Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Petr Yan plans a "very violent finish" to defend his belt against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259
Cole Shelton - March 1, 2021
Petr Yan is confident he will remain the UFC’s bantamweight champion after Saturday night. In the first of three title fights on the stacked pay-per-view card, Yan is set to defend his belt against Aljamain Sterling. It’s a very intriguing matchup as the Russian is a striker while Sterling should have a grappling advantage. However, Yan isn’t worried about Sterling’s grappling.
John Castaneda says fighting and knocking out "legend" Eddie Winleand was "surreal"
Cole Shelton - February 26, 2021
John Castaneda was honored to fight Eddie Wineland. At UFC Vegas 19, Castaneda was set for his second UFC fight, and on the other end of his contract was Eddie Wineland. For Castaneda, he says it was surreal to get the chance to fight the former WEC champion.
Dustin Jacoby admits he didn't know who Maxim Grishin was, confident he will KO him
Cole Shelton - February 25, 2021
Dustin Jacoby was surprised to see Maxim Grishin’s name on the other side of his bout agreement. Jacoby made his return to the Octagon on Halloween night and scored a first-round TKO win over Justin Ledet. After the win, Jacoby figured he would get a known name but was offered Grishin who fought in PFL and is 1-1 in the UFC. Although the Factory X fighter wanted a known name, he just wants to get back in there and string together some wins.
Julian Erosa has no issue with ref stoppage in TKO win over Nate Landwehr: "People saying it was an early stoppage are just upset they lost money"
Cole Shelton - February 25, 2021
Julian Erosa knows Nate Landwehr went out for a second. At UFC Vegas 19, Erosa pulled off another upset win as he scored a first-round TKO win via flying knee. However, when the ref stopped the fight, Landwehr immediately complained about the stoppage. For Erosa, he says Landwehr went out and the only people that are still mad over the stoppage are people who bet on Landwehr to win.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik plans to "shine" against "phenomenal" Ciryl Gane in UFC Vegas 20 main event
Cole Shelton - February 23, 2021
Jairzinho Rozenstruik has heard all the talk about Ciryl Gane being a future UFC heavyweight champion. Rozenstruik and Gane were originally supposed to be the co-main event on March 13 but were moved to the main event this weekend. It’s an intriguing matchup and for Rozenstruik fighting two weeks earlier isn’t that big of a deal.
Alexa Grasso "very happy" with win over Maycee Barber, believes title shot isn't far off
Cole Shelton - February 23, 2021
Alexa Grasso picked up one of the biggest wins of her career as she beat Maycee Barber at UFC 258. Entering the fight, all the hype was around Barber making her return. However, as Grasso was quietly going about her business, in the co-main event, she proved to everyone just how good she is.
Gabe Green hoping to be active in 2021, wants Christian Aguilera after he "KO'd four of my friends"
Cole Shelton - February 19, 2021
Gabe Green is glad he finally got his hand raised. To open up UFC 258, Green fought Phil Rowe in a battle of two promising welterweight prospects. Early on in the fight, Green used leg kicks to try and get inside of Rowe’s lengthy reach. However, as the fight wore on, the leg kicks started to hurt Rowe.
Chris Gutierrez happy with win over Andre Ewell, wants Miles Johns next
Cole Shelton - February 19, 2021
Chris Gutierrez was patiently waiting to get a fight offer and when he finally got one, it happened to be on day’s notice against Andre Ewell at UFC 258. It was a very intriguing matchup and one that had a storyline behind it. At UFC 247, Ewell edged out a split decision win over Jonathan Martinez. It was a very close fight and many thought Martinez should’ve gotten the win. However, that was not the case so entering this fight, Gutierrez admits there was some thought of avenging his friend and teammate.
Jared Gordon glad Charles Oliveira loss happened, expects to finish Danny Chavez
Cole Shelton - February 18, 2021
Jared Gordon is set for his second fight at featherweight when he takes on Danny Chavez at UFC Vegas 19. Why Gordon made the drop down to featherweight was simple. After he suffered a first-round knockout loss to Charles Oliveira in Brazil, he knew he no longer belonged at lightweight. He then made the drop down to featherweight and beat Chris Fishgold in the summer. Without the loss, to Oliveira, Gordon admits his move back down to 145lbs wouldn’t have happened so he’s glad the loss took place.
