Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Loopy Godinez believes she deserves a ranked opponent next after short notice win over Emily Ducote
Cole Shelton - May 29, 2023
Loopy Godinez didn’t think she would make such a quick turnaround to the Octagon. After Godinez beat Cynthia Calvillo at UFC 287 she said she wanted a bit of time off to go to Mexico and train with Alexa Grasso and Irene Aldana. Yet, she was offered a short-notice fight against Emily Ducote at UFC Vegas 73 which she accepted as she liked the style matchup.
Joe Pyfer reveals he may need surgery, still hopeful to rematch Dustin Stoltzfus next: "It's personal for me"
Cole Shelton - May 25, 2023
Joe Pyfer isn’t sure when he will be able to fight again. Pyfer is set to grapple Gerald Meerschaert – who he knocked out at UFC 287 – this Saturday night. However, he says he is using that grappling match as a chance to see if he needs surgery on his injury or if he can fight through it.
Jimmie Rivera says four opponents - including Chad Mendes - turned him down in BKFC, expects to fight for the belt next time out
Cole Shelton - May 24, 2023
Jimmie Rivera finally got his first win in BKFC. Rivera made his BKFC debut last June against Howard Davis and they fought to a draw. Since then, he has been campaigning for a fight but he says numerous fighters turned him down, including Chad Mendes, which was frustrating for Rivera as he wanted to be more active than this.
Joe Pyfer details "inspirational" documentary on his story from being abused as a kid to making the UFC
Cole Shelton - May 23, 2023
Joe Pyfer never thought he would have a documentary made about his life. Pyfer grew up in a troubled home as he dealt not only with poverty but also he and four sisters being abused by his father. During his childhood, Pyfer had run away from home numerous times and only his close friends knew how bad his childhood truly was, including Chandler Henry who went on to become a film director.
Cody Stamann planned to call out Movsar Evloev had he beat Douglas Silva de Andrade at UFC Charlotte
Cole Shelton - May 19, 2023
Cody Stamann had an interesting callout ready had he beat Douglas Silva de Andrade at UFC Charlotte. Stamann entered the fight with de Andrade with a ton of confidence as he felt like his wrestling would prove to be too much for his opponent. In the first round, Stamann got de Andrade to the ground but was then hit with an illegal upkick. However, instead of regaining position, the ref stood them up. The Brazilian then won the first round and ended up winning the fight because of that, which Stamann plans to appeal.
Bryan Battle says Ian Garry will avoid fighting him as the Irishman knows he'd get knocked out
Cole Shelton - May 19, 2023
Bryan Battle was pumped when he got the short notice call to fight Gabe Green at UFC Charlotte. Battle was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, and has repped his home his entire career. With that, he knew fighting at home would be special and he says all fight week felt like a dream.
Loopy Godinez explains why she accepted short notice fight against Emily Ducote at UFC Vegas 73
Cole Shelton - May 18, 2023
Loopy Godinez has taken another short-notice fight. Ever since Godinez signed with the UFC, the Mexican-Canadian has been adamant to take any fight offered to her, even if it is on short notice. Godinez says she is always in the gym anyways, so when she got offered to face Ducote on less than three weeks’ notice she jumped at the chance.
Vanessa Demopoulos confident her "superior" grappling will lead to stoppage win against Karolina Kowalkiewicz
Cole Shelton - May 18, 2023
Vanessa Demopoulos has made a big change to her fighting career ahead of her UFC Vegas 73 fight against Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Demopoulos was forced to leave Fight Ready and in the process of picking a new gym, she went to Factory X in Denver, Colorado, and loved it. She felt a great family atmosphere and she knows training at elevation will only help her game that much more.
Houston Alexander doubts BKFC 43 main event fight against Jeremy Smith goes past two rounds
Cole Shelton - May 17, 2023
Houston Alexander is ecstatic to be fighting back at home in Omaha, Nebraska. Alexander is set to headline BKFC 43 against Jeremy Smith. The 51-year-old is 3-0 in BKFC and many thought he would get a title shot after he knocked out Joey Beltran his last time out. Yet, he isn’t worried about getting a title shot and just wanted to fight and when he got matched up against Smith, he admits he wasn’t too familiar with him.
