Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson will be a lot bigger when he enters the octagon at UFC 209
Chris Taylor - February 22, 2017
Top UFC welterweight contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson will get his second shot at UFC gold in less than two weeks when he rematches current division champion Tyron Woodley in the main event of UFC 209. Prior to his highly anticipated rematch with “The Chosen One”, Thompson took the time to speak with BJPENN.com’s Chris Taylor on today’s episode of Rapid Fire.
EXCLUSIVE | Stephen Thompson shares some inside information on Mayweather vs. McGregor
Tom Taylor - February 22, 2017
The biggest ongoing story in combat sports today surrounds a potential mega fight between UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor and semi-retired boxing great Floyd Mayweather Jr. Fans, pundits, and fighters alike have been wondering for months if this bout will actually happen, and if it does, which of the two stars will come out on top. According to Stephen Thompson, who fights for the UFC welterweight title on March 4, this potential mega bout does not look good for McGregor. The upcoming title challenger explained this belief on the latest episode of Rapid Fire with BJPENN.COM’s Chris Taylor.
EXCLUSIVE | Stephen Thompson "If Woodley is focused on other things, then that will be his downfall"
Chris Taylor - February 21, 2017
UFC welterweight sensation Stephen Thompson will return to the octagon on March 4 when he rematches current division title holder Tyron Woodley in the main event of UFC 209 in Las Vegas. Thompson and Woodley first met at this past November’s UFC 205 event in New York, and after five-rounds of war their championship contest was ruled a majority draw by the judges in attendance.
EXCLUSIVE | Stephen Thompson will be a lot bigger when he enters the octagon at UFC 209
Chris Taylor - February 21, 2017
Top UFC welterweight contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson will get his second shot at UFC gold in less than two weeks when he rematches current division champion Tyron Woodley in the main event of UFC 209. Prior to his highly anticipated rematch with “The Chosen One”, Thompson took the time to speak with BJPENN.com’s Chris Taylor on today’s episode of Rapid Fire.
EXCLUSIVE | 'The Korean Zombie' hoping for an arena full of zombies at next fight
Russell Ess - February 15, 2017
Even after three-and-a-half years, “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung didn’t skip a beat in his return to competition in the UFC. Jung stepped into the Octagon to take on then-#9 UFC ranked featherweight Dennis Bermudez after taking time off to fulfill his mandatory service in the military for South Korea. Jung took the opportunity that was broadcasted on FOX Sports 1 to showcase his skillset that has garnered him a cult-like following.
EXCLUSIVE | "The Korean Zombie" doesn't anticipate a rematch with Jose Aldo
Tom Taylor - February 15, 2017
Earlier this month, Chan Sung Jung – more widely known as “The Korean Zombie” – returned from a lengthy hiatus to score a blistering, first-round knockout win over a game Dennis Bermudez. With this win, the resurgent fan favorite was immediately talked about as a potential featherweight title challenger. Jung, of course, is quite familiar with reigning featherweight champion Jose Aldo. The pair fought back in 2013, in the main event of UFC 163. On that night, Aldo came out on top, capitalizing on a Korean Zombie shoulder injury to earn a TKO win.
UFC London gets new welterweight co-main event
Tom Taylor - February 14, 2017
For several weeks, we have known that a light heavyweight scrap between British knockout artist Jimi Manuwa and American wrestler Corey Anderson would serve as the main event of the UFC’s March 18 return to London, England. Now, we also know the card’s co-main event. London’s co-main event spot will be filled by a welterweight scrap between fan favorite striker Alan Jouban, and Icelandic grappling specialist Gunnar Nelson. This booking was initially reported by @TalkMMA on Twitter, and confirmed by a Tuesday press release from the UFC.
EXCLUSIVE | Korean Zombie on McGregor vs. Mayweather: "I'd put every last cent I have on Floyd"
Chris Taylor - February 12, 2017
Last weekend, the UFC touched down in Houston, Texas with its annual Super Bowl weekend card which featured the return of the Korean Zombie. The event was headlined by an intriguing featherweight showdown. In one corner, we had Dennis Bermudez. In the other, we had Chan Sung Jung – more widely known as “The Korean Zombie” – who was returning from a hiatus of more than three years.
EXCLUSIVE | The Korean Zombie opens up on fatherhood and fighting
bjpenndotcom - February 10, 2017
This past weekend, featherweight superstar ‘The Korean Zombie’, Chan Sung Jung stepped into the Octagon for the first time in nearly 4 years. The return was a triumphant one for the fan-favorite featherweight, who had been absent from the Octagon since his 2013 TKO loss to Jose Aldo. Following that fight, The Korean Zombie began his mandatory two-years of military service to South Korea. Fortunately, The Korean Zombie was able to continue training despite his military service, however that combined with fatherhood has certainly left a lasting impact on the zombie, and how he views fighting.
EXCLUSIVE | Korean Zombie reveals who he wants to fight next
Tom Taylor - February 10, 2017
Last weekend, the UFC touched down in Houston, Texas with its annual Super Bowl weekend card. This year, the card was headlined by an intriguing featherweight showdown. In one corner, we had Dennis Bermudez. In the other, we had Chan Sung Jung – more widely known as “The Korean Zombie” – who was returning from a hiatus of more than three years. Despite his lengthy layoff, which was due in large part to the two years of mandatory military service required of all South Korean men, the Korean Zombie looked better than ever in this fight, knocking his foe out with a rocket-fuelled uppercut in the very first round. With this emphatic win, fans began to drool over the many exciting matchup options that exist for him in the UFC featherweight division, from Cub Swanson, to Yair Rodriguez, to Jeremy Stephens.
