Exclusive MMA Interviews News

Cole Shelton - February 28, 2019

Jon Jones is returning to the Octagon not even three months after his last fight. In the main event of UFC 235 this Saturday, the light heavyweight champ will be taking on Anthony Smith, who has gone 3-0 in the division since moving up from middleweight. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions. The majority, as expected, are leaning towards the massive betting favorite in Jones. Yet some also believe Smith will do as he’s promised and shock the world.

Cole Shelton - February 27, 2019

Reports came out today that Paige VanZant’s initial opponent at UFC 236 in Poliana Botelho was injured and off the card. Replacing her would be Montana De La Rosa who is fresh off of yet another submission win at UFC 234. However, De La Rosa has now confirmed that the fight is not happening and those reports are false. “I guess [UFC matchmaker] Mick [Maynard] wanted to make that fight between me and Paige,” De La Rosa told to BJPENN.com. “But now Paige is claiming her arm is hurt so she can’t fight that Poliana girl or me so we aren’t sure what is happening. As of now, she is hurt so that is not true. I’m just waiting to hear. They do want to make that fight with Paige and I but she is claiming she is hurt. I’m not really sure what is going on now.”

Mike Pendleton - February 27, 2019

UFC 235 will be headlined by a pair of title fights, as Jon Jones defends his title against Anthony Smith, and Tyron Woodley looks to fend off Kamaru Usman. But the fireworks kick off far earlier than that. In the first bout of the UFC 235 main card, former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt returns to the Octagon, where he’ll look to correct a two-fight skid after losing the title to bitter rival TJ Dillashaw. In a rivalry that not only cost him his title, but consumed over a year of his fighting career, Garbrandt finds himself on the road to redemption and glory, as he looks to get back to what made him so special when he became champion.

Cole Shelton - February 27, 2019

Cody Stamann was preparing to fight in March before the UFC even called him. Then, about a month he was offered the chance to fight at UFC 235, where he is set to take on Alejandro Perez. Stamann, who is coming off of a submission loss to Aljamain Sterling in September is confident he was what it takes to beat Perez. Frankly, Stamann doesn’t even think Perez is that good.

Cole Shelton - February 26, 2019

UFC 235 is set to go down on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card is already in the lead for Card of the Year as it is absolutely stacked. On the card, and making his UFC debut, is former ONE and Bellator champ Ben Askren, who is taking on former UFC champion Robbie Lawler. Ahead of this fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several fighters to get their predictions for the fight.

Cole Shelton - February 25, 2019

Jon Jones is set to defend his light heavyweight championship at UFC 235 this Saturday against Anthony Smith. There is no question Jones is the huge favorite, but that doesn’t mean Jones isn’t worried. After all, this is a fight and anything can happen. Furthermore, Jones claims he took Alexander Gustafsson lightly in their 2013 fight, and nearly lost the title as a result. Thus, Jones and his head coach Mike Winkeljohn know they can’t make that mistake again.

Cole Shelton - February 22, 2019

Liz Carmouche last fought in July of 2018 and wanted to return sooner. She will finally get that chance on Saturday when the UFC makes its debut in the Czech Republic. “I’m ready to fight,” Carmouche said to BJPENN.com. “That’s what I’m looking forward to. I haven’t fought since July and I have been nagging the UFC. I have tried to get booked well before but I’m excited to finally be able to go out there and do what I do.”

Drake Riggs - February 21, 2019

It took the UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov a few months after his massive title defending win over Conor McGregor at UFC 229 to finally receive his fine and suspension from the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC). Of course, the punishments came in response to the post-fight scuffle that ensued following the fight between both Nurmagomedov and McGregor’s camps.

