Exclusive MMA Interviews News

Thomas Taylor - March 20, 2019

20-year-old Australian flyweight Chelsea Hackett has thrived as a Muay Thai fighter, and now she’s preparing to conquer the world of mixed martial arts. Hackett’s martial arts journey began at just eight years old, when her parents enrolled her in Taekwondo. By the time she was 12, she’d earned a blackbelt in the Korean martial art, and sought out a new challenge in the form of Muay Thai. She signed up for classes at Boonchu Gym on the Gold Coast, which is operated by Angie and John Wayne Parr, and by the time she was 13, she was climbing into the ring for her first fight.

Cole Shelton - March 20, 2019

The Octagon heads to Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday and on the main card will be Canadian John Makdessi taking on Jesus Pinedo. For Makdessi it has been a long road to get to the Octagon after having to pull out of UFC 231 with an injury.

Tom Taylor - March 19, 2019

UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway is headed up to the lightweight division for an interim title fight with Dustin Poirier. While he’s stated that he hopes to return to the featherweight division and defend his belt thereafter, it’s not completely clear how things will actually unfold if he wins interim lightweight gold. Whatever the case, top featherweight contender Alexander Volkanovski wants Max Holloway to know that he still has work to do in the featherweight division.

Cole Shelton - March 19, 2019

At UFC 235, Ben Askren made his highly-anticipated debut, when he took on Robbie Lawler. Askren, who is undefeated, was looking to show he is the best in the world. However, early on, ‘Funky’ was in a lot of trouble when Lawler slammed him on his head.

Drake Riggs - March 18, 2019

It takes four years to graduate from high school. It takes the same amount of time to acquire a bachelor’s degree. From any starting point to its end, lessons can be learned and experience will be gained along the way. However, the growing process never entirely stops. Whether it pertains to physical capabilities or the mental. Perhaps both together as a pair as they more often than not go hand in hand.

Cole Shelton - March 18, 2019

Alex Morono is now ready to call fighters out after being called out for his last fight. Morono, who is coming off of a first-round win over Zak Ottow is ready to fight a legend in the sport in Diego Sanchez.

Thomas Taylor - March 17, 2019

The last few years have not been easy for ONE Championship atomweight titleholder Angela Lee. Although she was able to pick up a decision victory over Mei Yamaguchi in May of 2018, this victory was sandwiched between a harrowing 2017 car accident and a cancelled November, 2018 fight with ONE strawweight champ Xiong Jing Nan.

Cole Shelton - March 15, 2019

Josh Emmett was on the rise in the featherweight division. He shocked many by knocking out Ricardo Lamas to put himself into the top-10 of the division. There, Emmett was looking to build off the win and become a title contender. His next fight was in the main event when he took on Jeremy Stephens. Emmett had some success in the fight until Stephens landed a nice combination of punches and elbows which knocked Emmett out. To make matters worse, Emmett dealt with a bevy of injuries which has kept him out of the Octagon for over a year.

Cole Shelton - March 14, 2019

The UFC is heading back to London, England this Saturday. In the main event of this UFC London card, Englishman Darren Till is looking to get back into the win column as he takes on the dangerous Jorge Masvidal. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the fight. It was a close one, but the majority are leaning toward Till.

Tom Taylor - March 12, 2019

On March 23, at UFC Nashville, dangerous heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes will look to distance himself from a tough loss to Francis Ngannou as he takes Justin Willis. Heading into this matchup, the wrestling specialist Blaydes expects Willis to be well-prepared, as he trains at American Kickboxing Academy alongside top heavyweight wrestlers like Daniel Cormier and Cain Velasquez.

Thomas Taylor - March 11, 2019

If you’re not familiar with Herdem Alacabek yet, you probably will be soon. The Swedish light heavyweight, who has kickstarted his pro mixed martial arts career with five straight finishes, is narrowing in on a UFC roster spot. In fact, he could put pen to paper very soon.

Cole Shelton - March 11, 2019

Jordan Rinaldi was in a must-win situation in his last fight. At UFC 230, he moved down to featherweight to take on Jason Knight, and was fresh off of a tough loss to Gregor Gillespie. Rinaldi knew another loss could mean the end of his UFC career. Luckily, he ended up beating Knight by unanimous decision, protecting his job in the process.

Cole Shelton - March 8, 2019

Josh Emmett is set to return to the Octagon on March 30, when he takes on Michael Johnson. When he does finally return, it will have been over a year since his last fight because of all the injuries he sustained in his last outing. That left Emmett with only one fight in 2018 and only one chance to get paid. During this time off, Emmett got thinking about the pay structure in the UFC, and he thinks it could use some work.

Tom Taylor - March 7, 2019

At UFC London, which goes down on March 16, surging light heavyweight contender Dominick Reyes will face arguably the toughest test of his career in former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir. In Oezdemir, Reyes will face a clever striker with shocking power in both hands. Given his foe’s strengths, Reyes is prepared to ground the fight if need be.

Cole Shelton - March 7, 2019

Macy Chiasson had a weekend to remember. After a long, 12-week training camp, Chiasson cut down to fight in the bantamweight division, which will be her home from now on. In her bantamweight debut, which was the second fight on the UFC 235 bill, she looked like a force to be reckoned with, as she scored a quick knockout win over Gina Mazany.

Cole Shelton - March 7, 2019

The Octagon touches down in Wichita, Kansas for the first time in history this Saturday. In the main event, former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos will be taking on former title challenger Derrick Lewis. Ahead of this heavyweight fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions. Some believe dos Santos will be too much for Lewis, while others believe Lewis will land a fight-ending blow on dos Santos. Two others can’t decide at all.

Cole Shelton - March 5, 2019

Beneil Dariush went 735 days without a win. It was a rough two years for the 29-year-old. There’s no other way to put it. In that stretch, he suffered losses to Edson Barboza and Alexander Hernandez as well as a draw with Evan Dunham. But finally, this past November, Dariush got his hand raised again inside the Octagon. Dariush had a dominating performance and scored a unanimous decision win over Thiago Moises to snap his winless streak. This was a massive relief for him.

Cole Shelton - March 5, 2019

Blagoy Ivanov is ready to fight again. The Bulgarian heavyweight was considered a big signing for the UFC after he dominated in the now defunct World Series of Fighting organization, capturing heavyweight gold. The UFC had so much confidence in Ivanov that his UFC debut was a main event spot against former champion Junior dos Santos. He ended up losing the fight by unanimous decision, but for Ivanov it was a great learning experience.