Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Renato Moicano disappointed with his behavior after UFC Brasilia, eyes Felder or Iaquinta next
Cole Shelton - March 24, 2020
Renato Moicano isn’t pleased with the way he handled himself following his win at UFC Brasilia. Moicano was moving up to lightweight after back-to-back losses and quickly submitted Damir Hazdovic in under a minute. Following the win, you could hear the Brazilain complaining on the broadcast as he wanted to fight longer given he was at home and wanted to really see how his body would do at lightweight.
Coach Eric Nicksick details the evolution of Francis Ngannou
Mike Pendleton - March 24, 2020
Francis Ngannou entered the UFC in 2015 just five fights into his professional career, and skyrocketed throughout the division due to his performances inside the Octagon. In just over two years upon entering the UFC, Ngannou would go on a six-fight winning streak which would lead him to get a title shot against Stipe Miocic. Although he would come up short in his attempt at UFC gold, Francis Ngannou showed he could still hang with the very best heavyweights in the world. Following his fight against Miocic, Ngannou would drop his second consecutive fight in a lackluster showing against Derrick Lewis, and then change followed shortly thereafter.
Gilbert Burns says it was 'special' to finish Demian Maia but wishes ref stopped fight sooner
Cole Shelton - March 24, 2020
Gilbert Burns knew he would become just the second person ever to finish Demian Maia but he expected to do it by submission. In the co-main event of UFC Brasilia, Burns was battling Maia in a very important welterweight clash. There, he was fighting in front of no fans which he admits was quite hard to deal with.
Bibiano Fernandes focusing on mental growth as plans for next fight develop
Tom Taylor - March 24, 2020
ONE bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes hasn’t fought since he settled his long-standing rivalry with Kevin Belingon back in October. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to tighten its grip on the world, it’s increasingly unclear when he will be able to fight again. Ever the picture of composure, Fernandes is keeping his cool in the face of this uncertainty.
Jimi Manuwa still interested in boxing career, calls out Shannon Briggs
Cole Shelton - March 20, 2020
Jimi Manuwa is still interested in becoming a professional boxer. The former UFC light heavyweight retired last summer but recently said he is interested in a return to the Octagon. But, if that does not happen, the Englishman says he would like to box.
Jimi Manuwa says light heavyweight 'has come alive' and expects Jan Blachowicz to get next title shot
Cole Shelton - March 18, 2020
Jimi Manuwa is happy that the UFC’s light heavyweight division has “come alive” in recent months. Manuwa has been in the UFC since 2012, where he saw Jon Jones become the promotions light heavyweight champion and defend his belt several times. Jimi believes the division was stagnant when “Bones” first dealt with his USADA and personal issues.
Dominick Reyes' training partner says immediate rematch with Jon Jones is unlikely
Cole Shelton - March 18, 2020
It appears Jon Jones vs. Dominick Reyes 2 will not happen next, according to UFC light heavyweight, Sam Alvey, a training partner of Reyes’. Jones and Reyes fought in the main event of UFC 247 where it was “Bones” who won a very close decision. Yet, for many fighters and fans, they thought Reyes did enough and should have been awarded the belt.
Raphael Assuncao reflects on 2005 fight with Jorge Masvidal
Cole Shelton - March 17, 2020
Early on in Raphael Assuncao’s professional career, like most MMA fighters starting out, he was fighting anyone at any time. When a call came in for his fifth pro fight in Duluth, Georgia, the Brazilian accepted it not knowing he would be fighting a soon to be BMF champion, Jorge Masvidal. Assuncao started his career out at lightweight and on April 21, 2005, at Full Throttle 1, the Brazilian was taking on a fellow undefeated fighter in 5-0, Jorge Masvidal.
Johnny Walker confident he'll KO Nikita Krylov, wants title shot later this year
Cole Shelton - March 13, 2020
Johnny Walker is confident he’ll get back into the win column at UFC Brasilia this Saturday when he battles Nikita Krylov. Last time out, Walker was getting a big step up in competition where he fought Corey Anderson at UFC 244. Many thought the Brazilian would score another highlight-reel knockout but that was not the case. Instead, it was Anderson who scored a first-round TKO.
