Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Houston Alexander "would love to take a crack" at boxing Jake or Logan Paul: "I have a ton of respect for them"
Cole Shelton - November 28, 2022
Houston Alexander is open to taking a boxing fight and has two names in mind. Alexander – who is 50 years old – is coming off another knockout win in BKFC as he is 3-0 in the promotion. The veteran has also competed for the UFC, Bellator, KSW, and many other promotions but he has never had a pro boxing fight.
Brady Hiestand disappointed he didn't finish Fernie Garcia at UFC Vegas 65, hopes for a quick turnaround: "I dominated the entire fight"
Cole Shelton - November 26, 2022
Brady Hiestand is disappointed he didn’t finish Fernie Garcia but is pleased with how dominant it was. Hiestand was set to fight Garcia at UFC Vegas 65 in his first fight after having knee surgery and coming off TUF. It was the longest layoff of his career but it didn’t appear to impact him as Hiestand used his wrestling to control the fight.
Miles Johns admits not having James Krause in his corner was "challenging," explains why he's "not happy" with his win over Vince Morales
Cole Shelton - November 25, 2022
Miles Johns is disappointed with how he fought at UFC Vegas 65. Johns stepped up on short notice to take on Vince Morales in his first fight off suspension and changing camps. With that, he says that impacted him too much, which is why didn’t fight the way he usually does.
Kevin Croom explains why he signed with BKFC, pleased with KO win in his debut: "It is a good way to get paid without fighting world-class athletes"
Cole Shelton - November 24, 2022
Kevin Croom decided to give BKFC a try after he was released from the UFC. After Croom lost three fights in a row in the UFC he was released and then fought on the regional scene and picked up a win. After he returned to the win column in MMA, he signed with BKFC which was an easy decision for him.
Stevie Ray plans to be the first person to finish former training partner Olivier Aubin-Mercier to win the PFL lightweight title: "We have both submitted each other"
Cole Shelton - November 23, 2022
Stevie Ray is happy to shut up the doubters as he fights for the PFL lightweight title. Following Ray’s majority decision win over Michael Johnson, it was reported he retired from MMA. Yet, he then told BJPENN.com that he only retired because the UFC released him and went on to sign with the PFL. Ray then ended his two-and-a-half-year layoff but dropped his debut to Alex Martinez. After losing to Martinez, he submitted Anthony Pettis to earn a playoff spot and beat Pettis once again to advance to the finals.
Larissa Pacheco expects Kayla Harrison to return for 2023 season after she wins PFL title: "I'm going to win and she will not take that"
Cole Shelton - November 23, 2022
Larissa Pacheco believes she is at her best ahead of her PFL Championship fight against Kayla Harrison. Pacheco fought Harrison twice in 2019 in the regular season and for the inaugural PFL women’s lightweight title with Harrison winning both by decision. Since then, Pacheco believes she is a true lightweight now and has only improved since their first two fights.
Brendan Loughnane makes it clear Bubba Jenkins won't "stand" with him, confident he'll become the PFL featherweight champion: "I'm a better mixed martial artist"
Cole Shelton - November 22, 2022
Brendan Loughnane is ready to finally say he’s a world champion. Loughnane is set to face Bubba Jenkins for the PFL’s featherweight title in the championship event at the Hulu Theater in New York on Friday. Loughnane defeated Chris Wade to get to the finals, while Jenkins beat Ryoji Kudo by submission.
Olivier Aubin-Mercier says PFL lightweight title fight against Stevie Ray may be his retirement bout: "I don't know if I have one more year in me"
Cole Shelton - November 22, 2022
Olivier Aubin-Mercier could be fighting for the final time on Friday. Aubin-Mercier is set to face Stevie Ray for the PFL lightweight title in the championship event from the Hulu Theater in New York City. To get to the final, the Canadian beat Natan Schulte and Alex Martinez in the regular season. In the semifinals, he defeated Martinez again to set up the showdown with Ray.
Chris Gutierrez says KO win over Frankie Edgar was "bittersweet," believes he proved he belongs
Cole Shelton - November 18, 2022
Chris Gutierrez says his win over Frankie Edgar was bittersweet for a few reasons. Gutierrez was set for the biggest fight of his career at UFC 281 as he was taking on Frankie Edgar in his retirement fight. It was a big moment for Gutierrez and he delivered as he got a first-round KO. However, he says it was a bittersweet moment as it was hard to see a legend like Edgar end his career that way.