Diego Ferreira admits he thought about retiring due to injures, expects a "war" against Michael Johnson
Cole Shelton - May 16, 2023
Diego Ferreira wasn’t sure if he was going to fight again. Ever since Ferreira suffered a TKO loss to Mateusz Gamrot in December of 2021 – which was his third loss in a row – he has dealt with a plethora of injuries. Those ailments kept him from competing and he admits the time off has been difficult.
Chase Hooper explains why he moved up to lightweight, plans to drag Nick Fiore into "deep waters"
Cole Shelton - May 16, 2023
Chase Hooper is finally making the move up to lightweight. When Hooper entered the UFC he fought at featherweight, but as he started to get older and add size, the weight cut began getting harder and harder. Hooper had to stop eating food a week or two before the fight and instead only had protein shakes, which he says no doubt impacted his performance.
Bryan Battle says having hometown fight in the UFC is a "dream come true," believes he's a "step ahead" of Gabe Green
Cole Shelton - May 12, 2023
Bryan Battle is getting a homecoming of sorts. Battle is set for his fifth UFC fight after winning TUF 29 at middleweight and will be taking on Gabe Green at UFC Charlotte. Although the fight is in his hometown, he wasn’t booked on the card until he saw Jake Matthews pulled out of his bout with Gabe Green and asked his manager to get him that fight.
Pro fighters make their picks for Anthony Smith vs. Johnny Walker
Cole Shelton - May 11, 2023
In the co-main event of UFC Charlotte, a light heavyweight bout goes down as Anthony Smith takes on Johnny Walker. Heading into the scrap, the fight is lined as a pick’em as both Smith and Walker are listed at -113 on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight at UFC Charlotte, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. Although the scrap is listed as a pick’em, the pros are nearly unanimous in thinking Smith gets the win by using his wrestling.
Alex Morono expecting a "fun fight" against Tim Means at UFC Charlotte, eyes Matt Brown or Ian Garry next: "Bang it out with The Dirty Bird"
Cole Shelton - May 10, 2023
Alex Morono always figured he would face Tim Means eventually. Once Morono started to fight the more well known guys like Anthony Pettis and Donald Cerrone, he always thought a matchup against Means would make sense. He has watched Means for years and knew it would be a fun fight. Now, he got his wish as he was matched up against ‘The Dirty Bird’ at UFC Charlotte.
Cody Stamann expects to "submit" Douglas Silva de Andrade "early" at UFC Charlotte, eyes "someone big" next time out: "I don't want to be a gatekeeper"
Cole Shelton - May 10, 2023
Cody Stamann was hopeful to make a quick turnaround and he got his wish. Stamann went down to Brazil and picked up a decision win over Luan Lacerda in January at UFC 283. Given he didn’t take much damage he wanted another fight right away and he got his wish as he will face Douglas Silva de Andrade at UFC Charlotte.
Matt Brown plans to make a "statement" with KO win over Court McGee at UFC Charlotte: "I'm going to show I could do many more whether I choose to or not"
Cole Shelton - May 9, 2023
Matt Brown will finally be back in action this weekend. Brown last fought at UFC Columbus in March of last year where he dropped a split decision to Bryan Barberena. It was a fight he thought he won, and since then injuries have kept him out of the Octagon. However, he is now back to full health and will fight at UFC Charlotte against Court McGee, which he is excited for.
Aung La NSang breaks down fight with Fan Rong: “I don’t see it going to the judges”
Zain Bando - May 5, 2023
Former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Aung La NSang will compete on U.S. soil for the first time in his ONE Championship career. La NSang returns to ONE for the first time since January, as he is coming off a first-round stoppage win against Gilberto Galvão, needing less than two minutes to get the job done.
Ben Rothwell says Josh Copeland is in the top-three "best chins" he's ever fought, eyes title fight against Alan Belcher after BKFC 41: "I'll see you in the ring and show you the truth"
Cole Shelton - May 5, 2023
Ben Rothwell is glad he was able to go a couple of rounds at BKFC 41. Rothwell was supposed to take on Josh Watson after his upset knockout win over Greg Hardy, but unfortunately, that fight never happened. Luckily for Rothwell, Josh Copeland stepped up which he was pleased with as he said it was a more anticipated fight.