Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Patrick Mix expects to finish Albert Morales, blasts James Gallagher: "I put together an amazing camp to whoop his ass and he didn't show up"
Cole Shelton - May 5, 2021
Patrick Mix had a feeling James Gallagher wouldn’t end up fighting him. At Bellator 258, Mix and Gallagher were booked to fight one another. Yet, just over a week before the fight, it was revealed the Irishman was out of the fight. For Mix, he wasn’t surprised when he got the news.
Diego Ferreira expects to finish Gregor Gillespie "impressively" at UFC Vegas 26, wants Dan Hooker or Paul Felder next
Cole Shelton - May 5, 2021
Diego Ferreira wanted a quick turnaround after his loss to Beneil Dariush in February and he got his wish. On the main card of UFC Vegas 26, Ferreira took a short notice fight against Gregor Gillepsie on a month’s notice. Although it is a tough matchup, Ferreira says it was an immediate yes to accept the fight.
Alex Morono eyes third-round KO of Donald Cerrone, says a win will be "bittersweet" for him: "I'm ready to throw down"
Cole Shelton - May 5, 2021
Alex Morono was staying ready for a short-notice opportunity and he got his wish this week. When Donald Cerrone and Diego Sanchez were booked to fight one another on May 8, Morono called his coach, Sayif Saud, to tell the UFC he will be ready in case either of them pull out. Then, late last week, it was revealed Sanchez was out of the fight and Morono got the call asking if he was still open to filing in and he jumped at the chance to fight a legend in “Cowboy.”
Geoff Neal eyeing first or second round KO over Neil Magny to get top-ranked opponent next
Cole Shelton - May 4, 2021
Geoff Neal is excited he finally gets the chance to face Neil Magny. Last August, Neal and Magny were scheduled to fight but Neal had serious health problems that hospitalized him and forced him out of the scrap. The two then got different fights and Neal ended up losing a decision to Stephen Thompson back in December, which he says was a good learning experience.
Jon Jones "will dominate the heavyweight division" once he gets Ngannou fight, says teammate Devin Clark
Cole Shelton - April 30, 2021
UFC light heavyweight contender, Devin Clark has seen Jon Jones training for his heavyweight move and has sky-high expectations for him. After Jones beat Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 to defend his light heavyweight title, he vacated the belt as the plan was to move up to heavyweight. However, a deal is not done and Dana White has said Jones has priced himself out of the negotiations.
Jeff Molina admits he "was f****d up" after getting rocked in final 10 seconds: "I was hurt for like 10 minutes after the fight"
Cole Shelton - April 29, 2021
Jeff Molina promised he would put on a show at UFC 261 and he did just that. Molina made his UFC debut against Aoriqileng in the second fight of the night. In the lead-up to the scrap, the Contender Series winner thought he would be able to finish Aoriqileng. The game plan was to use leg kicks to eventually get his hands down and land something up top. Yet, Molina knew after the first round he had to make some big adjustments.
Pro fighters make their picks for Dominick Reyes vs. Jiri Prochazka
Cole Shelton - April 29, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 25 on May 1, Dominick Reyes is looking to snap his two-fight losing streak as he battles Jiri Prochazka. Entering the fight, Reyes is a +110 underdog while the former RIZIN champ is a -130 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros are split on this one but the slight majority lean towards Prochazka picking up his second UFC win.
Michelle Waterson confirms flyweight main event fight on May 8 against Marina Rodriguez
Cole Shelton - April 28, 2021
Michelle Waterson and Marina Rodriguez will headline UFC Vegas 26 on May 8, but the fight will take place at flyweight, Waterson revealed to BJPENN.com. After TJ Dillashaw was forced out of the headlining spot against Cory Sandhagen due to a nasty cut, the UFC reached out to Waterson and Rodriguez to step up on short notice to headline the card. Now, according to “The Karate Hottie” the fight is a done deal and the scrap will happen at 125lbs.
Dustin Jacoby expects to KO Ion Cutelaba "early" and fight a ranked guy next
Cole Shelton - April 28, 2021
Dustin Jacoby is eager to share the Octagon with Ion Cutelaba on Saturday night. Cutelaba was originally set to face Devin Clark but Clark was forced out of the bout. After that happened, the UFC called Jacoby who jumped at the opportunity to face a well-known name in Cutelaba.
