Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Yair Rodriguez: All my fears came true at UFC 211
Tom Taylor - May 25, 2017
Earlier this month, on the main card of UFC 211, red hot featherweight prospect Yair Rodriguez hit a road block in the form of Frankie Edgar. Despite some strong moments in the fight, Rodriguez was grounded and ultimately stopped by his experienced foe. Now several weeks removed from this loss, Rodriguez spoke with BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor about the fight. Apparently, losing this fight was his worst fear – though he is certain he will grow from the experience.
Duane Ludwig: If we lived thousands of years ago, Conor McGregor would probably be the king
Tom Taylor - May 25, 2017
One of the hottest rivalries in MMA today is the one shared by reigning bantamweight champ Cody Garbrandt, and former champ TJ Dillashaw. As Dillashaw’s coach, Duane Ludwig has been dragged into the middle of this sizzling beef, which has recently been coming to a head on The Ultimate Fighter. On Wednesday’s edition of BJ Penn Radio, Ludwig explained to host Kinch that he has a hard time coming to grips with all the trash talk and bravado that is produced by rivalries of this kind.
Duane Ludwig discusses TJ Dillashaw's plans to become a two-division champ
Tom Taylor - May 25, 2017
Until recently, former UFC bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw was expected to challenge reigning champ and former teammate Cody Garbrandt for gold at UFC 213 this July 8. Regrettably, Garbrandt has been forced out of this planned title fight with back trouble, which has left Dillashaw without a chance to fight for gold. While the simplest option for Dillashaw would seem to be to wait for Garbrandt to recover, he’s got another plan. The talented bantamweight has recently been campaigning for a shot at Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, who rules the flyweight division 10 pounds south of bantamweight.
Mike Perry Details heated run in with Jeremy Stephens at athlete retreat
Tom Taylor - May 23, 2017
Over the weekend, the UFC flew more than 400 of its fighters out to Las Vegas for a special, athletes retreat. This retreat has generated quite a few headlines over the last few days – and very few of them have been positive. Mike Perry, however, had an amazing time participating. While Perry’s review of the retreat is overwhelming positive, however, he did have one slightly negative experience when he ran into UFC featherweight Jeremy Stephens. Apparently, things got tense enough that Perry pushed Stephens onto the ground. Perry recounted the run-in in an interview with BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor.
Volkan Oezdemir outlines his strategy against "really smart" Misha Cirkunov
Tom Taylor - May 18, 2017
On May 28, the UFC will touch down in beautiful Stockholm, Sweden with an exciting night of fights. In the evening’s co-main event, rapidly rising light heavyweight contenders Volkan Oezdemir and Misha Cirkunov will collide in a bout that has title implications written all over it. In advance of this fight, Oezdemir joined host Kinch on BJ Penn Radio to discuss Cirkunov, and the challenges he presents as an opponent.
Colby Covington on Maia vs. Masvidal: Losing questionable decisions is the story of Masvidal's career
Tom Taylor - May 18, 2017
Last weekend, on the main card of UFC 211, Jorge Masvidal gave up a close decision to Demian Maia in a clash of top-ranked welterweights. On Wednesday evening, Masvidal’s main training partner Colby Covington appeared on BJ Penn Radio to discuss the fight. He explained that he believes Masvidal should have received the nod, but that losing questionable decisions is nothing new for the veteran. “I thought my boy ‘Gamebred’ Jorge Masvidal was way more effective,” Covington said. “He did a lot more damage. He wobbled and hurt Demian Maia at the end of the first round. I thought he won the fight, you know, but he never gets the judges calls. That’s been his whole career, the story of his whole career. He’s dominated guys, beaten up guys in the fight aspect, but they’ve won on points or won by the judges’ score, like against Al Iaquinta. But it is what it is. It’s disappointing, you know. It’s his time to get his title shot, and I really wish that he was going to get that, but he’s still one fight away. He beats a guy like Stephen Thompson and he’s right back there. But it is what it is, you’ve gotta move on. The judges didn’t pick him that night, but I think Demian Maia knew who the better fighter was that night.”
Colby Covington plans to embarrass Dong Hyun Kim, then take on a top-5 foe
Tom Taylor - May 18, 2017
On June 17, Colby Covington will step into the Octagon in far-off Singapore, where he will battle South Korean star Dong Hyun Kim in the starkest test of his career thus far. Despite the scale of this test, the American Top Team staple is confident he can beat Kim decisively. Covington broke down this high-stakes showdown on the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio:
James Vick: "I would murder Eddie Alvarez, I don't think that fight would even be close"
Tom Taylor - May 18, 2017
Last weekend, on the undercard of UFC 211, dangerous lightweight talent James Vick picked up a gorgeous first-round TKO win over the durable Polo Reyes. With this win, he built on the momentum of a recent D’Arce choke defeat of Abel Trujillo, further separated himself from a loss to Beneil Dariush, and reestablished himself as a definite fighter to watch in the perilous UFC lightweight division. In the wake of this impressive defeat of Reyes, Vick made a clever callout of Kevin Less and Michael Chiesa, who will fight in the main event of the UFC’s upcoming trip to Oklahoma City. Naturally, Vick would love to fight the winner of this contest, but he also suggested he’d be willing to step into the fight on short notice, should one party get injured.
