Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Marina Mokhnatkina is the PFL's new queen of Sambo
Drake Riggs - August 2, 2021
Russia’s Marina Mokhnatkina is on her way to the PFL. After achieving everything she could in Sambo, her intentions are clear: conquer MMA. Mokhnatkina made the move to Florida’s Sanford MMA in February 2021 after initially negotiating with the neighboring American Top Team. The male-dominated gym originally greeted the 33-year old with skepticism, but she was quickly welcomed after her skills were displayed. Now, Mokhnatkina is the lone woman training at the gym daily.
Josh Barnett says 'It would really suck' to never fight Fedor Emelianenko
Drake Riggs - July 29, 2021
Josh Barnett vs. Fedor Emelianenko is one of MMA’s biggest fights that got away — but what if it didn’t have to? The pair of heavyweight legends were originally set to clash in 2009 under the short-lived Affliction banner. Fast-forward 12 years and they’re both in the same promotion once again as Emelianenko has his next bout set for October at Bellator’s first show in Russia.
Pro fighters make their picks for Uriah Hall vs. Sean Strickland
Cole Shelton - July 29, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 33, top-15 middleweights collide as Uriah Hall takes on Sean Strickland. Ahead of the fight, Hall is a +180 underdog while the 11th ranked middleweight is a -220 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority of pros believe Hall will go the job done by knockout.
Adrian Yanez says he's "not happy" with his TKO win performance against Randy Costa, hopes a top-15 opponent is next
Cole Shelton - July 28, 2021
Adrian Yanez wasn’t happy with his TKO win over Randy Costa at UFC Vegas 32. Yanez and Costa opened up the main card in a highly-anticipated bout between two of the brightest prospects at bantamweight. In the first round, it appeared Costa would be the one getting his hand raised as he was jabbing Yanez and landing heavy shots. For the Texan, he says the way Costa fought the first round threw him off.
Maycee Barber confident she beat Miranda Maverick: "I got my hand raised and I got the two checks"
Cole Shelton - July 27, 2021
Maycee Barber knew she beat Miranda Maverick when the fight went to the scorecards. Entering her fight at UFC Vegas 32, Barber was on a two-fight losing skid and was in a new gym at Team Alpha Male. She was also set to fight a very dangerous opponent in Maverick, but Barber knew they had a game plan to get the win.
Chris Daukaus expects to finish Shamil Abdurakhimov and get a "big-name" opponent next
Cole Shelton - July 26, 2021
Chris Daukaus didn’t expect that he would be fighting Shamil Abdurakhimov. Daukaus, who joined the UFC in August of 2020, is already 3-0 in the promotion with three first-round knockouts. After his last win over Aleksei Oleinik in February, he expected he would get another ranked opponent next, and was unsure if it would be in the top-10.
Maycee Barber doesn't think she has lost her "hype" despite setbacks: "I’m not going to get cut from the UFC if I lose"
Cole Shelton - July 23, 2021
Maycee Barber has heard all the talk that the UFC will release her if she loses to Miranda Maverick at UFC Vegas 32 on Saturday. Barber was once considered a top prospect and many thought could challenge for a UFC title. However, at UFC 246 she suffered her first career loss by decision to Roxanne Modafferi in a fight she tore her knee. She returned back in February of this year at UFC 258 and suffered another setback as she dropped a decision to Alexa Grasso.
Pro fighters make their picks for Cory Sandhagen vs TJ Dillashaw
Cole Shelton - July 22, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 32, Cory Sandhagen welcomes back former bantamweight champ, TJ Dillashaw from his two-year USADA suspension in a highly-anticipated bout. Entering the fight, Sandhagen is a -195 favorite while the former champ is a +165 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros are nearly unanimous in the thinking Sandhagen gets the win with many thinking he stops Dillashaw in the process.
Maycee Barber explains move to Team Alpha Male: "I’m not going to sit around and wait for people or beg them to come on this journey with me"
Cole Shelton - July 21, 2021
Maycee Barber has been training at a new camp for her UFC Vegas 32 fight against Miranda Maverick. After Barber lost her second fight in a row to Alexa Grasso at UFC 258, she decided to change camps and had to California to train at Team Alpha Male. “The Future” has already been at several gyms like Factory X, Roufusport, JacksonWink, and in Chicago under Mike Valle among others. However, the reason why she made the switch to Team Alpha Male for this fight was due to COVID-19 restrictions among other reasons.
