Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Modestas Bukauskas excited to fight 'idol' Khalil Rountree, expects to finish him with 'something spectacular'
Cole Shelton - September 1, 2021
Modestas Bukauskas knows he is fighting for his UFC job on Saturday at UFC Vegas 36. Bukauskas is set to fight Khalil Rountree in an initruing matchup. When Bukauskas got the message that this was his fight, it was an immediate yes as he says Rountree is an idol to him.
Alex Morono eyes third-round knockout of David Zawada at UFC Vegas 36: 'I'm looking to do as much damage as possible'
Cole Shelton - August 31, 2021
Alex Morono was hoping he would get a quick turnaround after he knocked out Donald Cerrone in the first round, but that wasn’t the case. In May, Morono stepped up on short notice to face Cerrone and he scored a first-round TKO. After that, he was hoping to return in June or July but that didn’t happen. He has now jumped at the chance to face David Zawada on Saturday at UFC Vegas 36, despite it being on short notice.
Paddy Pimblett will be 'very disappointed' if he doesn't finish Luigi Vendramini in the first, plans to 'steal the show'
Cole Shelton - August 31, 2021
Paddy Pimblett is ready to finally make his UFC debut. Pimblett was offered UFC contracts when he was 21 and 23 but he turned them down as he didn’t feel he was ready. Now, he believes he is ready to compete and make a run to the top of the lightweight division. The fan-favorite will make his Octagon debut at UFC Vegas 36 on Saturday against Luigi Vendramini. Although Vendramini has fought a couple of times in the UFC, Pimblett says he didn’t know who he was.
Kevin Lee believes he poses the biggest threat to Kamaru Usman: "There's nobody else that has my style that can take it to him"
Cole Shelton - August 27, 2021
Kevin Lee believes he is a bad matchup for the welterweight champ, Kamaru Usman. Lee is set to make his return to welterweight on the main card of UFC Vegas 35 against Daniel Rodriguez who took the fight on short notice. It’s an intriguing matchup and Lee already told BJPENN.com he believes he is a top-five welterweight and will only need a few wins to get a title shot. That played a big role in why he decided to move up in weight, and the fact he believes he has the style to defeat Usman.
Pro fighters make their picks for Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley
Cole Shelton - August 26, 2021
In the main event of a Showtime boxing pay-per-view and on Fite TV on Sunday, brash YouTuber turned boxer, Jake Paul takes on Tyron Woodley. Heading into the fight, Paul is a -200 favorite while the former UFC welterweight champ is a +160 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the boxing match. To no surprise, all the MMA fighters polled are rooting for Woodley to pull off the upset but they all admit Paul is better than many give him credit for.
Jake Paul "is a bonafide star in boxing," will KO Tyron Woodley in the first round, says training partner
Cole Shelton - August 26, 2021
Anthony Taylor, a former Bellator fighter and current training partner of Jake Paul, knows the undefeated boxer is legit. Ever since Paul transitioned to boxing, many thought it was a gimmick and he wasn’t doing it for real. However, he has looked impressive and coming off a KO win over Ben Askren in the first round in April. He will now face Tyron Woodley on Sunday on Showtime PPV and Fite TV. For Taylor, he knows Paul is taking boxing seriously and it will show in this fight.
Bryan Battle confident he'll overwhelm Gilbert Urbina en route to a finish and winning TUF 29
Cole Shelton - August 25, 2021
Bryan Battle is one win away from becoming the next Ultimate Fighter. Battle was set to face Tresean Gore in the finale but last week, Dana White announced Gore was out of the fight with a knee injury. According to Battle, he only found out one day prior and he believes the fight with Gore is one of those cursed matchups in MMA as it has been canceled a couple of times in the past.
Sam Alvey expects to finish Wellington Turman in his "last shot" to save his UFC job
Cole Shelton - August 25, 2021
Sam Alvey thought he was fighting for his UFC job for his past two fights but he’s getting one more shot at UFC Vegas 35 against Wellington Turman. Alvey is winless in his last six as he’s 0-5-1. Yet, his draw against Dan Un Jung was a fight many thought he won. After the draw, he moved down to middleweight where he was submitted by Julian Marquez. He will remain at 185lbs for this scrap against Turman.
Anthony Taylor confident he will "shock the world" with a win over Tommy Fury: "The only thing special he has is the last name Fury"
Cole Shelton - August 24, 2021
Anthony Taylor is glad he called out Jake Paul as the brash YouTuber turned boxer has given him a massive opportunity. Before Paul was set to fight Ben Askren, Taylor admits he wasn’t believing his skill and talked crap about him on social media. Paul’s coach then messaged Taylor to come and train and he impressed Paul and he has since been a main training partner of Paul and “The Problem Child” was the one who got him this boxing match against Tommy Fury on his undercard.
