Exclusive MMA Interviews News

Tom Taylor - June 11, 2017

Next weekend, in the first bout of the UFC Singapore undercard, undefeated South Korean bantamweight Ji Yeon Kim will make her UFC debut against a game opponent in the Czech Republic’s Lucie Pudilová. In advance of this fight, Kim has been sharpening her tools alongside one of the most dangerous fighters in the game, and the most famous fighter to emerge from South Korea: “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung.

Tom Taylor - June 10, 2017

If things had gone according to the original plan, undefeated South Korean bantamweight Ji Yeon Kim would be making her UFC debut against former champion Holly Holm when the UFC touches down in Singapore later this month. Regrettably, Holm turned this fight down, and Kim was instead paired with rangy Czech fighter Lucie Pudilová. Despite the lesser-known opponent, Kim told BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor that she’s very excited about her imminent UFC debut.

Tom Taylor - June 8, 2017

AJ McKee and James Gallagher are two of the hottest prospects on the Bellator roster and as luck would have it, they happen to compete in the same weight class and have some real issues with one another. Though Gallagher is currently scheduled for a stark test against Chinzo Machida at Bellator 180 on June 24, he and McKee seem to be destined to collide. On the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio, McKee explained to host Kinch that he hopes to fight Gallagher, whether the Irishman wins or loses against Machida later this month.

Tom Taylor - June 8, 2017

UFC 212, which went down in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil last Saturday night, was a big one for the Hawaii, as Max Holloway defeated Jose Aldo to win featherweight gold, and Yancy Medeiros thumped Erick Silva to move to 2-0 as a welterweight. Hawaii, of course, has always been a hotbed for mixed martial arts – thanks in large part to our own BJ Penn. Yet with Holloway sitting on the featherweight throne, and Medeiros surging into welterweight contendership, the island’s status as a crucible for top fighters is surer than ever.

Tom Taylor - June 5, 2017

Since their respective knockout wins on the main card of the UFC’s latest trip to Nashville, “Platinum” Mike Perry and “Ragin'” Al Iaquinta have exchanged some serious heat on Twitter. Despite the fact that they fight at welterweight and lightweight respectively, the two talented fighters seem very down to fight each other. In a recent interview with BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor, Mike Perry spoke on this possibility, and assured that a fight with Iaquinta is one that he is indeed interested in.

Tom Taylor - June 4, 2017

UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier is scheduled to defend his title against former champion Jon Jones in the main event of UFC 214. Earlier that same night, top light heavyweight contender Jimi Manuwa will take on the surging Volkan Oezdemir in what could well be a number one contender fight. Though Cormier and Manuwa are not fighting each other, they are still taking every opportunity to swap trash talk on social media. Their most recent row occured last weekend, when Cormier called Manuwa “Alexander Gustafsson’s cheerleader,” and Manuwa called Cormier – who is widely referred to as “DC” – “Double Cheeseburger.”

Tom Taylor - June 1, 2017

Yesterday, we learned that British knockout artist Jimi Manuwa will take on fellow top-5 light heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 214 this July 29 in Anaheim, California. While Manuwa is one of the most established names in the UFC light heavyweight division, Oezdemir remains a relative unknown among many fans, having burst into the top-5 after just two fights in the UFC.

Tom Taylor - June 1, 2017

Top UFC light heavyweight Jimi Manuwa has a big fight on the horizon, as it was recently announced that he’ll be taking on the surging Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 214 this July 29 in Anaheim. While this challenge is at the forefront of his mind, however, he is still dialled in on a potential boxing match with fellow Londoner David Haye – and apparently, it’s probably going to happen. On a previous episode of BJ Penn Radio, Manuwa announced that he, Haye and UFC President Dana White had spoken about making the fight happen, and that the wheels were decidedly in motion. On the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio, Manuwa gave an update on this potential boxing match, and assured that it’s still a very real possibility. In fact he’s completely confident it will happen.

Tom Taylor - June 1, 2017

Last weekend, Swiss light heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir scored an abrupt, first round knockout win over the highly regarded Misha Cirkunov. With this win, Oezdemir earned himself a fight with the UFC’s third-ranked light heavyweight: British destroyer Jimi Manuwa. On Wednesday’s edition of BJ Penn Radio, Jimi Manuwa discussed this newly announced bout with Oezdemir.

