Exclusive MMA Interviews News
John Dodson "wasn't surprised" with 40-second KO over Ryan Benoit in BKFC debut, hopes for quick turnaround in bare knuckle or MMA
Cole Shelton - August 31, 2022
John Dodson said he was going to KO Ryan Benoit in his BKFC debut and he did just that. In the co-main event of BKFC 28, Dodson scored a 40-second KO win against Benoit and although it was a sub-minute KO, he still was a bit disappointed with it. The only reason why Dodson was disappointed is due to the fact his brother Eric also made his BKFC debut on the card and got a 23-second KO on the prelims.
Pro fighters make their picks for Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa
Cole Shelton - August 31, 2022
In the main event of UFC Paris, a heavyweight bout between top contenders goes down as Ciryl Gane takes on Tai Tuivasa. Heading into the fight, Gane is a massive -530 favorite while the Aussie is a +360 underdog on FanDuel. Heading into the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros slightly lean towards Gane getting it done but some think Tuivasa can keep his streak going with another surprise KO.
Sayif Saud "proud" of Uriah Hall's career and everything he accomplished following his retirement from MMA: "Uriah had a great run"
Cole Shelton - August 30, 2022
Sayif Saud is proud of everything he accomplished coaching Uriah Hall. Hall joined Fortis MMA back in 2019 ahead of his fight with Antonio Carlos Junior. He won that bout and then went on to defeat both Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman. However, Hall went on to suffer a decision loss to Sean Strickland in a main event contest and then lost to Andre Muniz by deicison.
Ciryl Gane says he's fighting "for my country" at UFC Paris, plans to "put on a show" against Tai Tuivasa to get the "finish"
Cole Shelton - August 30, 2022
Ciryl Gane is excited to headline the first UFC event in Paris, France. Gane, who was born and raised in France is excited to fight in front of his family and friends again. The Frenchman hasn’t fought at home since his muay Thai career and he knows the walkout and the moment will be special.
Chris Weidman still training, hoping to return "middle of next year," reveals Stephen Thompson
Cole Shelton - August 26, 2022
Chris Weidman has made it known he will make the walk to the Octagon again. At UFC 261, Weidman broke his leg in a gruesome fashion as just 17 seconds into the fight, he threw a leg kick that Uriah Hall blocked and his leg snapped in half. It was a major injury that resulted in multiple surgeries but Weidman is back in the gym and getting closer to a return.
Stephen Thompson praises Leon Edwards for "perfect technique" to KO Kamaru Usman, but believes 'The Nigerian Nightmare' wins the trilogy
Cole Shelton - August 25, 2022
Stephen Thompson believes Leon Edwards landed the perfect technique to KO Kamaru Usman at UFC 278. Edwards entered the fifth round clearly losing the fight and did not get off to the best start in the final frame. It appeared that Usman would be defending his belt by decision but Edwards landed a clean head kick that KO’d Usman in the final minute which Thompson says was a great technique.
Stephen Thompson not interested in fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov next: "It doesn't make sense for me to face another heavy grappler"
Cole Shelton - August 25, 2022
Stephen Thompson isn’t interested in fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov next. Thompson hasn’t fought since last December when he lost by decision to Belal Muhammad. It was his second straight defeat, and in both losses, he was out grappled and outwrestled.
John Dodson reveals career highlight from his UFC tenure: "I came out unscathed, he came out looking like Frankenstein"
Cole Shelton - August 24, 2022
John Dodson has accomplished a lot in his career but there are some things that stick out to him more than others. Dodson won TUF 14 as he knocked out TJ Dillashaw and went on to start out his UFC career 3-0 which led to a flyweight title fight against Demetrious Johnson. Although he never touched UFC gold, Dodson fought so many future champions which he says is a career highlight that he always fought the best of the best.
Josh Quinlan says he was "pretty devastated" when the NSAC wouldn't clear him due to past drug suspension, happy with KO win over Jason Witt
Cole Shelton - August 19, 2022
Josh Quinlan didn’t know if his UFC debut would happen. Quinlan earned a UFC contract last year on the Contender Series but failed a drug test for the banned substance drostanolone. Once he served his suspension he was supposed to return at UFC Vegas 59 against Jason Witt, yet he was flagged again for picograms of the metabolite of oral turinabol and thus the Nevada State Atheltic Commission would not clear him.
