Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Jalin Turner expects Mateusz Gamrot to try and wrestle him "a lot more now than he ever has" at UFC 285: "I see myself finishing him"
Cole Shelton - February 28, 2023
Jalin Turner thought he was going to have to fight an unranked opponent at UFC 285. Turner was supposed to take on Dan Hooker but about a month out, the Kiwi was forced to withdraw from the scrap due to a broken hand. After Hooker was forced out, Turner thought he was going to have to fight someone unranked and was surprised when seventh-ranked Mateusz Gamrot stepped up on short notice.
"Pissed off" Geoff Neal expecting an early finish or "a three-round war" against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 285: "I just feel disrespected"
Cole Shelton - February 28, 2023
Geoff Neal doesn’t think he is getting the respect he deserves heading into his UFC 285 fight against Shavkat Rakhmonov. Neal is set to take on Rakhmonov in a big fight for the welterweight division. The two were originally booked to fight back in January, but an injury to Neal forced the fight to be moved to UFC 285. After news of Neal’s withdrawal was made public, he got flooded with comments suggesting that he was scared of Rakhmonov, which he wasn’t happy about.
Bruce Buffer believes he has another 10 years of being the voice of the Octagon, but explains when he knows it will be time to retire
Cole Shelton - February 28, 2023
Bruce Buffer doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon. Buffer first worked for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, at UFC 8 in 1996, and 27 years later, he is still the voice of the Octagon. Although in 1996, the UFC was not as big as it is now, he says he pushed to get the job as he had a feeling the UFC could become the biggest thing in sports.
Tyron Woodley shares what he thinks is the best performance of his career
Cole Shelton - February 27, 2023
Tyron Woodley thinks two fights stand out as the best performances of his career, but one more than the other. Woodley is the former UFC welterweight champion and defended his title three times and had great wins over Darren Till and Robbie Lawler to win the belt. Woodley says those two performances were the best of his career, but he says the win over Till was his best because it was clear the UFC wanted the Brit to win.
Josh Watson doubts Greg Hardy will fight in BKFC again, expects to face Ben Rothwell after KO win
Cole Shelton - February 24, 2023
Josh Watson figured Greg Hardy would overlook him at KnuckleMania 3. Hardy was making his BKFC debut against Watson who was 1-1 in the sans gloves promotion. When Watson was offered Hardy he was surprised, but was excited about the matchup. Yet, he knew he was likely picked because BKFC thought he would lose to Hardy.
Tyron Woodley shares his thoughts on Edwards-Usman 3, questions why he never got an immediate rematch
Cole Shelton - February 24, 2023
Tyron Woodley has noticed a ton of champions get a rematch after they lose their belt and now questions why he didn’t get one. Woodley lost his welterweight title at UFC 235 to Kamaru Usman and after the loss, Usman went on to face Colby Covington. Yet, after Usman lost his title to Leon Edwards, he will now get an immediate rematch on March 18 at UFC 286, in a fight Woodley believes Usman will have success in.
Jasmine Jasudavicius hopes to rebook Cortney Casey fight after UFC Vegas 70, focused on just beating Gabriella Fernandes not a 50k bonus
Cole Shelton - February 23, 2023
Jasmine Jasudavicius was disappointed when Cortney Casey withdrew from their UFC Vegas 70 fight. Jasudavicius was set to face Casey this Saturday, but the veteran was forced to withdraw from the contest and was replaced by UFC newcomer Gabriella Fernandes. The news though was disappointing as the Canadian was eager to fight a well-known veteran.
Tyron Woodley claims Tommy Fury is comparable to Nate Robinson in terms of difficulty for Jake Paul: "Every other fighter, in my opinion, is tougher than Tommy"
Cole Shelton - February 23, 2023
Tyron Woodley doesn’t think Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury will be competitive. Paul and Fury are set to headline an ESPN Top Rank pay-per-view on Sunday in Saudi Arabia. It’s a fight both men have wanted and after it was booked twice previously but both times Fury pulled out but it will finally happen on Sunday.
Jordan Leavitt expects to "surprise a lot of people" at UFC Vegas 70 against Victor Martinez: "I think this fight will be a little bit more gritty than I would prefer"
Cole Shelton - February 22, 2023
Jordan Leavitt thought he would be fighting a lot sooner. Leavitt last competed back in July at UFC London as he took on Paddy Pimblett. It was a big opportunity for Leavitt but he suffered a submission loss. Yet, even though he lost, he says he learned a lot from that fight.