ONE Championship fighters describe experience of fighting at closed-door event
Tom Taylor - March 13, 2020
This Saturday’s UFC Brasilia card has been closed to the public, meaning the fighters on the bill will compete in an arena completely devoid of fans. This is an experience a number of ONE Championship fighters are already familiar with. Late last month, amid growing concerns surrounding the coronavirus, ONE Championship elected to convert its ONE: King of the Jungle card to a closed-door event—just as the UFC has decided to do with the UFC Brasilia card.
UFC Brasilia | Pro fighters make their picks for Kevin Lee vs. Charles Oliveira
Cole Shelton - March 12, 2020
In the main event of the closed-door UFC Brasilia card, Kevin Lee is going into hostile territory when he battles Charles Oliveira. Heading into the fight, Lee is a -145 favorite while the Brazilian is a +115 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The slight majority believe Kevin Lee gets it done but many also believe this is a true pick’em fight.
Pedro Carvalho says he'll finish Patricio Freire inside three rounds to bring another belt to SBG Ireland
Cole Shelton - March 11, 2020
Pedro Carvalho is confident he will become Bellator’s new featherweight champion on Friday. In the main event of Bellator 241, Carvalho is set to battle Patricio Freire in the quarter-finals of the featherweight grand prix. It is a fight “Pitbull” picked during the selection show, which for Carvalho shows it is destined he becomes a world champion on Friday.
Gilbert Burns plans to submit Demian Maia, then call out Colby Covington for talking 'so much crap'
Cole Shelton - March 10, 2020
Gilbert Burns is getting the biggest fight of his career in the co-main event of UFC Brasilia this weekend when he takes on Demian Maia. It was a fight Burns had wanted but he didn’t expect Maia to accept. When he found out the scrap was happening, he was ecstatic.
Morgan Charriere: "I'm bringing a French army to London"
Alfredo Zullino - March 9, 2020
If you are a casual martial arts fan and you watch only UFC events, you probably haven’t heard of French featherweight Morgan Charriere. But what if we tell you that the Frenchman will probably be the next big thing in Europe’s MMA?
Patricio Freire says he'll be 'the greatest featherweight of all-time' with Bellator grand prix win
Cole Shelton - March 9, 2020
Patricio Freire believes he can cement his legacy during the Bellator featherweight grand prix. “Pitbull” already defeated Juan Archuleta in the opening round and will now take on Pedro Carvalho on Friday in the quarter-finals. It is a fight the Brazilian picked during the selection show but says he did it because of the date, not because of the opponent.
Renato Moicano says former foe Jose Aldo getting a title shot 'isn’t a smart decision'
Cole Shelton - March 7, 2020
Renato Moicano doesn’t think Jose Aldo getting a title shot at bantamweight is fair to the rest of the division. At UFC 250, Aldo, who is 0-1 at bantamweight and riding a two-fight losing skid is fighting for the belt against Henry Cejudo. It is a fight the champion called for and one that UFC president Dana White wanted due to Jose Aldo being a legend.
From Mezzocorona, to London, to Huntington Beach, back to London: the story of Marvin Vettori
Alfredo Zullino - March 5, 2020
Marvin Vettori, “The Italian Dream”, the quintessence of the self-confidence, the only hope for Italian MMA in his own words. You can tell the Italian is a real one just from looking at the beginning of his professional mixed martial arts career. Fighters usually start their path competing in their own backyards, cutting their teeth in a comfort zone, but that was not the case for Marvin Vettori.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk believes Jessica Andrade wasn't 100 percent for Weili Zhang fight
Cole Shelton - March 5, 2020
Joanna Jedrzejczyk doesn’t think Jessica Andrade was completely healthy going into her title defense against Weili Zhang. Andrade was coming off a second-round knockout win over Rose Namajunas to win the strawweight title. In her first title defense at UFC Shenzhen, she had to go into enemy territory to battle Zhang who was just 3-0 in the UFC at the time.