Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Brady Hiestand says he and Garrett Armfield agreed to fight each other while in the sauna
Cole Shelton - June 15, 2024
Brady Hiestand is eager to fight again after being off for over a year. Hiestand last fought in April of last year when he scored a third-round TKO win over Danaa Batgerel. He was then booked to return in August but a staph infection kept him out. After that, he had to undergo knee surgery.
Robert Whittaker reacts to Khamzat Chimaev being out of UFC Saudi Arabia, says "nobody" wanted to take the fight against him
Cole Shelton - June 14, 2024
Robert Whittaker wasn’t sure if he was still going to headline UFC Saudi Arabia after Khamzat Chimaev was out. Whittaker was set to headline the card next Saturday against Chimaev, but on Thursday, rumors started to swirl that the undefeated fighter would be out. However, according to Whittaker, he didn’t know Chimaev was out until the UFC informed him the fight was off.
Shawne Merriman explains how he got into MMA, hopes to make Lights Out XF the premier feeder promotion
Cole Shelton - June 12, 2024
Former NFL star Shawne Merriman didn’t expect to be running his own MMA promotion, but he is doing just that. Merriman, who was drafted with the 12th overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft and spent eight years playing in the National Football League was also around the sport of MMA. During his offseasons, Merriman would train MMA with Randy Couture and other fighters, which sparked his love for combat sports.
Liz Carmouche eyes another "quick finish" over Kana Watanabe at PFL 4
Cole Shelton - June 11, 2024
Liz Carmouche is looking to go 2-0 against Kana Watanabe. Carmouche and Watanabe fought back in 2021 at Bellator 261 and it was the American winning by TKO in just 35 seconds. Since then, Carmouche went on to become the Bellator women’s flyweight champion, but the two will rematch in the regular season of the PFL tournament at PFL 4 on this Thursday.
Cody Stamann plans to go back to wrestling roots against Taylor Lapilus at UFC Louisville: "Going to set a single-fight takedown record"
Cole Shelton - June 6, 2024
Cody Stamann plans to go back to his roots and wrestle his way to a win at UFC Louisville. Stamann hasn’t fought since May of 2023 when he suffered a controversial decision loss to Douglas Silva de Andrade. After the loss, Stamann was hoping for a quick turnaround. He ended up getting booked to fight in October but as he started his fight camp, he tore his bicep which put him back on the shelf.
Dustin Jacoby says he has a “couple things” up his sleeve to catch Dominick Reyes early at UFC Louisville
Cole Shelton - June 5, 2024
Dustin Jacoby believes he will catch Dominick Reyes early and score a KO win at UFC Louisville on Saturday night. Jacoby is set to return in the co-main event of the Fight Night card against Reyes. After his loss to Alonzo Menifield in December, Dustin wasn’t sure what would be next for him, but he jumped at the chance when he got the call to face Reyes.
Jared Cannonier plans to "re-open some eyes" with his performance against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Louisville
Cole Shelton - June 4, 2024
Jared Cannonier will be making the walk to the Octagon again after a year off due to injuries. Cannonier last fought back on June 17, 2023, when he defeated Marvin Vettori by decision. He was then offered to fight Khamzat Chimaev on short notice in Abu Dhabi, but Cannonier injured his MCL which has kept him out of action until now.
Jailton Almeida hopes to secure his "dream fight" against Tom Aspinall with a win over Alexandr Romanov at UFC 302
Cole Shelton - June 1, 2024
Jailton Almeida is ready to climb up the heavyweight ranks again. Almeida is coming off a knockout loss to Curtis Blaydes back in March and is set to face Alexandr Romanov at UFC 302 on Saturday. The Brazilian is the betting favorite and he has confidence he will be able to get back into the win column in a big way.
Sean Strickland says the only way he loses to Paulo Costa at UFC 302 is if he "f***s up"
Cole Shelton - May 30, 2024
Sean Strickland knows he is a much better fighter than Paulo Costa. Strickland is set to face Costa in the co-main event of UFC 302 in a five-round fight. Strickland is looking to return to the win column after losing his middleweight title back in January to Dricus Du Plessis.
