Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Louis Smolka expects to finish Jose Quinonez: "I’ll be too much for him"
Cole Shelton - November 12, 2020
Louis Smolka expects to get back into the win column in a big way. At UFC Vegas 14, Smolka is set to take on Jose Quinonez in a crucial fight for the Hawaiian. He is coming off a submission loss to Casey Kenney and since then spent the last couple of months putting on weight to get more acclimated to bantamweight.
Pro fighters make their picks for Paul Felder vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Cole Shelton - November 12, 2020
In the main event of UFC Vegas 14, Paul Felder is stepping up on five days’ notice to take on Rafael dos Anjos in RDA’s return to 155-pounds. Heading into the fight, Felder is a +155 underdog while the Brazilian is a -190 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 it will be dos Anjos getting his hand raised.
Alex Morono expects to drag Rhys McKee "in the deep waters and make him drown" at UFC Vegas 14
Cole Shelton - November 11, 2020
Alex Morono is finally ready to fight again. In February, Morono suffered a 27-second TKO loss to Khaos Williams at UFC 247. After the loss, the Fortis MMA product was hoping to return soon and get the bad taste of losing out of his mouth. However, he wasn’t able to due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and then, as a gym owner, spent the next several months trying to keep his gym from closing down.
Khaos Williams plans "to test the chin" of Abdul Razak Alhassan in UFC Vegas 14 co-main event
Cole Shelton - November 11, 2020
Khaos Williams is ecstatic to be fighting again. Williams had a very impressive UFC debut back in February as he TKO’d Alex Morono in just 27 seconds at UFC 247. Since the fight, he has been wanting to get back in there, but the COVID-19 pandemic and injuries suffered by his would be opponents halted those plans.
Alexander Hernandez ready to show the world version 2.0 after his "best performance in the UFC"
Cole Shelton - November 6, 2020
Alexander Hernandez believes he is now on version 2.0 as a fighter. At UFC Vegas 12 on Halloween night, Hernandez returned to the win column with a first-round TKO win over Chris Gruetzemacher. It was the first fight Hernandez had as a Factory X fighter and knows he is a completely different fighter now.
Ian Heinisch calls for Khamzat Chimaev fight: "If he wants to test himself against a middleweight, I’m a top-15 guy"
Cole Shelton - November 6, 2020
Ian Heinisch is hoping to fight Khamzat Chimaev the next time the Swede fights at middleweight. Before Chimaev was booked to fight Leon Edwards at welterweight, he said he was having a tough time getting an opponent. However, Heinisch says that is not true as he and Neil Magny made it clear they wanted that fight.
After thinking MMA career was over due to eye tumor, Ramiz Brahimaj planning for a "war" against Max Griffin
Cole Shelton - November 5, 2020
Ramiz Brahimaj didn’t know if he would fight again. Back in June of 2019, Brahimaj was supposed to fight on the Contender Series against Miguel Baeza. However, during the medical screening, the UFC noticed Brahimaj had an eye tumor that pulled him from the fight and left him uncertain of his future in MMA.
After first round win over Justin Ledet, Dustin Jacoby believes he'll be in the top-five in a year
Cole Shelton - November 5, 2020
Dustin Jacoby knows the win over Justin Ledet was big for his future. Jacoby, who had a two-fight stint in the UFC in 2011 and 2012 went 0-2 and was released. He then went to Bellator and where he went 0-2 there and decided to pursue kickboxing.
After highlight-reel KO in UFC debut, Adrian Yanez hopes Aaron Phillips fight gets rebooked for December
Cole Shelton - November 4, 2020
Adrian Yanez couldn’t have scripted a better UFC debut. Yanez earned a UFC deal earlier this summer on the Contender Series and at UFC Vegas 12, scored a first-round head kick KO in 2:46. The 26-year-old also got a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for his efforts.
