he had an arachnoid cyst — a congenital cyst, present at birth — and was pulled from his scheduled bout as a precaution. It was the day before his birthday.