Thomas Taylor - February 20, 2019

From the moment it was announced that ONE Championship was promoting a Grand Prix tournament in its stacked lightweight division, there was no doubt that Ev Ting would be getting an invitation. The Malaysian-Kiwi is as experienced and dangerous as anybody in the division, and the tournament just wouldn’t feel complete if he wasn’t a part of it. Ting will compete in his first ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix showdown at ONE: Call to Greatness on Friday Night in Singapore (Friday morning in the Western Hemisphere). In this quarterfinal bout, he’ll battle a fighter many consider the tournament dark horse: Turkey’s Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev — more widely known simply as “Dagi.”

Cole Shelton - February 20, 2019

Anderson Silva has his next fight booked as he will return to Brazil to take on Jared Cannonier at UFC 237. “I never thought it was going to happen, I got the call today, but hell, the UFC has already announced it so I assume Silva has agreed to it as well,” Cannonier said to BJPENN.com. “Right now it is just verbally agreed to. I think Silva is going to take it.”

Cole Shelton - February 20, 2019

Jason Knight wasn’t a free agent for long. The former UFC featherweight recently signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) on a one-fight basis to fight Artem Lobov in April. For Knight, this is exactly what he wanted as he wasn’t ready for another MMA fight yet.

Thomas Taylor - February 19, 2019

Costa Rica’s Ariel Sexton has become a staple of the ONE Championship lightweight division. Given his status as one of the organization’s premier lightweights, it came as no surprise when he was invited to compete in the anticipated ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix. Sexton will compete in his first Grand Prix bout on Friday night in Singapore (Friday morning in the Western Hemisphere) at ONE: Call to Greatness, where he will battle local hero Amir Khan for a ticket to the quarterfinals.

Thomas Taylor - February 18, 2019

On Friday night in Singapore (Friday morning in North America), at ONE: Call to Greatness, former ONE lightweight title challenger Amir Khan will attempt to advance to the second round of the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix with a win over Costa Rican grappling ace Ariel Sexton. Now just days away from this fight, Amir Khan says his preparations have been fruitful. He’s tailored his entire eight-week camp to combatting the unique skillset of his upcoming foe, and feels well prepared for the task at hand.

Drake Riggs - February 18, 2019

In the modern era of mixed martial arts, there are many different reasons one could find themselves attracted to this sport that is the purest form of combat. For every different country, every different person, what it is that piques their interest compared to another might not be identical which just goes to show the great depth that the sport can provide whether as a viewer, participant, or both.

Jason Kindschy - February 17, 2019

With the highly anticipated return of former heavyweight kingpin Cain Velasquez just hours away, the question remains if we will see the dominant display of cardio and technique that Cain is known for against a very dangerous opponent in Francis Ngannou. Following a hiatus from combat sports for over two years, one individual who has no doubt that Velasquez will make a big statement tonight on ESPN is his longtime friend and coach, Javier Mendez. On the most recent episode of BJPENN.COM Radio, Mendez discussed his star pupil, the long journey back to action, and the continued evolution of Cain as a martial artist.

Cole Shelton - February 15, 2019

The UFC’s first ever event on ESPN is upon us. In the main event, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will be making his long awaited return to the Octagon to take on Francis Ngannou. Ahead of this heavyweight fight, which could have title implications, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions. And, for the first time in the history of this series, the fighters were unanimous in their answers.

Cole Shelton - February 13, 2019

All the hype surrounding Bellator 216 is about Michael Page vs Paul Daley, and rightfully so. However, another name getting attention is Valerie Loureda, who is set to make her Bellator debut against Colby Fletcher. Loureda, who is just 20-years-old comes from a Taekwondo background and was a big signing for Bellator when it was announced. For Loureda, it was an easy decision to sign with Bellator and continue her MMA journey there.

Mike Pendleton - February 11, 2019

Ahead of his upcoming Bellator debut, Austin Vanderford wanted to get one simple thing out of the way early, he’s going on without a nickname. Previously known in his fighting career as ‘AK-47’ and then also known to many as ‘Mr. VanZant’ due to his recent marriage to UFC flyweight Paige VanZant, Vanderford made it clear, there are no nicknames attached to him, he’s simply just Austin Vanderford.