Fernie Garcia says his "back is against the wall" against Brady Hiestand after "dissapointing" UFC debut: "I see a war"
Cole Shelton - November 17, 2022
Fernie Garcia believes the pressure is on him to prove to everyone just how good he is. Garcia lost his UFC debut by decision to Journey Newson back at UFC 274 in May. It was a disappointing performance for Garcia who was frustrated that he didn’t fight like himself.
Brady Hiestand plans to be "the first person to finish" Fernie Garcia at UFC Vegas 65: "It will be a good win on my résumé"
Cole Shelton - November 17, 2022
Brady Hiestand is vieweing his UFC Vegas 65 fight against Fernie Garcia as his official UFC debut. Hiestand is coming off a split-decision loss to Ricky Turcios in August of 2021 in the TUF 29 finale. It was a very close fight and after the loss, Hiestand went under the knife for his knee as he was fighting through an ACL tear.
Vince Morales excited for Miles Johns fight, plans to "do something spectacular" at UFC Vegas 65: "We will both meet in the middle and find right hands"
Cole Shelton - November 16, 2022
Vince Morales was happy when Miles Johns stepped up on short notice to fight him. Morales was supposed to face Jose Johnson, which is a fight Morales didn’t want. He and Johnson have trained in the past and have become close which also includes them playing video games with one another. So, when he pulled out and Johns replaced him at UFC Vegas 65, Morales was excited.
Miles Johns explains why he left Fortis to train at Glory, hopes for stoppage win over Vince Morales: "I'm trying to be violent when I'm in there"
Cole Shelton - November 15, 2022
Miles Johns made a big change to his career ahead of his UFC Vegas 65 fight against Vince Morales. When Johns makes the walk to the Octagon, he will do so with a new coach as he left Fortis MMA to train under James Krause at Glory. Although the decision was a hard one, Johns said it was needed as he wanted to be closer to family.
Matt Frevola says KO of Ottamn Azaitar was the biggest win of his career, wants to fight Paddy Pimblett in London: "I could finish him anywhere"
Cole Shelton - November 15, 2022
Matt Frevola let the fans decide his game plan for his UFC 281 fight against Ottman Azaitar. After Frevola had weighed-in, he posted a poll on Twitter asking fans if he should wrestle or stand and trade with Azaitar. Of course, the stand and trade option won, which is exactly what Frevola did and led to a first-round KO.
Andre Petroski disappointed he lost his 100 percent finish rate at UFC 281, believes he'd submit Bo Nickal: "I don't think he has that dog in him"
Cole Shelton - November 14, 2022
Andre Petroski remained undefeated in the UFC with a decision victory over Wellington Turman at UFC 281. Andre entered the fight being 3-0 in the UFC with three stoppage wins. The hope for Petroski was to submit Turman and continue to prove he’s the best grappler in the UFC. Although that didn’t happen, Petroski earned a clear-cut decision win, which he’s happy with.
Grant Dawson reveals he nearly pulled out of Mark Madsen fight, says he plans to fight Tony Ferguson and Dan Hooker in 2023
Cole Shelton - November 14, 2022
Grant Dawson is quite happy with his third-round submission win over Mark Madsen – especially with everything he overcame. Dawson took the fight on short notice as he knew it was a fight that would likely get him in the rankings. Yet, on weigh-in day, Dawson came in heavy which he isn’t making excuses for. Instead, he turned his attention to the fight and put on a great performance.
Mario Bautista "super happy" with first-round submission win over Benito Lopez, hopes for a ranked opponent next
Cole Shelton - November 11, 2022
Mario Bautista couldn’t be happier with his win over Benito Lopez at UFC Vegas 64. Bautista was set to face the returning Lopez who hadn’t fought since 2019 and the goal for Bautista was to put him away early. He wanted to prove he is a lot better than Lopez and he did just that as he scored a first-round submission win.
Frankie Edgar reflects on career ahead of retirement fight, reveals the one opponent he wishes he could've fought
Cole Shelton - November 11, 2022
Frankie Edgar will make the walk – rather run – to the Octagon for the final time at UFC 281. Edgar is set to take on Chris Gutierrez on the main card of UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden. It will also be Edgar’s 36th professional fight and 30th in the UFC between three weight classes and also being the former lightweight champ. Yet, he says he still hasn’t truly reflected on how great his career is, but it is something he’s looking forward to doing.