Exclusive MMA Interviews News
UFC 303 | Pro fighters make their picks for Ian Machado Garry vs. Michael Page
Cole Shelton - June 27, 2024
In the main card opener of UFC 303, an intriguing welterweight bout goes down as Ian Machado Garry takes on Michael Page. Heading into the fight, Garry is a slight -162 favorite while the Brit is a +126 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the welterweight fight. Many fighters are torn on it as most believe it will go the distance, and could even be boring, but the slight majority are going with the underdog in Page to get the win.
Gillian Robertson believes Michelle Waterson-Gomez fight at UFC 303 is the beginning of her "title run"
Cole Shelton - June 27, 2024
Gillian Robertson believes she can put the strawweight division on notice with her UFC 303 fight. Robertson is set to fight Michelle Waterson-Gomez on Saturday in a pivotal fight for both of their career. The Canadian is coming off a TKO win over Polyana Viana back in January. Now, five months later she is fighting, which she says was perfect for her.
UFC 303 | Pro fighters make their picks for Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - June 26, 2024
In the main event of UFC 303, the light heavyweight title is up for grabs as Alex Pereira looks to defend his belt in a rematch against Jiri Prochazka. Heading into the fight, Pereira is a slight -142 favorite while the challenger is a +112 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the light heavyweight title fight that was made on short notice. The pros expect Pereira to use his leg kicks again and eventually land a KO shot.
Michelle Waterson-Gomez explains why she’s eager to fight Gillian Robertson at UFC 303: “Having someone not being afraid to go to the ground with me”
Cole Shelton - June 26, 2024
Michelle Waterson-Gomez is excited to fight a true grappler at UFC 303. Waterson-Gomez is set to take on Gillian Robertson on the main card of UFC 303 on Saturday night in Las Vegas. The veteran is coming off a TKO loss to Marina Rodriguez back in September, and after that fight she decided to address her nose which had been broken several times and had been impacting her breathing.
Robert Whittaker plans to make a "statement" against Ikram Aliskerov at UFC Saudi Arabia: "Stop Ikram in his tracks"
Cole Shelton - June 18, 2024
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker plans to make a statement at UFC Saudi Arabia. Whittaker was originally supposed to headline the card against Khamzat Chimaev. However, a week out from the fight, Chimaev was forced to withdraw and was replaced by Ikram Aliskerov. When Whittaker got the call, he admitted he didn’t know who Aliskerov was, but he has since become familiar with him.
Brady Hiestand says he and Garrett Armfield agreed to fight each other while in the sauna
Cole Shelton - June 15, 2024
Brady Hiestand is eager to fight again after being off for over a year. Hiestand last fought in April of last year when he scored a third-round TKO win over Danaa Batgerel. He was then booked to return in August but a staph infection kept him out. After that, he had to undergo knee surgery.
Robert Whittaker reacts to Khamzat Chimaev being out of UFC Saudi Arabia, says "nobody" wanted to take the fight against him
Cole Shelton - June 14, 2024
Robert Whittaker wasn’t sure if he was still going to headline UFC Saudi Arabia after Khamzat Chimaev was out. Whittaker was set to headline the card next Saturday against Chimaev, but on Thursday, rumors started to swirl that the undefeated fighter would be out. However, according to Whittaker, he didn’t know Chimaev was out until the UFC informed him the fight was off.
Shawne Merriman explains how he got into MMA, hopes to make Lights Out XF the premier feeder promotion
Cole Shelton - June 12, 2024
Former NFL star Shawne Merriman didn’t expect to be running his own MMA promotion, but he is doing just that. Merriman, who was drafted with the 12th overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft and spent eight years playing in the National Football League was also around the sport of MMA. During his offseasons, Merriman would train MMA with Randy Couture and other fighters, which sparked his love for combat sports.
John Castaneda vows to submit Daniel Marcos at UFC Louisville: "Peru doesn't have good wrestling"
Cole Shelton - June 7, 2024
John Castaneda was hoping to return much sooner but he’s glad he’s getting a good opponent at UFC Louisville. Castaneda last fought in November when he defeated Kyung Ho Kang by decision at UFC 295. After that, Castaneda says he did get a fight offer in March but decided to turn it down, as he didn’t think it made sense for him.