Barring injury, there's only one thing that would stop Jorge Masvidal from fighting Tyron Woodley this July
Tom Taylor - May 11, 2017
This Saturday, on the main card of a blockbuster UFC 211, Jorge Masvidal will battle Demian Maia in what appears to be a welterweight number one contender fight. If Masvidal wins this fight and earns a title shot, of course, his title shot would pit him against an old friend and training partner in Tyron Woodley. On a recent interview on BJ Penn Radio, Masvidal explained that, while fighting a former teammate for the title is not ideal, he’s prepared to do so if that’s what it comes to. During his segment on the show, Masvidal was also asked if he’d be willing to fight Woodley as soon as July. The champ, after all, been calling for a July title defense, but has had a difficult time finding a suitable opponent.
Jorge Masvidal discusses possible title fight with former teammate Tyron Woodley
Tom Taylor - May 11, 2017
This weekend, on the main card of UFC 211, Demian Maia will risk the welterweight title shot many fans feel he has already earned when he takes on dangerous contender Jorge Masvidal. In the opinion of welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, Maia’s accepting this fight was not a smart move. The champ has now said on several occasions that he believes Masvidal – his former American Top Team stablemate – will earn the win, and deprive Maia of his long-awaited shot. On the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio, Masvidal weighed in on these comments from Woodley, and on the possibility of fighting his former teammate for the belt.
Jorge Masvidal is not a fan of Bisping, will "break his face" if he feels disrespected in person
Tom Taylor - May 11, 2017
Earlier this month, headlines began to surface surrounding a small beef between streaking welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal and UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping. This beef stemmed from Masvidal’s reluctance to appear on Bisping’s podcast, Believe You Me. On Wednesday’s edition of BJ Penn Radio, Masvidal explained that this beef was a bit overblown, but that he does have a hard time respecting the middleweight champ. He also said that he’d have no problem getting physical with Bisping if he ever felt he was being disrespected in person.
Jorge Masvidal on Demian Maia: I think I'm better than him in MMA grappling
Tom Taylor - May 11, 2017
This weekend, on the main card of the stacked UFC 211, welterweight star Jorge Masvidal will face one of the trickiest tests of his career in Demian Maia, a man widely considered the welterweight division’s number one contender. Maia’s strengths, of course, are no secret. The Brazilian is one of the best grapplers in MMA, if not the best outright. Despite Maia’s incredible skill on the mat, however, Masvidal is not particularly panicked about any prospective grappling exchanges with him. In fact, he believes he’s the better MMA grappler overall. The Cuban-American contender made this claim on Wednesday’s edition of BJ Penn Radio.
Michael Johnson says his lightweight peers are avoiding tough fights, too focused on 'money fights'
Tom Taylor - May 7, 2017
Top-10 UFC lightweight Michael Johnson has not been seen in the Octagon since November of 2016, when he succumbed to a third-round submission dealt by undefeated Dagestani star Khabib Nurmagomedov. This, however, is not for lack of trying. Having recovered from his loss to Nurmagomedov, Johnson has been eager for a return to the cage for some time. Unfortunately, he’s had a very difficult time finding a willing dance partner. On the latest edition of BJ Penn Radio, Johnson explained that he believes this is because many of the UFC’s top lightweights are reluctant to take tough fights.
Michael Johnson on Rumble's retirement: what he's doing is "what every fighter wants"
Tom Taylor - May 4, 2017
Shortly after his submission loss to light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier in the main event of UFC 210, Anthony “Rumble” Johnson announced his plans to retire from mixed martial arts. Given that Rumble remained in the prime of his career, this news came as a definite surprise to pretty much everyone. On the latest edition of BJ Penn Radio, Rumble’s long-time teammate Michael Johnson weighed in on this surprising retirement from MMA.
Michael Johnson discusses the absences of Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov
Tom Taylor - May 4, 2017
The lightweight division is one of the most stacked divisions in the UFC. That said, things are a little chaotic in the division at the moment, as champ Conor McGregor is pursuing a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather, top contender Khabib Nurmagomedov has been sidelined with illness and religious obligations, and the fan favorite Nate Diaz has no plans to fight. On Wednesday’s edition of BJ Penn Radio, dangerous lightweight contender Michael Johnson weighed in on the situation at lightweight – particularly on the absences of McGregor and Nurmagomedov.
"Poor Man's Machida" Elias Theodorou explains why he'll beat Brad Tavares
Tom Taylor - May 4, 2017
On July 7, Canadian middleweight Elias Theodorou will face a tough test in Hawaii’s Brad Tavares. The two will meet at the finale of the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter, in Las Vegas, Nevada. On the latest edition of BJ Penn Radio, Theodorou discussed this looming scrap with Tavares, and was quite complimentary of the Hawaiian’s skill and potential.
Yair Rodriguez believes that "disrespectful" Frankie Edgar is the toughest fight in the featherweight division
Chris Taylor - April 29, 2017
Yair Rodriguez believes that “disrespectful” Frankie Edgar is the toughest fight in the featherweight division Surging UFC featherweight contender Yair “El Pantera” Rodriguez will return to the octagon at next month’s UFC 211 pay-per-view event in Dallas, Texas where he will square off with former UFC lightweight champion Frankie “The Answer” Edgar.
Eddie Alvarez reflects on title fight loss to Conor McGregor, plans on making a statement at UFC 211
Chris Taylor - April 29, 2017
Eddie Alvarez reflects on title fight loss to Conor McGregor, plans on making a statement at UFC 211 Former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez will return to the octagon at May’s stacked UFC 211 pay-per-view fight card in Dallas, Texas against perennial division contender Dustin Poirier.