Pro fighters make their picks for Curtis Blaydes vs Derrick Lewis
Cole Shelton - February 18, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 19, Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis will finally fight one another. Heading into the fight, Blaydes is a -450 favorite while “The Black Beast” is a +325 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority of pros believe Blaydes uses his wrestling to get the job done.
Deiveson Figueiredo wants Brandon Moreno rematch in June according to manager
Cole Shelton - February 17, 2021
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno 2 will happen later than expected. After Figueiredo and Moreno fought to a draw at UFC 256 in December, it was clear an immediate rematch was in order. However, the Brazilian was calling out Henry Cejudo and the Cody Garbrandt fight is still there. Yet, according to Wallid Ismail, who manages Figueiredo, the champ’s next fight will be against Moreno but they want it to be in June.
Chris Daukaus expects to KO Alexey Oleynik and become a legit heavyweight contender
Cole Shelton - February 17, 2021
Chris Daukaus couldn’t have imagined he would be fighting the 10th-ranked guy in the world just six months after his UFC debut. Daukaus stepped up on short notice at UFC 252 in August and scored a first-round TKO win over Parker Porter. He followed that up with a 45-second TKO win over Rodrigo Nascimento in October and is now set to face Alexey Oleynik at UFC Vegas 19, which is an opponent he didn’t think he’d face in his third UFC appearance.
Julian Marquez credits James Krause for bringing out "the animal inside me" to get comeback win at UFC 258
Cole Shelton - February 16, 2021
Julian Marquez was making his long-awaited return to the Octagon at UFC 258 on Saturday night. Marquez was set for his first fight in 953 days after dealing with an injury. In the lead-up to the fight, “The Cuban Missile Crisis” said ring rust wouldn’t be a factor but admits his timing was a bit off early in the fight.
Alexey Oleynik expecting a tough fight against Chris Daukaus in his 75th professional MMA fight
Cole Shelton - February 16, 2021
Alexey Oleynik will make the walk for his 75th professional MMA fight on Saturday night at UFC Vegas 19. On the main card, the Russian is set to face unranked, Chris Daukaus in a very intriguing fight. Oleynik is coming off a second-round TKO loss to Derrick Lewis in August in the main event of the card. Although the Russian is not fighting a ranked opponent or another legend, Oleynik is still looking forward to the fight.
Maycee Barber says UFC 258 loss "was a bitter pill to swallow," eyes May return
Cole Shelton - February 16, 2021
Maycee Barber’s return to the Octagon did not go her way. In the co-main event of UFC 258, Barber fought Alexa Grasso in her first fight since she lost to Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 246 in a fight she also tore her ACL. Entering the scrap, Barber didn’t think ring rust would be a factor but admits she had a hard time finding her timing in the first two rounds.
Charles Rosa expects to KO Darrick Minner: "There are levels to this and he will find that out"
Cole Shelton - February 15, 2021
Charles Rosa is expecting to put on a show for fight fans on Saturday night. On the main card of UFC Vegas 19, Rosa is set to return to the Octagon against Darrick Minner. It’s a very intriguing matchup between two submission specialists and a fight Rosa is looking forward to.
Anthony Hernandez expects to pick apart "very hittable" Rodolfo Vieira at UFC 258
Cole Shelton - February 12, 2021
Anthony Hernandez knows people are counting him out. At UFC 258, Hernandez is the biggest underdog on the card at +325, as he faces undefeated grappling wizard, Rodolfo Vieira. Although not many people would want to face Vieira, Hernandez said this is a fight he is very interested in.
Gillian Robertson plans to go "straight for the throat" and submit Miranda Maverick at UFC 258
Cole Shelton - February 11, 2021
Gillian Robertson is not hiding her gameplan for UFC 258. In the first fight of the night, Robertson is making the walk to the Octagon against Miranda Maverick. It’s a very intriguing matchup, but a fight many were surprised it is happening given the fact they are two of the up and coming prospects. However, the Canadian actually thought this would be her opponent.