Exclusive MMA Interviews News
UFC 274 | Pro fighters make their picks for Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson
Cole Shelton - May 5, 2022
On the main card of UFC 274, an intriguing lightweight bout takes place as Michael Chandler takes on Tony Ferguson. Heading into the fight, Chandler is a massive -385 favorite on FanDuel while ‘El Cucuy’ is a +290 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. As the odds suggest, the pros believe Chandler gets the job done as many think Ferguson is no longer the same fighter.
Julian Lane says he has "nothing to lose" against David Mundell at BKFC 25, casts doubt on a rematch with Mike Perry
Cole Shelton - May 4, 2022
Julian Lane is making a quick turnaround and jumping up in weight to do it. Lane is set to face David Mundell at BKFC 25 and is moving up a weight class to do so. Julian says he wanted a quick turnaround after his loss to Mike Perry and he got his wish.
UFC 274 | Pro fighters make their picks for Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje title fight
Cole Shelton - May 4, 2022
In the main event of UFC 274, the lightweight title is up for grabs as Charles Oliveira looks to defend his strap for the second time against Justin Gaethje. Heading into the fight, Oliveira is a -188 favorite on FanDuel while the challenger is a +152 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros are split on this one but the slight majority believes Gaethje becomes the new champ as he will catch Oliveira early to get the KO.
UFC 274 | Pro fighters make their picks for Rose Namajunas vs. Carla Esparza 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - May 4, 2022
In the co-main event of UFC 274 Rose Namajunas is looking to defend her strawweight title as she rematches Carla Esparza after seven-and-a-half years. Heading into the fight, Namajunas is a -220 favorite on FanDuel while the challenger is a +176 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros are unanimous in thinking Namajunas defends her belt again and does so by late TKO or decision.
Joe Lauzon plans to blitz Donald Cerrone early in what could be his final fight: "The earlier I get on him, the better it is for me"
Cole Shelton - May 3, 2022
Joe Lauzon will make the walk to the Octagon for the first time since October 2019 on Saturday night. Lauzon is set to open up the UFC 274 main card against Donald Cerrone in a fight between two legends. Although Lauzon picked up a first-round TKO win at home in Boston his last time out, he says COVID played a key role in keeping him on the sidelines.
Blagoy Ivanov plans to be better than ever when he competes for the first time in two years at UFC 274: “There won’t be any ring rust”
Cole Shelton - May 2, 2022
Blagoy Ivanov will finally be making the walk to the Octagon again. Ivanov is set to face Marcos Rogerio de Lima on Saturday at UFC 274 which will be the first time he’s fought since May 30, 2020. Since then, Ivanov has been dealing with some injuries but he says after intense rehab, he is finally healthy again and feels better than ever.
Danny Sabatello pleased with dominant win over Jornel Lugo, eager to beat up Leandro Higo: "I think he's a bum and a piece of s**t"
Cole Shelton - April 29, 2022
Danny Sabatello wants people to realize he’s no longer the dark horse of Bellator’s bantamweight grand prix. Sabatello earned his way into the grand prix with a dominant decision win over Jornel Lugo at Bellator 278. He used his wrestling to control Lugo and won every single round which he says he expected to do.
Yancy Medeiros happy to re-sign with Bellator now that he's "having fun" fighting again: "I'm happy I could please the crowd"
Cole Shelton - April 29, 2022
Yancy Medeiros says his Bellator debut served as the first time he had fun fighting in quite some time. After losing four in a row in the UFC, he was not re-signed but quickly inked a one-fight deal with Bellator. He was set to fight back home in Hawaii against Emmanuel Sanchez and heading into the fight, Medeiros says the focus was just giving back to Hawaii and he wasn’t putting any pressure on himself to get the win.
Claudio Puelles sends a warning to fellow lightweights following submission win over Clay Guida: "People should've paid attention"
Cole Shelton - April 28, 2022
Claudio Puelles didn’t think Clay Guida would go to the ground with him. Puelles was set to face Guida in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 52 which was the biggest fight of his career. Heading into the fight, he figured Guida would want to strike with him and Pulles was confident he would find the KO. Yet, once the veteran took it to the ground, he was confident he would submit Guida.