Randy Costa ecstatic for "fun" fight against Adrian Yanez, expects to "open a lot of people's eyes"
Cole Shelton - July 21, 2021
Randy Costa and Adrian Yanez have one of the weirder fight bookings in recent memory. After Yanez picked up his second UFC win, many on MMA Twitter called for him to face Costa. After the Massachusetts native didn’t respond to fans asking if he’d take the fight, some said he was scared. However, “Zohan” quickly responded saying he’s not scared and he likes Adrian but took a shot at Dr. Pepper which is Yanez’s drink of choice. The Texan dumped on Reese’s which Costa likes and the fight was born.
Ian Heinisch plans to finish Nassourdine Imavov after training at Sanford MMA to show he's "a force to be reckoned with"
Cole Shelton - July 20, 2021
Ian Heinisch wanted a quick turnaround after he lost to Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 258, but that didn’t come to fruition. Following the loss to Gastelum, Heinisch moved down to Florida to start training at Sanford MMA full-time. After a short time there, he was offered to fight Jacare Souza at UFC 262 in Houston. However, he turned it down as Henri Hooft wanted him to just focus on training.
Kyler Phillips plans to finish Raulian Paiva and get a ranked opponent next: "I'm going to grab that belt"
Cole Shelton - July 20, 2021
Kyler Phillips wasn’t too mad when Raphael Assuncao was forced out of their fight and was replaced by Raulian Paiva. After Phillips beat Song Yadong at UFC 259, many expected him to get a ranked opponent next. That ended up being the case as he was set to meet Raphael Assuncao at UFC Vegas 32. Unfortnately, Assuncao got injured which was disappointing news. However, for Phillips, he said his mindset didn’t change at all.
Miles Johns expects to finish Anderson dos Santos in a "fan-favorite fight" at UFC Vegas 31
Cole Shelton - July 15, 2021
Miles Johns has a ton of confidence in himself coming off a highlight-reel KO win in his last fight. Johns last fought back on Halloween night where he knocked out Kevin Natividad. Following that, many thought he would get a quick turnaround, but nine months later, Johns will return which he says is later than he thought but still is good timing.
Billy Quarantillo expects to finish Gabriel Benitez at UFC Vegas 31 after getting much-needed eye surgery
Cole Shelton - July 14, 2021
Billy Quarantillo expects to be a much better fighter on Saturday night at UFC Vegas 31 when he faces Gabriel Benitez. Quarantillo is coming off his first career UFC loss back at UFC 256 against Gavin Tucker. Following the loss, the rising featherweight contender got married and got eye surgery which he says was much-needed.
Thiago Moises expects to earn stoppage win over Islam Makhachev to steal his hype
Cole Shelton - July 13, 2021
Thiago Moises didn’t expect to fight Islam Makhachev next time out but immediately accepted the scrap when it was offered to him at UFC Vegas 31. Moises, who is on a three-fight winning streak and coming off a win over Alexander Hernandez, figured he’d fight someone ranked right near him. Yet, when he got the call to fight Makhachev, it was an immediate yes for the Brazilian.
Max Griffin happy with UFC 264 win over Carlos Condit, planned to call out Robbie Lawler but wants anyone in the top-15 next
Cole Shelton - July 13, 2021
Max Griffin was ecstatic when he got the chance to fight Carlos Condit. Griffin admitted Condit is one of his favorite fighters of all time and getting to fight him was surreal. However, he knew he had to put his emotions behind him and when they started to fight he had a ton of success.
Dustin Poirier would "be successful" and "dominant" at welterweight if he moves up, says coach
Cole Shelton - July 8, 2021
Dustin Poirier started his UFC career at featherweight and may end it at welterweight, his strength and conditioning coach, Phil Daru says. Poirier is set to headline UFC 264 in a highly-anticipated trilogy bout against Conor McGregor. It’s a massive fight for both men and in the lead-up to the scrap, “The Diamond” asked if it could take place at welterweight. He wanted the trilogy to take place at three different weight classes but for Daru, that is also due to the fact Poirier is a big lightweight that does cut a lot of weight.
Jerome Rivera plans to "shut down" Zhalgas Zhumagulov at UFC 264: "I'm looking to expose him"
Cole Shelton - July 8, 2021
Jerome Rivera knows his UFC 264 fight against Zhalgas Zhumagulov is do-or-die for his UFC career. Rivera enters the fight being 0-3 in the UFC and not many fighters get the fourth fight if they are winless through three. Yet, Rivera did the UFC a favor in taking a fight against Ode Osbourne up two weight classes at featherweight on just three day’s notice. With that, the UFC promised him another fight regardless of the result and they stuck to their word.