Tyson Nam says he "needed" KO win over Ode Osbourne in a "bad way" after long layoff: "There wasn't one good thing in my favor"
Cole Shelton - August 19, 2022
Tyson Nam knew there was a lot of pressure on him heading into his UFC San Diego fight against Ode Osbourne. Nam was making the walk to the Octagon for the first time since January of 2021 after dealing with multiple injuries. Heading into the fight, Nam admits he didn’t know how he’d do or feel, as he is now 38-years-old and was coming off a major injury.
Geoff Neal hopes for main event fight against Gilbert Burns in a title eliminator bout: "I match up really well against him"
Cole Shelton - August 18, 2022
Geoff Neal is hoping to headline a Fight Night card his next time out with Gilbert Burns standing across the Octagon from him. Neal is coming off a third-round TKO over Vicente Luque back at UFC Vegas 59 and after the win, he called out Gilbert Burns. The Fortis MMA fighter believes the scrap makes sense and it’s also a contest he thinks will favor him as well.
UFC 278 | Pro fighters make their picks for Paulo Costa vs. Luke Rockhold
Cole Shelton - August 18, 2022
In the co-main event of UFC 278, an intriguing middleweight bout goes down as Paulo Costa takes on the returning Luke Rockhold. Heading into the fight, Costa is a sizeable -340 favorite while the former UFC middleweight champ is a +250 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority of pros believe Costa will eventually land something big and KO Rockhold.
John Dodson explains why he signed with BKFC, confident he will KO Ryan Benoit at BKFC 28: "He will want to quit in the first 10 seconds"
Cole Shelton - August 17, 2022
John Dodson never expected to sign with BKFC but when they gave him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Dodson went to a BKFC open tryout near his hometown solely for his brother as his brother has wanted to do bare-knuckle for quite some time. Yet, at the tryout, BKFC was talking to him about signing and when he got an offer, it was something he couldn’t turn down.
Terrance McKinney doubts UFC would give him Paddy Pimblett next: "I'm too dangerous for Paddy right now"
Cole Shelton - August 17, 2022
Terrance McKinney knows he and Paddy Pimblett will fight one day but doubts it will be booked next. McKinney returned to the win column at UFC Vegas 59 as he scored a first-round submission win over Erick Gonzalez. Although it was another first-round win, McKinney admits he wishes it was by KO.
UFC 278 | Pro fighters make their picks for Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - August 17, 2022
In the main event of UFC 278, the welterweight title is up for grabs as Kamaru Usman rematches Leon Edwards. Heading into the fight, Usman is a sizeable -430 favorite while the challenger is a +300 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros believe it will be ‘And Still’ as Usman is too well-rounded for Edwards and will continue to remain undefeated in the UFC.
Geoff Neal believes he "shut people up" by knocking out Vicente Luque, expects "everybody is going to try to wrestle me now"
Cole Shelton - August 16, 2022
Geoff Neal always knew he was going to fight Vicente Luque and he’s quite happy with how it played out. Neal and Luque were the co-main event of UFC Vegas 59 two weekends ago and Neal scored a third-round KO. However, in the first round, Neal appeared to have Luque hurt but he didn’t want to rush anything as he knew the Brazilian was still dangerous.
Bryan Battle says his welterweight cut went well, explains why he called out Ian Garry: "I don't see why he wouldn't want it"
Cole Shelton - August 12, 2022
Bryan Battle didn’t expect his welterweight cut to go as smoothly as it did. Battle, who won TUF at middleweight, was set to make his welterweight debut at UFC Vegas 59 against Takashi Sato. Although Battle did a test cut before making the move down, he was still uncertain how he’d feel when he got in the Octagon. Thankfully, Battle says the cut went smoothly and he felt great.
Ode Osbourne plans to be "dominant everywhere" against Tyson Nam at UFC San Diego: "Be a terrorizer and terrorize him every chance I get"
Cole Shelton - August 11, 2022
Ode Osbourne is glad to be fighting a veteran like Tyson Nam at UFC San Diego. After Nam’s fight against Tagir Ulanbekov on June 25 was off again, the UFC then booked Osbourne vs. Nam at UFC San Diego. Although they only got two or three weeks’ notice, the Jamaican stayed in the gym after his last fight so he was ready for anything short notice.