Kevin Lee expects to beat Daniel Rodriguez "from bell-to-bell" at UFC Vegas 35: "I'm here to show I'm the best in the world"
Cole Shelton - August 24, 2021
Kevin Lee just wanted to fight at UFC Vegas 35 on August 28 and he got his wish. Lee was supposed to face Sean Brady but the ranked welterweight was forced out of the fight with a foot injury. After that, “The Motown Phenom” began calling out several welterweights but it was Daniel Rodriguez who accepted the fight.
Giga Chikadze expects to finish Edson Barboza in "spectacular fashion" and become backup fighter for UFC 266 title fight
Cole Shelton - August 23, 2021
Giga Chikadze is excited to headline his first UFC show and knows his fight against Edson Barboza will be a fan-friendly one. Chikadze is coming off the biggest win of his career as he scored a first-round TKO over Cub Swanson. After that, he began calling for top-five opponents, but that didn’t happen, however, he did get a main event against Barboza which he is eager about.
Ramiz Brahimaj says there's no pressure on him after eventful UFC debut, confident he will finish Sasha Palatnikov
Cole Shelton - August 19, 2021
Ramiz Brahimaj had a memorable UFC debut, although it didn’t go the way he wanted. Brahimaj finally made his Octagon debut against Max Griffin in November and lost the fight by TKO due to his ear nearly falling off. Despite the ending of the fight, Brahimaj says the way he fought Griffin and how it was competitive, proves he belongs in the UFC.
Pro fighters make their picks for Jared Cannonier vs. Kelvin Gastelum
Cole Shelton - August 19, 2021
Vinc Pichel plans to "whoop" Austin Hubbard after changing camps to Factory X: "I'm looking to end it pretty quick"
Cole Shelton - August 18, 2021
Vinc Pichel is excited to show off how much better he has gotten since changing camps to Factory X. Pichel has been training in California for years now, but he recently decided to move to Colorado and train at Factory X. For Pichel, he says he immediately clicked with head coach, Marc Montoya and the team.
Brian Kelleher expects to finish Domingo Pilarte and call for a spot on the MSG card, eyes Sean O'Malley as future opponent
Cole Shelton - August 18, 2021
BBrian Kelleher wasn’t too surprised he is fighting Domingo Pilarte at UFC Vegas 34. After Kelleher lost a decision to Ricky Simon at UFC 258, he knew he would have to fight someone below him in the rankings. That is exactly what is happening as he is facing Pilarte, which is a rebooking as the two were supposed to fight one another at UFC 230 back in 2018.
Bi Nguyen feels better than ever ahead of Jenelyn Olsim fight: "I have the skill to be the champion"
Tom Taylor - August 18, 2021
ONE Championship atomweight star Bi Nguyen feels like she’s entering the prime of her fighting life. Nguyen fights Filipina prospect Jenelyn Olsim at ONE: Battleground III this Friday in Singapore. The Vietnamese-American striking specialist will enter the fight with arguably the biggest win of her career in the rear-view mirror: a hard-fought decision triumph over Indian wrestling sensation Ritu Phogat.
Chase Sherman expects to finish Parker Porter and answer Rodrigo Nascimento's callout
Cole Shelton - August 17, 2021
Chase Sherman is eager to return to the win column. Sherman suffered a decision loss to Andrei Arlovski back in April. He will now return at UFC Vegas 34 against Parker Porter. He was supposed to fight Porter on the same day in April but he was forced out and replaced by Arlovski.
Cheick Kongo hopes win over Sergei Kharitonov earns him a rematch against Ryan Bader: "I'll fight him in the street, I don't care"
Cole Shelton - August 16, 2021
Cheick Kongo still believes he should’ve gotten an immediate rematch against Ryan Bader. At Bellator 226 in September of 2019, Kongo fought Bader for the heavyweight title and the fight ended in a No Contest due to an eye poke. Since then, Kongo has only competed once losing a split decision to Tim Johnson last October.
Stevie Ray ending retirement, in talks with Bellator and Brave CF
Cole Shelton - August 13, 2021
Former UFC lightweight, Stevie Ray will be ending his retirement. Ray retired from MMA in September of 2020 which he said at the time was due to knee injuries. However, he told BJPENN.com this week that there was much more to it, and it was due to the UFC forcing him out of the organization and making him retire.