Cody Stamann doesn't understand why he's an underdog against Merab Dvalishvili, says he will KO him: "I'm going to put him to sleep"
Cole Shelton - April 28, 2021
Cody Stamann doesn’t understand the hype around Merab Dvalishvili. Stamann and Dvalishvili are set to finally meet at UFC Vegas 25 after being scheduled two times previously. After the fight has fallen apart two times previously, Stamann says he had some reluctance to accept the fight for the third time until Dvalishvili started to train at his gym and some of his training partners told him he would be able to win the fight with ease.
Curtis Millender plans to "hurt" and "punish" Rory MacDonald at PFL 2 "to get some more respect on my name"
Cole Shelton - April 27, 2021
Curtis Millender jumped at the chance to compete in PFL and fight Rory MacDonald. After David Michaud was forced out of the fight, the PFL signed UFC and Bellator veteran, Curtis Millender to face MacDonald. It is a big opportunity for “Curtious” who says this is a bucket list fight for him.
Giga Chikadze says he will "knock Cub Swanson out cold," confident he will be featherweight champ by early 2022
Cole Shelton - April 27, 2021
Giga Chikadze has a ton of confidence entering his UFC Vegas 25 co-main event fight against Cub Swanson. Chikadze had an incredible 2020 going 4-0 and improved to 5-0 in the UFC. He made a name for himself and began calling out ranked featherweights and gets his chance to face a well-known name in Swanson.
UFC 261 | Pro fighters make their picks for Weili Zhang vs. Rose Namajunas title fight
Cole Shelton - April 22, 2021
In the co-main event of UFC 261, Weili Zhang is looking to defend her strawweight title for the second time when she battles former champion, Rose Namajunas. Heading into the fight, Zhang is a -210 favorite while the challenger is a +170 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros slightly lean towards Zhang defending her belt in a very competitive fight.
UFC 261 | Pro fighters make their picks for Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jessica Andrade title fight
Cole Shelton - April 22, 2021
In the first of three title fights at UFC 261, Valentina Shevchenko looks to defend her flyweight belt against Jessica Andrade. Heading into the fight, Shevchenko is a -455 favorite with the challenger being a +340 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 thinking Valentina Shevchenko gets it done, with most thinking she gets the TKO win.
Tristan Connelly ecstatic to finally make return and featherweight drop at UFC 261, expects a "three-round war" against Pat Sabatini
Cole Shelton - April 21, 2021
Tristan Connelly will finally make the walk to the Octagon at UFC 261 and will do so two weight classes lower than his debut fight. Connelly made his UFC debut on short notice against Michel Pereira at UFC Vancouver in 2019, he also moved up to welterweight for the fight. Connelly ended up pulling off a big upset and earned a decision win.
UFC 261 | Pro fighters make their picks for Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - April 21, 2021
In the main event of UFC 261, Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal are running it back in front of a full capacity crowd in Jacksonville. Heading into the fight, Usman is a -400 favorite while “Gamebred” is a +300 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The majority believe Usman beats Masvidal just like he did at UFC 251 as he will defend his welterweight title again.
AJ McKee confident he will KO Patricio Pitbull to claim featherweight title: "I will be too much for him"
Cole Shelton - April 19, 2021
AJ McKee has known it would be him and Patricio Pitbull in the finals of the featherweight grand prix. McKee made quick work of Georgi Karakhanyan and then submitted Derek Camps and Darrion Caldwell to reach the finals. Pitbull, meanwhile, beat Juan Archuleta and then KO’d Pedro Carvalho and submitted Emmanuel Sanchez to reach the finals.
Edmen Shahbazyan opens up on first career loss to Derek Brunson: "I used it to motivate me to come back better"
Cole Shelton - April 18, 2021
Edmen Shahbazyan has opened up on his first career loss to Derek Burnson last August. At UFC Vegas 5, Shahbazyan and Brunson were promoted to the main event and were set to fight five rounds. Entering the scrap, many expected Shahbazyan to get an early KO, and so too did the rising star. However, after the first round, he began to gas out and suffered a third-round TKO loss.