Exclusive MMA Interviews News

Natasha Hooper - August 26, 2019

Mark De La Rosa is ready to up the ante as he faces off against Kai Kara-France at UFC Shenzhen. The former 135-pounder is moving down to flyweight for the second time to face Kara-France in China on Saturday, August 31. Despite losing his most recent fight to Alex Perez earlier this year, De La Rosa is feeling confident about his upcoming fight.

Cole Shelton - August 23, 2019

Paige VanZant has not fought since January of this year, when she submitted Rachael Ostovich. Since then, she has been sidelined due to yet another broken arm. For her husband Austin Vanderford, it has been hard to see her be on the shelf once again. “The hardest part of our relationship has been her arm. It is hard to relate it to anything else. Really, it just takes away from what she wants to do,” Vanderford told BJEPNN.com. “She has her foot in a lot of things and is very smart and has built her brand to go further than fighting. But, her fighting is the most important thing. If anything has proven that is this injury. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t get to see that. She is a fighter first and foremost.”

Cole Shelton - August 23, 2019

Switzerland’s Volkan Oezdemir has wanted to run it back with Dominick Reyes ever since his controversial loss to the American earlier this year. But Reyes is set to take on Chris Weidman, so the fight isn’t possible right now. For that reason, Oezdemir is turning his attention to Jan Blachowicz.

Mike Pendleton - August 22, 2019

Mike Kimbel is days away from another fight with Bellator MMA, and another fight in his home state of Connecticut, as he’s set to battle Chris Disonell at Bellator 225 this Saturday. Kimbel is currently 3-1 as a professional, with all of his fights occurring in the Bellator cage. His most recent fight was a split decision victory over Sebastian Ruiz inside New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Getting the opportunity to fight inside this world famous arena was a bucket list item for Kimbel. He’s glad to have checked it off his list, but he wasn’t happy with the split decision ruling.

Cole Shelton - August 22, 2019

Javy Ayala is coming off of the biggest win of his career, as he TKO’d Frank Mir back in December. Now, in the co-main event of Bellator 225 this weekend, he’s set to take on the former champion in Vitaly Minakov. Although Javy Ayala hasn’t fought since December, he isn’t worried about his layoff. Instead, he says he used that time to better his game and was excited when he finally got a fight offer — especially when he saw Minakov’s name on the contract.

Cole Shelton - August 21, 2019

Anthony Smith and Luke Rockhold have had a heated rivalry for quite some time. Ever since “Lionheart” moved up from the middleweight division and began having success at light heavyweight, the former middleweight champion Rockhold has been critical of him. Yet when Rockhold made his own debut at 205-pounds, he was knocked out in the second round by Jan Blachowicz. For Anthony Smith, this was good to see as it forced Rockhold eat his words. But, even after Rockhold’s failed light heavyweight debut, Smith isn’t done trash-talking his rival.

Cole Shelton - August 19, 2019

Anthony Smith is confident that, if he were healthy, he could be getting a rematch against Jon Jones immediately. The two fought back at UFC 235. Jones won the fight by unanimous decision. Since then, “Lionheart” has submitted Alexander Gustafsson, while “Bones” beat Thiago Santos.

Cole Shelton - August 16, 2019

After putting on a dominating performance against Robbie Lawler at UFC Newark, the expectation is that Colby Covington now fights Kamaru Usman for the welterweight belt. Of course, “Chaos” has been promised a title shot before. So, he isn’t holding out hope for it, especially after what happened after his fight with Lawler.

Cole Shelton - August 15, 2019

Two of the sport’s greatest heavyweights will imminently run it back. In the main event of UFC 241, Daniel Cormier is looking to defend his heavyweight title for the second time when he takes on Stipe Miocic, the most dominant champ in the UFC heavyweight division’s history. It will be a rematch of their fight at UFC 226, which ‘DC’ who won by knockout. Heading into this fight, the champ as a -145 favorite while Miocic is a +115 underdog.

Mike Heck - August 15, 2019

Cory Sandhagen is on the short list of fighters in the bantamweight title discussion and he believes he can get right to the top of that list Saturday night. Sandhagen will square off against perennial contender Raphael Assuncao at UFC 241. The event takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. with the 135-pound clash taking place during the ESPN prelims.

Cole Shelton - August 15, 2019

Ian Heinisch expects a dominating performance at UFC 241 when he takes on Derek Brunson. The 31-year-old called for this fight and for a good reason. He doesn’t believe Brunson is on his level and plans on exploiting him come Saturday.

Cole Shelton - August 14, 2019

UFC 241 will be headlined by a heavyweight title fight between champion Daniel Cormier and former champ Stipe Miocic. Yet the fight many fans are most looking forward to is the co-main event, which will see Anthony Pettis take on Nate Diaz, who is returning to the Octagon after more than three years away. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions. Currently, Pettis is a -140 favorite, while Diaz is a +110 underdog. For the pros, the majority believe the underdog gets it done, but all agree with it will be a close and entertaining fight.

Natasha Hooper - August 14, 2019

Last week, it was confirmed by Combate that flyweight contenders Tim Elliott and Deiveson Figueiredo will be going head-to-head at UFC San Francisco on October 21. Figueiredo is riding high since picking up a unanimous decision win over Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 240. It was a solid performance, but you can’t please everyone. His future opponent, Tim Elliott, was not overly impressed.

Cole Shelton - August 13, 2019

The UFC has stacked the deck for UFC 241, with the heavyweight title on the line and some very intriguing bouts on the main card. In one of those bouts, former middleweight title challenger Yoel Romero will take on Brazilian knockout artist Paulo Costa, who has been asking for this fight for a long time. Heading into the scrap, Romero is a -155 favorite while Costa is a +125 underdog.

Cole Shelton - August 12, 2019

Jim Miller and Clay Guida met in the co-main event of UFC Newark in a battle of two lightweight veterans. Miller picked up the win in Newark, setting up a submission by rocking his foe on the feet. That being said, he too found himself on wobbly legs after Guida landed on him right before the fight ended.

Natasha Hooper - August 9, 2019

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Tom Taylor - August 9, 2019

In the long history of the UFC, only a few fighters have managed to earn 20 wins inside the Octagon. They are: Georges St-Pierre, Michael Bisping, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, Demian Maia, and as of last Saturday, lightweight veteran Jim Miller. Miller earned his 20th career win when he submitted fellow veteran Clay Guida in the co-main event of UFC Newark.

Tom Taylor - August 9, 2019

Colby Covington is a big fan of President Donald Trump, and has gotten plenty of face-time in with the Commander In Chief and his family over the last year. His most recent interaction with the Trumps occurred last weekend at UFC Newark. The First Family was in attendance for Covington’s main event showdown with former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler, and even visited him in his locker room in the moments before his fight.