Cody Stamann plans to go back to wrestling roots against Taylor Lapilus at UFC Louisville: "Going to set a single-fight takedown record"
Cole Shelton - June 6, 2024
Cody Stamann plans to go back to his roots and wrestle his way to a win at UFC Louisville. Stamann hasn’t fought since May of 2023 when he suffered a controversial decision loss to Douglas Silva de Andrade. After the loss, Stamann was hoping for a quick turnaround. He ended up getting booked to fight in October but as he started his fight camp, he tore his bicep which put him back on the shelf.
Dustin Jacoby says he has a “couple things” up his sleeve to catch Dominick Reyes early at UFC Louisville
Cole Shelton - June 5, 2024
Dustin Jacoby believes he will catch Dominick Reyes early and score a KO win at UFC Louisville on Saturday night. Jacoby is set to return in the co-main event of the Fight Night card against Reyes. After his loss to Alonzo Menifield in December, Dustin wasn’t sure what would be next for him, but he jumped at the chance when he got the call to face Reyes.
Jared Cannonier plans to "re-open some eyes" with his performance against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Louisville
Cole Shelton - June 4, 2024
Jared Cannonier will be making the walk to the Octagon again after a year off due to injuries. Cannonier last fought back on June 17, 2023, when he defeated Marvin Vettori by decision. He was then offered to fight Khamzat Chimaev on short notice in Abu Dhabi, but Cannonier injured his MCL which has kept him out of action until now.
Jailton Almeida explains why he doesn't feel the Curtis Blaydes fight was a loss, expecting a "great fight" against Alexandr Romanov
Cole Shelton - May 30, 2024
Jailton Almeida will be looking to return to the win column on the main card of UFC 302 on Saturday against Alexandr Romanov. Almeida is coming off a knockout loss to Curtis Blaydes at UFC 299 in the second-round, this after he dominated the first round. Although the Brazilian lost the fight, he says it was a good learning lesson which is why he isn’t viewing it as a loss.
Sean Strickland says the only way he loses to Paulo Costa at UFC 302 is if he "f***s up"
Cole Shelton - May 30, 2024
Sean Strickland knows he is a much better fighter than Paulo Costa. Strickland is set to face Costa in the co-main event of UFC 302 in a five-round fight. Strickland is looking to return to the win column after losing his middleweight title back in January to Dricus Du Plessis.
UFC 302 | Pro fighters make their picks for Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa
Cole Shelton - May 30, 2024
In the co-main event of UFC 302, a middleweight bout goes down as Sean Strickland takes on Paulo Costa. Heading into the fight, Strickland is a -250 favorite while the Brazilian is a +190 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the middleweight fight. The pros believe the five rounds will favor Strickland as they expect the American to beat Costa by decision.
UFC 302 | Pro fighters make their picks for Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier title fight
Cole Shelton - May 29, 2024
In the main event of UFC 302, the lightweight title is up for grabs as Islam Makhachev looks to defend his belt against Dustin Poirier. Heading into the fight, Makhachev is a sizeable -620 favorite while ‘The Diamond’ is a +400 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the lightweight title fight. The majority of pros are rooting for Poirier to get the job done and become the champ, but they do believe Makhachev will be too much for him.
Khaos Williams vows to finish Carlston Harris at UFC Vegas 92 to "let everyone know that I'm back"
Cole Shelton - May 17, 2024
Khaos Williams will be ending his year-long layoff on Saturday night in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 92 against Carlston Harris. Williams has not fought since last May when he defeated Rolando Bedoya by split decision. After the fight, Williams says taking time off was part of the plan as every time he steps into the Octagon he says he wants to make sure everything is 100 percent perfect.
Terrance McKinney expects Esteban Ribovics to "crumble" to his "power" at UFC St. Louis: "Show there are levels"
Cole Shelton - May 9, 2024
Terrance McKinney is excited to fight in front of fans again, as he takes on Esteban Ribovics at UFC St. Louis on Saturday. McKinney is coming off a 20-second knockout win back in October and was hoping to make a quick turnaround after the result. Unfortunately, it took seven months for ‘T-Wrecks’ to get his night fight booked, but he’s ready to bring the heat again this weekend in Missouri.