EXCLUSIVE | Derek Brunson weighs-in on potential Gegard Mousasi rebooking
bjpenndotcom - February 8, 2017
Leading up to UFC 200, top ranked middleweight Derek Brunson was set to face off with Gegard Mousasi in a highly anticipated middleweight showdown. Unfortunately, leading up to the fight, Brunson was forced to pull out of the fight with vision issues. Now, ahead of his scheduled UFC 208 scrap against Anderson Silva this weekend in Brooklyn, Brunson is 100% healthy and ready to move one step closer to a middleweight title shot. With that being said however, Brunson believes a rescheduled fight with Mousasi could be on the horizon.
EXCLUSIVE | Tim Boetsch makes his picks for Bisping vs. Romero, Weidman vs. Mousasi
Tom Taylor - February 8, 2017
This Saturday, on the main card of UFC 208, Tim Boetsch will take on the incredibly dangerous Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. If he’s able to spring the upset against this highly regarded foe, he will find himself in the top-end of the middleweight rankings, where fights with foes like Chris Weidman, Gegard Mousasi, Yoel Romero, and champ Michael Bisping could await. All four of the aforementioned men, of course, are currently busy. Weidman and Mousasi will duke it out at UFC 210, while Bisping and Romero are expected to fight for the title sometime in the next few months.
EXCLUSIVE | Ben Rothwell discusses the injuries of Cain Velasquez and his teammates
Tom Taylor - February 6, 2017
Back in December of 2016, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was scheduled to rematch a fellow former champ in Fabricio Werdum. The winner of this fight was expected to challenge reigning champ Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight crown. Unfortunately, Velasquez was forced out of this anticipated heavyweight showdown with an injury just days before it was supposed to go down. This marked the latest incident in the long string of injuries that have marred the recent years of his otherwise incredible career.
EXCLUSIVE | Derek Brunson ready to "make waves", return to title contention
bjpenndotcom - February 4, 2017
At UFC 208, #8 ranked middleweight Derek Brunson will step into the Octagon with #7 ranked middleweight, former UFC middleweight kingpin, Anderson Silva. The fight is one that has drawn the attention of MMA fans, who are eager to see Brunson and Silva step into the Octagon for a fight that has the stylistic makings of a thrilling scrap. Since signing with the promotion in 2012, Brunson has been on a tear, going 7-2 over the course of the past five years. In 2014, Brunson suffered the first defeat of his UFC career at the hands of Yoel Romero in a fight he was arguably winning. After out-striking Romero, and taking the Olympic wrestler down three times throughout the first two rounds, Brunson was TKOd in the third round. Fortunately for the All-American Wrestler, he bounced back in dominant fashion, going on a 5-fight win streak that saw him finish four of the wins in the very first round. On the cusp of a title shot in 2016, Brunson stepped into the Octagon with streaking middleweight Robbie Whittaker in a scrap that was promoted to the main event just weeks before the fight. The fight proved to be a thrilling one, however Brunson was TKOd in the first round. While the top ranked middleweight has never made excuses for the loss, he admits that the experience of going from a 3-round fight to a 5-round fight threw him off:
EXCLUSIVE | Jorge Masvidal: If Demian Maia wants to get that ass whooped, I’m here
Tom Taylor - January 30, 2017
On Saturday night, the UFC touched down in Denver, Colorado with UFC on Fox 23. In the evening’s co-main event, hometown hero Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone looked to extend his welterweight record to 5-0 with a win over the ever-dangerous Jorge Masvidal. Masvidal, however, had other plans. After very nearly finishing Cowboy in the first, the American Top Team staple put his his foe down with a series of hooks to the body in the second. Just over 24 hours removed from this massive win, Masvidal took time out of his busy schedule to speak with Chris Taylor of BJPenn.com.
EXCLUSIVE | Jorge Masvidal on Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone: Hashtag ‘Easy Money’
Russell Ess - January 27, 2017
Jorge Masvidal is more than excited to meet Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in the middle of the Octagon at UFC on FOX 23 on January 28. Masvidal was a guest on Wednesday’s episode of BJPENN.COM Radio and told host Jason “Kinch” Kindschy that he knew it was just a matter of time that he would be fighting Cerrone, and now is looking to step in front of him in the rankings at welterweight for his climb up to a title shot.
EXCLUSIVE | Phil Baroni weighs in on BJ Penn’s loss to Yair Rodriguez
Chris Taylor - January 22, 2017
Former two division UFC champion BJ Penn returned to the octagon at last weekend’s UFC Fight Night 103 event in Phoenix, Arizona. The UFC Hall of Famer, Penn, squared off with surging featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez in the evening’s main event.
EXCLUSIVE | Mike Perry was involved in one hell of a brawl in Orlando
Chris Taylor - January 22, 2017
UFC welterweight fighter Mike Perry suffered the first loss of his professional career at last month’s UFC on FOX event in Sacramento dropping a decision against surging division contender Alan Jouban. Prior to the setback, “Platinum” had put together a very impressive win streak which included six first-round finishes.