Exclusive MMA Interviews News

Cole Shelton - July 3, 2020

Kay Hansen is the youngest female on the UFC roster at just 20-years-old and is already 1-0 inside the Octagon. Hansen recently made her UFC debut against Jinh Yu Frey, the former Invicta champion, where Hansen won by third-round armbar. Although it was her UFC debut, Hansen says she wasn’t nervous due to the fact everything was happening so fast.

Tom Taylor - July 3, 2020

Colby Covington was not impressed by his former training partner Dustin Poirier’s recent decision victory over Dan Hooker. Poirier and Hooker, two top lightweight contenders, collided in the main event of UFC on ESPN 12 last Saturday, battling for 25 hard minutes in what many viewed as a Fight of the Year contender. In the end, Poirier won the fight by unanimous decision—but the performance didn’t do much to move Covington.

Cole Shelton - July 2, 2020

Julian Erosa wants to be known as a fan-favorite, where win or lose, he takes home a $50,000 Performance on the Night bonus. At UFC on ESPN 12, Erosa returned to the UFC for the third time to take on the undefeated Sean Woodson. For “Juicy J” after he was cut for the second time by the Las Vegas-based promotion, he didn’t think he’d fight inside the Octagon again.

Cole Shelton - July 2, 2020

Khama Worthy is now 2-0 inside the Octagon with both wins being upsets. In his UFC debut at UFC 241, Worthy took the fight on super short notice and knocked out a highly touted prospect in Devonte Smith. The 33-year-old then pulled off a third-round submission win over Luis Pena at UFC on ESPN 12 where he was another sizeable underdog

Jason Kindschy - July 1, 2020

Colby Covington has never been one to hold his tongue, no matter the consequences. With that considered, it should have not come as a surprise when the former interim UFC welterweight champ parted ways with American Top Team. Having been at odds with several of ATT’s top talents, it seemed like only a matter of time before the end of Colby’s relationship with the gym became an eventuality. Even though Covington always gave praise to facility owner Dan Lambert, the Oregon native felt that he was being held back by bureaucracy.

Tom Taylor - July 1, 2020

Former UFC welterweight title challenger Colby Covington has taken another shot at his former training partner turned heated rival Jorge Masvidal. Masvidal is currently involved in a heated contract dispute with the UFC and the promotion’s President Dana White. The top welterweight contender’s main gripes stem from the amount he’s paid by the promotion.

Cole Shelton - June 25, 2020

Youssef Zalal is looking to go 2-0 inside the UFC Octagon when he battles Jordan Griffin this Saturday night at UFC on ESPN 12. Zalal made his UFC debut on short notice against Austin Lingo where he scored a decision win. Now, his second UFC appearance will also be happening on short notice, which for the Morrocan, says is normal.

Cole Shelton - June 25, 2020

In the main event of UFC on ESPN 12, Dustin Poirier returns to the Octagon to battle Dan Hooker. Heading into the fight, Poirier is a -225 favorite, while the Kiwi is a +175 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros believe this could be one of the best fights we see in 2020 but the majority lean towards Poirier getting it done.

Cole Shelton - June 24, 2020

Justin Jaynes had been fighting professionally since 2013. But, he has been doing unsanctioned amateur fights in Michigan since 2007 and finally got the call to the UFC last weekend. At UFC on ESPN 11, Jaynes replaced Matt Frevola to fight Frank Camacho in a lightweight scrap. For the 30-year-old, to finally get the UFC call was a massive relief. But, he admits seeing people he beat on the regional scene getting chances on the Contender Series or shots in the UFC was frustrating.

Alfredo Zullino - June 22, 2020

There’s a small, little fishermen’s village in West Africa, called Thiaroye-Sur-Mer, Thiaroye by the sea. Situated on the southeast coast of Cape Verde, in the suburbs of Dakar, this Senegalese town totals just more than 35,000 inhabitants. Most of the people there try to make a living by fishing, but there is another activity you can pursue in Senegal. You can wrestle.

Cole Shelton - June 19, 2020

Gray Maynard says his MMA career is not done yet. Maynard has not fought since UFC 229 where he suffered a TKO loss to Nik Lentz. The former UFC title challenger was released from the Las Vegas-based promotion after the defeat. Since then, the now 41-year-old says he still is interested in fighting.

Cole Shelton - June 18, 2020

Tyson Nam had a hectic fight week for what was a do-or-die fight for his UFC career. At UFC on ESPN 10, Nam was expected to fight Ryan Benoit. Yet, Benoit had to pull out and was replaced by longtime Glory kickboxer, Zarrukh Adashev.

Cole Shelton - June 18, 2020

In the main event of UFC on ESPN 11, aka UFC Vegas 3, Curtis Blaydes looks to extend his winning streak when he battles perennial contender, Alexander Volkov. Heading into the fight, Blaydes is a -380 favorite while the Russian is a +290 underdog. Some sportsbooks have the American wrestler as big as a -490 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. It is a classic striker vs. grappler matchup, but the pros are with the odds as the majority think Blaydes’ wrestling will be too much for Volkov.

Cole Shelton - June 17, 2020

Lyman Good and Belal Muhammad were supposed to fight back at UFC 249 on April 18. However, Good was forced to pull out of the bout due to an ‘injury’, and the fight card was later canceled entirely. Once the card was officially canceled, Good revealed that he pulled out the contest due to contracting COVID-19. The welterweight contender did overcome it and once he did, he told the UFC to get him back in there ASAP and preferably against Muhammad.

Cole Shelton - June 16, 2020

Josh Emmett knows all he needs to do is land one punch to end the fight and it’s no different ahead of his co-main event scrap against Shane Burgos. Emmett will be making the walk for the first time since UFC Sacramento last July where he scored a first-round TKO win over Mirsad Bektic. Since the fight, Emmett was looking to return a lot sooner. But, he couldn’t get a fight booked and was then planning on testing free agency before inking a new deal.

Tom Taylor - June 16, 2020

Cung Le is one of the UFC’s most vocal and dedicated critics. Le, who previously competed in the UFC middleweight division and held the Strikeforce middleweight title, is currently involved in an anti-trust lawsuit against the UFC, and is never afraid to share his thoughts on the promotion’s business practices.

Cole Shelton - June 11, 2020

Patrick Mix is looking to claim Bellator’s vacant bantamweight title. Bellator MMA is currently on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the promotion is eyeing a July return. If they do return in July, Mix is hoping to be on the first card and is eyeing a fight against Juan Archuleta for the vacant bantamweight title.

Cole Shelton - June 10, 2020

Sean O’Malley has some interest in finally fighting Marlon Vera inside the Octagon. O’Malley and Vera were expected to fight at UFC 239. Yet, the fight was scrapped due to the undefeated contender was forced off the card after traces of Ostarine was found in his system. “Chito” then took shots at O’Malley, so the 25-year-old is not opposed to finally getting the chance to fight Vera. But, he says it’s up the UFC on who he fights next.