Exclusive MMA Interviews News

Tom Taylor - June 15, 2017

UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor have certainly had their issues in the past. When Woodley heard the news that the Irishman had finally made his much-discussed boxing match with Floyd Mayweather happen, however, he could only offer his respect. “I immediately started thinking in my mind how I’m going to be at the fight, that’s the first thing I thought” Woodley told BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor of his reaction to the news. “Obviously, you know, me and Conor haven’t seen eye-to-eye a couple of times, but from a standpoint of what he does for the sport – I’ve made a lot of money being on the same card as him. Do I really want to sit here and act like I can’t stand this dude or I can’t respect him? I’d be lying to you. I respect the hell out of his hustle, and what he’s done to put himself in this position that he’s in. His ability to go out there and make himself this larger than life figure, and then to get the pound-for-pound best boxer of our generation to come out of retirement and fight him? Come on now. Give the dude his due. Everybody stand up, everybody clap. He is now the ambassador of quan. He just made something that happen that wasn’t even fathomable in our minds. So with that being said, I can deal with it and I’m excited to see it.”

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

Last weekend, on the main card of UFC 212 in Rio de Janeiro, Yancy Medeiros stepped into the Octagon with ever-dangerous Brazilian finisher Erick Silva. Despite the scale of this test, the Hawaiian talent defeated Silva in his own back yard, putting him down with a thudding, second-round combo. With this impressive win, Medeiros built on the momentum of a submission defeat of Sean Spencer, and moved to 2-0 since jumping from lightweight to welterweight.

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

Last weekend, in the main event of the UFC’s latest trip to Stockholm, Sweden, Alexander Gustafsson put on arguably the best performance of career, lighting up Glover Teixeira en route to a fifth round knockout. Days removed from this fight, Jimi Manuwa, one of Gustafsson’s main training partners,  joined host Kinch on BJ Penn Radio. During his segment, Manuwa discussed his ally’s big win. Apparently, it came as no surprise to him. “What you lot saw on the weekend, that’s what I deal with day, in day out,” he said. “Alex is the best in the world. I’m the best in the world. That came as no surprise to me. I had full confidence he was going to do it. The guy is so skillful and so strong and athletic that it didn’t come as a surprise to me. Alex is a beast, and I’m glad to have him, and I’m glad you lot saw that.”

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

Until recently, former UFC bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw was expected to challenge reigning champ and former teammate Cody Garbrandt for gold at UFC 213 this July 8. Regrettably, Garbrandt has been forced out of this planned title fight with back trouble, which has left Dillashaw without a chance to fight for gold. While the simplest option for Dillashaw would seem to be to wait for Garbrandt to recover, he’s got another plan. The talented bantamweight has recently been campaigning for a shot at Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, who rules the flyweight division 10 pounds south of bantamweight.

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

On June 17, Colby Covington will step into the Octagon in far-off Singapore, where he will battle South Korean star Dong Hyun Kim in the starkest test of his career thus far. Despite the scale of this test, the American Top Team staple is confident he can beat Kim decisively. Covington broke down this high-stakes showdown on the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio:

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.