Pro fighters make their picks for Rob Font vs. Marlon Vera
Cole Shelton - April 28, 2022
In the main event of UFC Vegas 53, a key bantamweight bout headlines the card as Rob Font looks to get back into the win column against Marlon Vera. Heading into the fight, Font is the -140 favorite on FanDuel while ‘Chito’ is a +114 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros believe Font’s experience in five-round fights and his jab will be too much for Vera and he will get his hand raised.
Gina Mazany fighting out UFC contract against Shanna Young, plans to get a new deal after finishing her
Cole Shelton - April 27, 2022
Gina Mazany knows the pressure is on when she faces Shanna Young at UFC Vegas 53. Mazany is coming off a TKO loss to Priscila Cachoeira at UFC 262 last May and after the fight, the plan was for her to take some time off. Mazany wanted time to work on new skills and improve as a fighter and she thinks she did just that.
Tristan Connelly is pumped to fight Darren Elkins, expects it to be a very "fun fight" for the fans: "I've grown up watching him"
Cole Shelton - April 27, 2022
Tristan Connelly was pumped when he got the contract to fight Darren Elkins at UFC Vegas 53. Connelly says he was offered to fight Elkins last year but ‘The Damage’ wasn’t ready so the Canadian fought Pat Sabatini at UFC 261 and lost by decision. After the fight, Connelly suffered an injury that kept him out for a year but he will now return against Elkins which he is pleased about.
Rob Font "surprised" he's fighting Marlon Vera but expects to "overwhelm" him to get the stoppage
Cole Shelton - April 26, 2022
Rob Font figured he would be fighting Cory Sandhagen. After Font lost to Jose Aldo and Sandhagen lost to Petr Yan, he thought the fight made sense and it was one that interested him. However, Font was offered to headline UFC Vegas 53 against Marlon Vera which did surprise him. Yet, he is eager for the challenge and is excited to headline another card.
Ike Villanueva having 18-year-old son in his corner for first time as his birthday present, eyes left hook KO over Tyson Pedro: "I'm chasing 50 thousand"
Cole Shelton - April 22, 2022
Ike Villanueva knows it’s likely do-or-die for his UFC career on Saturday. Villanueva is 1-4 in the UFC and coming off back-to-back knockout losses but in his last fight, he thought most of those shots were to the back of the head. With that, he says he appealed the loss but the commission didn’t overturn it.
Mike Jackson opens up on CM Punk fight being overturned to a No Contest due to a failed drug test for marijuana: "It was comical"
Cole Shelton - April 22, 2022
Mike Jackson has opened up on his fight against CM Punk being overturned to a No Contest. Jackson earned a decision win over Punk at UFC 225 in Chicago, but about two months after the fight, he got a letter from the Chicago commission saying he failed his drug test. The news surprised him as he did everything Jeff Novitsky and the UFC told him to, but the only thing that happened was the fight got overturned.
Danny Sabatello was surprised he was originally left out of grand prix but expects to "break" Jornel Lugo: "I think he just sucks"
Cole Shelton - April 21, 2022
Danny Sabatello was shocked when he was left out of the Bellator bantamweight grand prix. Sabatello is 1-0 in Bellator with a dominant decision win over Brett Johns, but he still thinks he hasn’t gotten the respect he deserves. Due to recent injuries, Sabatello has to face Jornel Lugo on Friday at Bellator 278 to earn his way into the grand prix.
On a one-fight deal Yancy Medeiros plans to prove he belongs in Bellator against Emmanuel Sanchez in Hawaii: "I'm looking to put on my best performance"
Cole Shelton - April 20, 2022
Yancy Medeiros got his wish of fighting back home in Hawaii. After Medeiros was released from the UFC following his fourth straight loss, he made it known he wanted to fight for Bellator on one of the two Hawaii cards. After making it public, Scott Coker and Bellator gave him the opportunity to fight on Bellator 279 on Saturday in Hawaii which Medeiros is ecstatic about.
Mike Jackson back in the UFC for "shits and giggles" but expects to KO Dean Barry at UFC Vegas 52: "It will be an easier fight than the Punk fight"
Cole Shelton - April 20, 2022
Mike Jackson is back fighting again in the UFC as he will welcome Dean Barry to the promotion at UFC Vegas 52. The two were booked to fight in January and in May of 2021, but visa issues on both sides caused the fight to be scrapped. According to Jackson, this is a fight the UFC wanted to make so he wasn’t surprised when they made it for the third time.