Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Jimmy Crute plans to "have a performance of a lifetime" against Alonzo Menifield in his return at UFC 284: "I'm a terrible matchup for every single person in this division"
Cole Shelton - February 7, 2023
Jimmy Crute is set to end his 14-month layoff at UFC 284. Crute last fought in December of 2021 when he suffered a KO loss to Jamahal Hill. A couple of months later, Crute revealed he would be going under the knife for a serious knee injury. After rehabbing it, the timing worked out for him to have his return fight at home in Australia.
Modestas Bukauskas expects to finish Tyson Pedro at UFC 284 in his return to the Octagon: "The comeback story isn't a comeback story until I win in the UFC"
Cole Shelton - February 6, 2023
Modestas Bukauskas is back in the UFC. Bukauskas made his debut in 2020 on Fight Island and scored a first-round TKO win over Andreas Michailidis. However, he then lost his next three fights – losing by TKO to Jimmy Crute, dropping a controversial decision to Michal Oleksiejczuk, and losing by TKO to Khalil Rountree.
Max Rohskopf glad he's getting thrown "right into the mix" at lightweight at Bellator 290, says he doesn't "need to prove anything to anyone"
Cole Shelton - February 2, 2023
Max Rohskopf will finally make his Bellator debut on Saturday at Bellator 290. Rohskopf was supposed to make his debut last October but on the day of the fight, he was scratched from the card after not being cleared by the commission. Rohskopf was frustrated by that as he says he was cleared by three separate doctors to compete.
Adam Fugitt believes he proved he "deserves" to be in the UFC with short notice fight, eyes KO win over Yusaku Kinoshita at UFC Vegas 68
Cole Shelton - February 2, 2023
Adam Fugitt believes UFC Vegas 68 is his true Octagon debut. Fugitt stepped up on short notice back at UFC 277 and suffered a third-round TKO loss to Michael Morales. However, he was a massive underdog in the fight and had some success early on which he believes proves he belongs in the Las Vegas-based promotion.
Pro fighters make their picks for Ryan Bader vs. Fedor Emelianenko 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - February 1, 2023
In the main event of Bellator 290, the heavyweight title is up for grabs as Ryan Bader rematches Fedor Emelianenko, in the Russian’s retirement fight. Heading into the fight, Bader is a -330 favorite while the Russian is a +275 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros are unanimous in thinking Bader gets his hand raised again but many are rooting for Emelianenko to get the win.
Johnny Eblen plans to "maul" Anatoly Tokov at Bellator 290 to defend title, eyes becoming champ-champ soon: "I'm gonna put it on him, man. It's going to be fun"
Cole Shelton - January 31, 2023
Johnny Eblen knew Anatoly Tokov would be next for him. Eblen became Bellator’s middleweight champion last June with a dominant decision win over Gegard Mousasi. After the win, Eblen didn’t know when he would fight but after the Nemkov-Romero scrap was called off, he figured his first title defense would be added to Bellator 290.
Devin Clark plans "ground and pound" finish in the second round against Da Un Jung at UFC Vegas 68: "I have to get control of him"
Cole Shelton - January 31, 2023
Devin Clark was excited to go to South Korea to face Da Un Jung. When Clark originally got the matchup to face Jung the bout was set to be in Seoul, South Korea. It was a trip Clark was looking forward to as he wanted to see a different part of the world, but just before Christmas he got word the event was moving to Las Vegas.
Diego Sanchez "would love to" have retirement fight in the UFC: "I'm going to hit up Dana"
Cole Shelton - January 30, 2023
Diego Sanchez is open to fighting one last time in the UFC. Sanchez was supposed to have his UFC retirement fight back in May of 2021 against Donald Cerrone, yet Sanchez was released from the UFC due to his relationship with former champion, Joshua Fabia. The exit was not a good one, but Sanchez left Fabia and is now set for his BKFC debut at KnuckleMania 3 on February 17.
Diego Sanchez rips the Nevada State Athletic Commission for not sanctioning BKFC but allowing Power Slap
Cole Shelton - January 27, 2023
Diego Sanchez doesn’t get why the Nevada State Athletic Commission won’t sanction Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. BKFC has been sanctioned in several states but Nevada is the most prominent state the promotion and sport haven’t been allowed into. Yet, many have been critical of that decision after the NSAC allowed Power Slap to be a thing.
