Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Don Shainis knows he can't leave it up to the judges against local fighter Jack Jenkins at UFC 284: "I know deep down if it is a close decision it probably isn't going my way"
Cole Shelton - February 9, 2023
Don Shainis knows he has to finish Jack Jenkins at UFC 284 if he is going to win. Shainis made his UFC debut last October on short notice and was submitted in 30 seconds against Sodiq Yusuff. Although the fight didn’t go his way, he already had his eye on Jenkins as he watched the Contender Series live the week of his fight and saw Jenkins get a win.
UFC 284 | Pro fighters make their picks for Yair Rodriguez vs. Josh Emmett interim title fight
Cole Shelton - February 9, 2023
In the co-main event of UFC 284, Yair Rodriguez is set to take on Josh Emmett for the interim featherweight title. Heading into the fight, Rodriguez is a -196 favorite while the American is a +152 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros lean towards Rodriguez getting it done, likely by decision to become the interim featherweight champ.
Parker Porter plans to "bite down" on his mouthpiece and "start throwing leather" with Justin Tafa at UFC 284: "I think we are getting a good finish in the first round"
Cole Shelton - February 8, 2023
Parker Porter plans to stand and trade with Justin Tafa. Porter is set to return to the Octagon at UFC 284 as he goes into enemy territory against Tafa on the pay-per-view portion of the card. On paper, it could be a fun fight and that is what Porter is expecting as he believes he and Tafa are going to bite down on their mouthpieces and trade leather.
UFC 284 | Pro fighters make their picks for Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski title fight
Cole Shelton - February 8, 2023
In the main event of UFC 284, Islam Makhachev looks to defend his lightweight title for the first time against featherweight champ, Alexander Volkanovski. Heading into the fight, Makhachev is a -400 favorite while the Aussie is a +285 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros slightly lean towards Makhachev winning due to his size and strength but some do think Volkanovski can pull off the upset.
Modestas Bukauskas expects to finish Tyson Pedro at UFC 284 in his return to the Octagon: "The comeback story isn't a comeback story until I win in the UFC"
Cole Shelton - February 6, 2023
Modestas Bukauskas is back in the UFC. Bukauskas made his debut in 2020 on Fight Island and scored a first-round TKO win over Andreas Michailidis. However, he then lost his next three fights – losing by TKO to Jimmy Crute, dropping a controversial decision to Michal Oleksiejczuk, and losing by TKO to Khalil Rountree.
Max Rohskopf glad he's getting thrown "right into the mix" at lightweight at Bellator 290, says he doesn't "need to prove anything to anyone"
Cole Shelton - February 2, 2023
Max Rohskopf will finally make his Bellator debut on Saturday at Bellator 290. Rohskopf was supposed to make his debut last October but on the day of the fight, he was scratched from the card after not being cleared by the commission. Rohskopf was frustrated by that as he says he was cleared by three separate doctors to compete.
Adam Fugitt believes he proved he "deserves" to be in the UFC with short notice fight, eyes KO win over Yusaku Kinoshita at UFC Vegas 68
Cole Shelton - February 2, 2023
Adam Fugitt believes UFC Vegas 68 is his true Octagon debut. Fugitt stepped up on short notice back at UFC 277 and suffered a third-round TKO loss to Michael Morales. However, he was a massive underdog in the fight and had some success early on which he believes proves he belongs in the Las Vegas-based promotion.
Kyle Nelson believes he's got Doo Ho Choi "beat pretty much everywhere", expects to put him "to sleep" at UFC Vegas 68
Cole Shelton - February 1, 2023
Kyle Nelson will be dropping back down to featherweight. After Nelson lost by third-round KO to Billy Quarantillo, he said he would be moving up to lightweight for good. He then took on Jai Herbert at 155lbs but lost a decision. With that, he will now be returning to 145lbs at UFC Vegas 68 to face Doo Ho Choi.
Johnny Eblen plans to "maul" Anatoly Tokov at Bellator 290 to defend title, eyes becoming champ-champ soon: "I'm gonna put it on him, man. It's going to be fun"
Cole Shelton - January 31, 2023
Johnny Eblen knew Anatoly Tokov would be next for him. Eblen became Bellator’s middleweight champion last June with a dominant decision win over Gegard Mousasi. After the win, Eblen didn’t know when he would fight but after the Nemkov-Romero scrap was called off, he figured his first title defense would be added to Bellator 290.
