Exclusive MMA Interviews News

Cole Shelton - October 2, 2019

Al Iaquinta is looking to return to the win column at UFC 243 when he takes on Dan Hooker. The Long Island-native will be heading to Australia to take on the Kiwi in Hooker. It will no doubt be a very entertaining fight, yet Iaquinta believes he will get his hand raised and dominate the fight for the full 15 minutes. That, or score an early finish.

Tom Taylor - October 2, 2019

Jimi Manuwa is feeling the itch to fight again, but he’s not sure if it’s an itch he should scratch. The long-time UFC light heavyweight contender retired in early June, days after an undeniably brutal knockout loss to Aleksandar Rakić. He did so with his health in mind, but admits the urge to dust off his gloves often out-muscles the concern that led him to retire in the first place.

Cole Shelton - October 1, 2019

Robert Whittaker’s longtime jiu-jitsu coach Alex Prates recently said his pupil is a better version of Georges St-Pierre. “Maybe you’ll see Robert Whittaker using a style that I think is the one that suits him better but he never really needed it because it was always comfortable for him on the feet for most of his fights,” Prates told MMA Fighting, discussing Whittaker’s looming showdown with Israel Adesanya. “With Yoel Romero, for example, it would have been stupid to try to take him down. But Robert has great wrestling and great timing. I honestly think Robert is a better version of GSP. And we might see this now.”

Tom Taylor - October 1, 2019

Danny Kingad, a staple of Team Lakay in Baguio City, Philippines, is gearing up for the biggest fight of his life. At ONE: Century Part 1 on October 13 in Tokyo — the evening of Saturday, October 12 in North America — he’ll step into the cage with former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. A few years ago, when Johnson was ruling over the UFC flyweight division, this is a matchup that seemed impossible to Kingad.

Cole Shelton - September 27, 2019

Macy Chiasson expects to keep her finish streak alive at UFC Copenhagen The Fortis MMA product is 5-0 as a pro, with four wins by stoppage, including all three of her UFC bouts. When she takes on Lina Lansberg, she’s confident she’ll add another stoppage to her record.

Tom Taylor - September 26, 2019

When Eddie Alvarez was forced out of his ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix final showdown with Saygid Guseyn “Dagi” Arslanaliev, ONE Championship began a frantic search for a replacement opponent. In the end, it was ONE Lightweight World Champion Christian Lee who stepped up. Lee will now fight Dagi on the main card of ONE: Century – Part 1. Stateside, the card will air on Saturday, October 12 at 11:00pm ET on TNT.

Tom Taylor - September 26, 2019

ONE Championship is plotting an expansion into the United States, and Demetrious Johnson is more than willing to be a part of those plans. Johnson, who will have fought twice in Tokyo and once in Manila by year’s end, discussed a potential return to US soil in a recent interview with BJPENN.com. He says he’s particularly interested in fighting in Hawaii, home to ONE Championship stars Christian and Angela Lee, and the perceived frontrunner for ONE’s US debut.

Tom Taylor - September 26, 2019

Dwayne Johnson, better known as “The Rock,” is a big MMA fan. The pro wrestling legend and Hollywood actor often rubs shoulders with the stars of the fight game, such as current ONE Championship heavyweight kingpin Brandon Vera. The Rock and Vera recently sat down to discuss a number of topics, including The Rock’s latest film project Hobbs & Shaw, and Vera’s upcoming title fight with ONE Light Heavyweight Champion Aung La N Sang.

Cole Shelton - September 26, 2019

This Saturday, the Octagon touches down in Denmark for UFC Copenhagen. The main event will be a pivotal middleweight bout as Jack Hermansson takes on Jared Cannonier. Heading into the fight, the European Hermansson is a -250 favorite while the American is a +190 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their predictions for the scrap. And, as the odds suggest, the majority are leaning towards Jack Hermansson to get it done.

Cole Shelton - September 25, 2019

Gilbert Burns is once again taking a welterweight short notice fight. Back in August, the Brazilian stepped up and took on Alexey Kunchenko and handed him his first loss. Now, on Saturday, at UFC Copenhagen, Burns will take on Gunnar Nelson having had just a week and a half to prepare.

Tom Taylor - September 24, 2019

Long before Aung La N Sang became a professional fighter, he worked as a professional beekeeper. Surprisingly, there are a number similarities between these two gigs.

Cole Shelton - September 24, 2019

Lyoto Machida has planned out the rest of 2019 and the beginnings of 2020. In the co-main event of Bellator 228, the former UFC light heavyweight champion Machida is taking on Gegard Mousasi. This middleweight fight is a rematch of their 2014 fight, which Machida won by decision.

Tom Taylor - September 23, 2019

Kevin Belingon and Bibiano Fernandes have a long and complicated history together. The two stars will look to write a decisive final chapter to their shared story when they collide for the ONE Championship bantamweight title at ONE: Century – Part 2 on October 13 in Tokyo, Japan. This Tokyo showdown will mark the fourth time they share the cage together.

Tom Taylor - September 23, 2019

It’s been a hectic year for Demetrious Johnson. After signing with ONE Championship in late 2018, the former UFC Flyweight Champion has spent the duration of 2019 thus far bushwhacking his way through the perilous ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix.

Cole Shelton - September 20, 2019

Colby Covington has been at odds with American Top Team teammate Dustin Poirier ever since Poirier lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242. After 242, Poirier was asked if he would be willing to fight a training partner at American Top Team, and he said no because he isn’t a sellout like Colby Covington.

Tom Taylor - September 19, 2019

John Lineker is currently dialed in on his ONE Championship debut, which will pit him against the ferocious Muin Gafurov at ONE: Dawn of Valor in Jakarta, Indonesia on October 25. Yet that doesn’t mean he’s not thinking about his future under the ONE banner. Lineker’s ONE debut will occur in the 145-pound ONE bantamweight division. That being said, one of the biggest fights available to him in ONE Championship would be a collision with fellow UFC veteran Demetrious Johnson, who calls the 135-pound ONE flyweight division home.

Cole Shelton - September 18, 2019

Colby Covington has gotten some heat from fellow American Top Team (ATT) fighters as of late. ‘Chaos’ has taken shots at both Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier with both firing right back at the former UFC interim welterweight champion. It got to the point that Covington admitted a brawl may take place at ATT and he could very well have to leave the gym.

Cole Shelton - September 18, 2019

Colby Covington and Nick Diaz have gone back-and-forth in interviews trash-talking one another. It even got to the point where Diaz challenged Covington to a fight. “I’m not gonna sit here and call the man a liar, I never heard about it, I just found out,” Diaz said of Covington’s trash talk to TMZ Sports. “If you wanna fight, you know where to find me. I’m not a hard guy to find. Step in my motherf**king range right here. Come at me, bro.”