UFC 302 | Pro fighters make their picks for Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa
Cole Shelton - May 30, 2024
In the co-main event of UFC 302, a middleweight bout goes down as Sean Strickland takes on Paulo Costa. Heading into the fight, Strickland is a -250 favorite while the Brazilian is a +190 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the middleweight fight. The pros believe the five rounds will favor Strickland as they expect the American to beat Costa by decision.
UFC 302 | Pro fighters make their picks for Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier title fight
Cole Shelton - May 29, 2024
In the main event of UFC 302, the lightweight title is up for grabs as Islam Makhachev looks to defend his belt against Dustin Poirier. Heading into the fight, Makhachev is a sizeable -620 favorite while ‘The Diamond’ is a +400 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the lightweight title fight. The majority of pros are rooting for Poirier to get the job done and become the champ, but they do believe Makhachev will be too much for him.
Alex Morono eyes KO win over Niko Price at UFC 302 to avenge 2017 loss: "Going to be a fun fight"
Cole Shelton - May 28, 2024
Alex Morono jumped at the chance to rematch Niko Price at UFC 302. After Morono defeated Court McGee in April, he returned to the gym to prepare for any short-notice fight that came up. Shortly after his win, Jeremiah Wells fell out of his fight against Price and Morono called the UFC to get his rematch.
Terrance McKinney expects Esteban Ribovics to "crumble" to his "power" at UFC St. Louis: "Show there are levels"
Cole Shelton - May 9, 2024
Terrance McKinney is excited to fight in front of fans again, as he takes on Esteban Ribovics at UFC St. Louis on Saturday. McKinney is coming off a 20-second knockout win back in October and was hoping to make a quick turnaround after the result. Unfortunately, it took seven months for ‘T-Wrecks’ to get his night fight booked, but he’s ready to bring the heat again this weekend in Missouri.
Chase Hooper expecting an "exciting fight" against Viacheslav Borshchev in grappler vs. striker matchup at UFC St. Louis
Cole Shelton - May 8, 2024
Chase Hooper knows he will have to get Viacheslav Borshchev to the ground if he is going to get his hand raised at UFC St. Louis. Hooper is set for his third fight at lightweight as he’s 2-0 and coming off a submission win over Jordan Leavitt back in November. After the win, he was hoping to get a quick turnaround, but that didn’t happen.
Diego Ferreira explains why Mateusz Rebecki is a "perfect match" for him at UFC St. Louis, wants Bobby Green with a win
Cole Shelton - May 7, 2024
Diego Ferreira will end his nearly year-long layoff at UFC St. Louis when he takes on Mateusz Rebecki. Ferreira hasn’t fought since May 20th of last year when he knocked out Michael Johnson. After the fight, Ferreira welcomed a baby girl into the world and also had to focus on his gym which kept him out of action.
Tristan Hamm details transition from influencer to boxer ahead of Le'Veon Bell boxing match, eyes future fight with Dillon Danis
Cole Shelton - May 2, 2024
Tristan Hamm made quick work in his boxing debut and now he wants to see how far he can take it. Hamm, also known as Mr. Adventure on social media with over two million Instagram followers, had his boxing debut in January on the Misfits card. He scored a quick knockout win, and although he’s only been boxing for six months, Hamm says being part of the influencer boxing was something he had been interested in.
Drakkar Klose claims Joaquim Silva is the "easiest fight," vows to KO him at UFC 301
Cole Shelton - April 30, 2024
Drakkar Klose called for the easiest fight in the lightweight division after his last win and he says he got his wish. After Klose scored a slam KO over Joe Solecki in December, he said he didn’t care who was next, as he just wanted the easiest guy for the most amount of money. Klose ended up getting the call to face Joaquim Silva at UFC 301 in Brazil, which is exciting for the American to go into enemy territory.
Austen Lane guarantees violence against Jhonata Diniz at UFC Vegas 91: "I will turn it loose"
Cole Shelton - April 24, 2024
Austen Lane wasn’t surprised when he got offered to fight Jhonata Diniz at UFC Vegas 91. Lane is coming off a knockout loss to Justin Tafa back in September at UFC 293, this after their no-contest result. Following the loss, Lane wanted to return much sooner as he wanted to be as active as possible.