Thiago Moises says if Melquizael Costa didn't tap at UFC 283 he would've broken "his face", uncertain if the promotion gives him Paddy Pimblett
Cole Shelton - January 26, 2023
Thiago Moises was worried he wasn’t going to fight at UFC 283 in Brazil. Moises was supposed to face Guram Kutateladze but the Georgian pulled out of the fight just weeks prior to the event. With that, Moises was worried the UFC wouldn’t find him a replacement, but they ultimately did as he took on UFC newcomer Melquizael Costa.
Diego Sanchez fires back at people who think he has CTE and brain damage: "I will get out of this sport if I ever have one underlying factor of CTE"
Cole Shelton - January 26, 2023
Diego Sanchez is tired of people saying he has brain damage and CTE. Sanchez has been fighting professionally since 2002 and has fought a total of 44 times. Although all those matches have been in MMA, he will be making his BKFC debut at KnuckleMania 3 on February 17 against a former boxing world champion, Austin Trout.
Marcus Brimage, eight-fight UFC veteran who fought Conor McGregor announces retirement from MMA
Cole Shelton - January 25, 2023
Marcus Brimage is done with MMA. Brimage last competed in MMA in July 2021 at XMMA 2 when he lost a decision to Kyle Bochniak to drop his pro record to 7-8. Since then, Brimage has signed with BKFC and is focused on bare-knuckle and after having his BKFC fight he says he is done with MMA.
UFC 283 | Pro fighters make their picks for Gilbert Burns vs. Neil Magny
Cole Shelton - January 19, 2023
On the main card of UFC 283, a welterweight fight goes down as Gilbert Burns takes on Neil Magny. Heading into the fight, Burns is a massive -500 favorite while the American is a +340 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros expect Burns to get it done with his grappling and can likely even get a submission win at home in Brazil.
UFC 283 | Pro fighters make their picks for Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno 4 title fight
Cole Shelton - January 19, 2023
In the co-main event of UFC 283, the flyweight title is up for grabs as Deiveson Figueiredo looks to defend his strap as he and Brandon Moreno settle the score as they fight for the fourth time. Figueiredo enters the fight as a +102 underdog while the Mexican is a -130 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The fighters are nearly unanimous in thinking Moreno gets it done and becomes the champ again, in likely another competitive fight.
Cody Stamann plans to show Luan Lacerda "there are levels to this game" at UFC 283: "I'm going to set this kid down early and eventually get him out of there"
Cole Shelton - January 18, 2023
Cody Stamann didn’t want to go to Brazil to fight a UFC newcomer, but that’s the fight he was offered. After Stamann knocked out Eddie Wineland in June in less than a minute, he wanted a quick turnaround. Yet, for different reasons, it never came to fruition and he was then offered UFC newcomer, Luan Lacerda at UFC 283 which he accepted.
UFC 283 | Pro fighters make their picks for Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill title fight
Cole Shelton - January 18, 2023
In the main event of UFC 283, the vacant light heavyweight title is up for grabs as Glover Teixeira takes on Jamahal Hill. Heading into the fight, Teixeira is a +104 underdog while the American is a -132 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros slightly lean towards Hill getting his hand raised and likely doing so by knocking out Teixeira.
Johnny Walker not ruling out grappling with Paul Craig, plans to get a stoppage win at UFC 283: "If 2023 goes the way I want, I get the title shot in 2024"
Cole Shelton - January 17, 2023
Johnny Walker is prepared to grapple at UFC 283. Walker is set to be on the pay-per-view main card against Paul Craig in an intriguing matchup at light heavyweight. It’s also exciting for Walker as he gets to fight at home in Rio de Janeiro in front of his friends and family.
Dan Ige details the mental struggles of losing three fights in a row, says he spoke to a sports psychologist: "I was depressed for a little bit"
Cole Shelton - January 13, 2023
Dan Ige says he had to get past the stigma of men being weak in order to deal with the mental struggles of losing three fights in a row. After Ige knocked out Gavin Tucker, he got a main event fight against Korean Zombie in what could be a title eliminator. Unfortnately, Ige suffered a decision loss and then lost two more fights to Josh Emmett and Movsar Evloev.