Tyron Woodley blasts KSI for ducking him after signing a contract to box the YouTuber: "You are not a real fighter"
Cole Shelton - February 22, 2023
Tyron Woodley believes YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI never truly wanted to box him but was using his name for clout. After Woodley lost back-to-back fights to Jake Paul, Paul mentioned Woodley as a possible opponent for his rival, KSI. The two sides then began negotiating a deal and Woodley says he signed a deal to box KSI but the YouTuber declined and decided to fight Dillon Danis instead.
Alan Belcher expects to KO Arnold Adams "early" to win BKFC heavyweight title, believes Ben Rothwell could be his first title defense
Cole Shelton - February 22, 2023
Alan Belcher is confident he will become the BKFC heavyweight champion on Friday in Louisiana at BKFC 36. Belcher is set to take on Arnold Adams for the heavyweight title in an intriguing matchup. Since signing with BKFC, Belcher is 3-0 and coming off a first-round knockout win over Frank Tate. After the win, he thought a title shot would be next, but was okay if he had to fight again.
Tyron Woodley interested in facing Jake Paul in PFL, blasts people for saying he took a dive: "If you stand still and let someone punch you as hard as they can, you can die!"
Cole Shelton - February 21, 2023
Tyron Woodley believes he and Jake Paul could fight again, but this time in MMA. Woodley made his boxing debut against Paul in August of 2021, with Jake winning a split decision in a fight the former UFC champion thought he won. The two then rematched a few months later in December but this time around, it was Paul winning by KO.
John Dodson says it's "embarassing" Reggie Barnett Jr. turned him down at KnuckleMania 3, vows to KO him in the first round to win BKFC flyweight title
Cole Shelton - February 20, 2023
John Dodson was supposed to be fighting for the inaugural BKFC flyweight title at KnuckleMania 3. Dodson was offered to face Reggie Barnett Jr. at KnuckleMania 3 – who is the current interim bantamweight champ – but Dodson says Barnett Jr. turned him down. With that, Jarod Grant took the fight in what BKFC billed as a number-one contender bout. The fight ended up not lasting long as Dodson made quick work scoring a first-round knockout.
Blake Bilder pleased with upset win over Shane Young at UFC 284, hopes to be active in 2023: "This is a race to the belt"
Cole Shelton - February 17, 2023
Blake Bilder knew going to Australia to fight Shane Young at UFC 284 would pose some problems. Bilder was making his debut against Young who hails from New Zealand and is used to the time zone and didn’t have a long flight. Along with that, with what time the card was on in Australia, it meant fighters not having the usual time to rehydrate as well as an early wake-up call to fight.
After overcoming "the fear of losing" Evan Elder expects UFC Vegas 69 fight against Nazim Sadykhov to be a "three-round drag-out war"
Cole Shelton - February 16, 2023
Evan Elder had a sense of relief when he lost to Preston Parsons in his UFC debut last April. Elder stepped up on short notice and moved up to welterweight to face Parsons and dropped a decision. It was his first career loss, and although he would’ve liked to remain undefeated, Elder says the loss has actually helped him quite a bit.
Modestas Bukauskas responds to Tyson Pedro claiming he was sick the night before UFC 284, hopes to get on UFC 286
Cole Shelton - February 16, 2023
Modestas Bukauskas knew he always belonged in the UFC. Bukauskas earned a first-round TKO victory in his Octagon debut but went on to lose his next three fights and was subsequently released from the promotion. He then picked up two wins in Cage Warriors including winning the light heavyweight title. After that, he re-signed with the UFC to step up on short notice to face Tyson Pedro at UFC 284.
John Dodson expects to "break" Jarod Grant in the first round at KnuckleMania 3, plans to be BKFC and RIZIN champ by end of 2023
Cole Shelton - February 15, 2023
John Dodson was excited when he got the call to be on KnuckleMania 3. Dodson returned to MMA on New Year’s Eve and scored a first-round TKO at RIZIN 40 as the former UFC title challenger inked a multi-fight deal with the promotion. Although he is signed with RIZIN, Dodson remains on the BKFC roster and wanted to be part of KnuckleMania 3, and he got his wish.
Austin Trout plans to be a champion in boxing and BKFC, vows to KO Diego Sanchez at KnuckleMania 3: "Shoutout to him for signing up to take this ass-whooping"
Cole Shelton - February 14, 2023
Austin Trout surprised many when he signed with BKFC. Trout is the former WBA light middleweight champion and still a top-five contender and many expected him to try and get a title shot this year. The former champ has fought the likes of Canelo Alvarez and the Charlo twins, but he wanted to be more active so inked a deal with BKFC.