Tom Taylor - May 29, 2017

Earlier this month, on the main card of the stacked UFC 211, red hot Mexican featherweight prospect Yair Rodriguez faced the biggest test of his career in Frankie Edgar. Regrettably for Rodriguez and his legions of fans, it did not turn out to be his night, as he was taken out by his far more experienced foe. This, of course, is not the way he hoped things would go. Rodriguez looked back on the loss in a recent interview with BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor:

Tom Taylor - May 25, 2017

Earlier this month, on the main card of UFC 211, red hot featherweight prospect Yair Rodriguez hit a road block in the form of Frankie Edgar. Despite some strong moments in the fight, Rodriguez was grounded and ultimately stopped by his experienced foe. Now several weeks removed from this loss, Rodriguez spoke with BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor about the fight. Apparently, losing this fight was his worst fear – though he is certain he will grow from the experience.

Tom Taylor - May 25, 2017

One of the hottest rivalries in MMA today is the one shared by reigning bantamweight champ Cody Garbrandt, and former champ TJ Dillashaw. As Dillashaw’s coach, Duane Ludwig has been dragged into the middle of this sizzling beef, which has recently been coming to a head on The Ultimate Fighter. On Wednesday’s edition of BJ Penn Radio, Ludwig explained to host Kinch that he has a hard time coming to grips with all the trash talk and bravado that is produced by rivalries of this kind.

Tom Taylor - May 23, 2017

Over the weekend, the UFC flew more than 400 of its fighters out to Las Vegas for a special, athletes retreat. This retreat has generated quite a few headlines over the last few days – and very few of them have been positive. Mike Perry, however, had an amazing time participating. While Perry’s review of the retreat is overwhelming positive, however, he did have one slightly negative experience when he ran into UFC featherweight Jeremy Stephens. Apparently, things got tense enough that Perry pushed Stephens onto the ground. Perry recounted the run-in in an interview with BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor.

Tom Taylor - May 23, 2017

Last weekend, the UFC flew nearly its entire roster out to Las Vegas for a special, athletes retreat. This retreat has generated quite a few headlines over the last few days – and very few of them have been positive. According to welterweight star Mike Perry, however, any bellyaching about this athletes retreat is unwarranted. On Tuesday afternoon, the knockout artist connected with BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor to share his elation with the experience as a whole. “I learned a lot this weekend,” Perry began. 

Tom Taylor - May 18, 2017

On May 28, the UFC will touch down in beautiful Stockholm, Sweden with an exciting night of fights. In the evening’s co-main event, rapidly  rising light heavyweight contenders Volkan Oezdemir and Misha Cirkunov will collide in a bout that has title implications written all over it. In advance of this fight, Oezdemir joined host Kinch on BJ Penn Radio to discuss Cirkunov, and the challenges he presents as an opponent.

Tom Taylor - May 18, 2017

Last weekend, on the main card of UFC 211, Jorge Masvidal gave up a close decision to Demian Maia in a clash of top-ranked welterweights. On Wednesday evening, Masvidal’s main training partner Colby Covington appeared on BJ Penn Radio to discuss the fight. He explained that he believes Masvidal should have received the nod, but that losing questionable decisions is nothing new for the veteran. “I thought my boy ‘Gamebred’ Jorge Masvidal was way more effective,” Covington said. “He did a lot more damage. He wobbled and hurt Demian Maia at the end of the first round. I thought he won the fight, you know, but he never gets the judges calls. That’s been his whole career, the story of his whole career. He’s dominated guys, beaten up guys in the fight aspect, but they’ve won on points or won by the judges’ score, like against Al Iaquinta. But it is what it is. It’s disappointing, you know. It’s his time to get his title shot, and I really wish that he was going to get that, but he’s still one fight away. He beats a guy like Stephen Thompson and he’s right back there. But it is what it is, you’ve gotta move on. The judges didn’t pick him that night, but I think Demian Maia knew who the better fighter was that night.”

Tom Taylor - May 18, 2017

Last weekend, on the undercard of UFC 211, dangerous lightweight talent James Vick picked up a gorgeous first-round TKO win over the durable Polo Reyes. With this win, he built on the momentum of a recent D’Arce choke defeat of Abel Trujillo, further separated himself from a loss to Beneil Dariush, and reestablished himself as a definite fighter to watch in the perilous UFC lightweight division. In the wake of this impressive defeat of Reyes, Vick made a clever callout of Kevin Less and Michael Chiesa, who will fight in the main event of the UFC’s upcoming trip to Oklahoma City. Naturally, Vick would love to fight the winner of this contest, but he also suggested he’d be willing to step into the fight on short notice, should one party get injured.

Tom Taylor - May 18, 2017

Volkan Oezdemir’s story is a wild one. At the end of 2016, the Swiss light heavyweight was a relative unknown, flying under the radar of all but the most hardcore MMA fans. In early February of 2017, he defeated recent interim title challenger Ovince St. Preux by split decision in a short notice fight, usurping the number-five spot in the UFC light heavyweight rankings as a result. His was an unprecedented leap from relative obscurity into UFC light heavyweight title contention.