Devin Clark plans "ground and pound" finish in the second round against Da Un Jung at UFC Vegas 68: "I have to get control of him"
Cole Shelton - January 31, 2023
Devin Clark was excited to go to South Korea to face Da Un Jung. When Clark originally got the matchup to face Jung the bout was set to be in Seoul, South Korea. It was a trip Clark was looking forward to as he wanted to see a different part of the world, but just before Christmas he got word the event was moving to Las Vegas.
Diego Sanchez "would love to" have retirement fight in the UFC: "I'm going to hit up Dana"
Cole Shelton - January 30, 2023
Diego Sanchez is open to fighting one last time in the UFC. Sanchez was supposed to have his UFC retirement fight back in May of 2021 against Donald Cerrone, yet Sanchez was released from the UFC due to his relationship with former champion, Joshua Fabia. The exit was not a good one, but Sanchez left Fabia and is now set for his BKFC debut at KnuckleMania 3 on February 17.
Cody Stamann eyes Daniel Marcos after UFC 283 win over Luan Lacerda: "I love derailing people's hype and shutting down a hype train"
Cole Shelton - January 28, 2023
Cody Stamann knew fighting a Brazilian in Rio de Janeiro would be tough. Stamann was taking on UFC newcomer, Luan Lacerda at UFC 283, and going into the fight, the American made it clear he would give it back to the Brazilian fans if need be. Yet, throughout fight week, the fans surprised him by being nice and talking to him, but once he got into the arena, he says the fans were brutal.
Thiago Moises says if Melquizael Costa didn't tap at UFC 283 he would've broken "his face", uncertain if the promotion gives him Paddy Pimblett
Cole Shelton - January 26, 2023
Thiago Moises was worried he wasn’t going to fight at UFC 283 in Brazil. Moises was supposed to face Guram Kutateladze but the Georgian pulled out of the fight just weeks prior to the event. With that, Moises was worried the UFC wouldn’t find him a replacement, but they ultimately did as he took on UFC newcomer Melquizael Costa.
Diego Sanchez fires back at people who think he has CTE and brain damage: "I will get out of this sport if I ever have one underlying factor of CTE"
Cole Shelton - January 26, 2023
Diego Sanchez is tired of people saying he has brain damage and CTE. Sanchez has been fighting professionally since 2002 and has fought a total of 44 times. Although all those matches have been in MMA, he will be making his BKFC debut at KnuckleMania 3 on February 17 against a former boxing world champion, Austin Trout.
Marcus Brimage, eight-fight UFC veteran who fought Conor McGregor announces retirement from MMA
Cole Shelton - January 25, 2023
Marcus Brimage is done with MMA. Brimage last competed in MMA in July 2021 at XMMA 2 when he lost a decision to Kyle Bochniak to drop his pro record to 7-8. Since then, Brimage has signed with BKFC and is focused on bare-knuckle and after having his BKFC fight he says he is done with MMA.
Cody Stamann says he'll need a "private escort" out of Brazil after UFC 283: "I'm f*****g flipping these guys off and throwing their beer cans back at them"
Cole Shelton - January 20, 2023
Cody Stamann is ready to be in hostile territory on Saturday. Stamann is set to take on UFC newcomer, Luan Lacerda at UFC 283 in Brazil as Lacerda gets to make his debut at home. Although Stamann has never fought in Brazil, he did corner his teammate Daron Cruickshank and is familiar with the Brazilian fans chanting ‘Uh vai morrer’ which translates to ‘You Will Die.’
UFC 283 | Pro fighters make their picks for Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno 4 title fight
Cole Shelton - January 19, 2023
In the co-main event of UFC 283, the flyweight title is up for grabs as Deiveson Figueiredo looks to defend his strap as he and Brandon Moreno settle the score as they fight for the fourth time. Figueiredo enters the fight as a +102 underdog while the Mexican is a -130 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The fighters are nearly unanimous in thinking Moreno gets it done and becomes the champ again, in likely another competitive fight.
Cody Stamann plans to show Luan Lacerda "there are levels to this game" at UFC 283: "I'm going to set this kid down early and eventually get him out of there"
Cole Shelton - January 18, 2023
Cody Stamann didn’t want to go to Brazil to fight a UFC newcomer, but that’s the fight he was offered. After Stamann knocked out Eddie Wineland in June in less than a minute, he wanted a quick turnaround. Yet, for different reasons, it never came to fruition and he was then offered UFC newcomer, Luan Lacerda at UFC 283 which he accepted.