Max Griffin plans to "smash" Ramiz Brahimaj: "I’m going to dominate and embarrass him"
Cole Shelton - November 4, 2020
Max Griffin is very confident he will get his hand raised on Saturday night when he faces UFC newcomer, Ramiz Brahimaj. Griffin is on a two-fight losing streak and coming off a split decision loss to Alex Oliveira. For Griffin, although he lost the fight, and another close decision, he took a lot away from that and enters his UFC Vegas 13 fight with a new mindset.
Ian Heinisch believes Brendan Allen is a "stepping stone," confident he will finish him
Cole Shelton - November 3, 2020
Ian Heinisch and Brendan Allen have been talking about fighting one another for years now. Both Heinisch and Allen were fighting in LFA and Allen had been calling Heinisch out. But, “The Hurricane” went on to win the interim middleweight belt and get on the Contender Series and get a UFC contract. Allen, meanwhile, had to stay fighting in LFA for another year, but when he signed to the Las Vegas-based promotion, he started calling out Heinisch once more, and at UFC Vegas 13, they will finally fight.
President ecstatic for XFC relaunch, promises promotion "will have the most vicious fights"
Cole Shelton - November 2, 2020
Myron Molotky knew XFC wasn’t done. Back in December of 2015, XFC held their final event and went on the sidelines. During their time away, several companies reached out to buy the promotion, which even included Ari Emanuel and Endeavor, who bought the UFC.
After near career-ending motorcycle accident, Sean Strickland looking to KO Jack Marshman in UFC return
Cole Shelton - October 29, 2020
Sean Strickland didn’t know if he would make the walk to the ever Octagon again. In the middle of December of 2018, Strickland was driving back from King MMA on his motorcycle when he was involved in a serious accident. The crash was not his fault, but he went unconscious and did not wake up until hours later. He also needed surgery and when he woke up, doctors told him his fighting career was likely over.
Former TUF winner Brad Katona calls release from the UFC "ridiculous"
Cole Shelton - October 29, 2020
Brad Katona was shocked when he got the news he was released from the UFC. The Canadian won The Ultimate Fighter Season 27 and on the show, beat the likes of Kyler Phillips and even submitted Bryce Mitchell. Yet, after going 2-0 to start his UFC tenure, he lost back-to-back fights to Merab Dvalishvili and Hunter Azure and was released.
Pro fighters make their picks for Uriah Hall vs. Anderson Silva
Cole Shelton - October 29, 2020
In the main event of UFC Vegas 12, Uriah Hall takes on Anderson Silva in a very intriguing middleweight bout. Heading into the fight, Hall is a -235 favorite while the former champion is a +185 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority believe Silva has lost a step and it will be Hall beating the Brazilian in what is marketed as his final UFC fight.
After partially tearing his MCL, James Krause turns his attention back to his coaching career
Cole Shelton - October 28, 2020
James Krause knew he had to compete on Fight Island or he wouldn’t fight again for the rest of the year. Krause stepped up on just two weeks’ notice to fight Claudio Silva at UFC Fight Island 6. It was a fight he knew was a good stylistic matchup for him and he ended up edging out a clear-cut decision win.
Dave Leduc seeks to cement Lethwei legacy in Cyrus Washington rematch
Tom Taylor - October 28, 2020
Dave Leduc has participated in many big fights since he began dedicating his life to Lethwei. His next fight, however, might be the biggest to date. Leduc, a man fight fans know as “The King of Lethwei,” is set to defend his crown on November 7 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, when he takes on his long-time rival Cyrus Washington in an anticipated rematch. The bout, which is being promoted by Sparta Sports and Entertainment, will air on pay-per-view at a price of $25.99 USD.
Bellator 250 | Pro fighters make their picks for Gegard Mousasi vs. Douglas Lima title fight
Cole Shelton - October 28, 2020
In the main event of Bellator 250, a massive middleweight fight goes down for the vacant belt as Gegard Mousasi takes on the welterweight champion, Douglas Lima. Heading into the fight, Mousasi is a -170 favorite while the Brazilian is a +140 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority believes Lima’s striking is just too good that he will be able to pick apart Mousasi and earn the win to become a champ-champ in Bellator.