Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Pro fighters make their picks for Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - September 14, 2023
In the main event of Noche UFC, the women’s flyweight title is up for grabs as Alexa Grasso rematches Valentina Shevchenko in her first title defense. Heading into the fight, Grasso is a +140 underdog while the challenger is a -180 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the fight. The pros are leaning towards Shevchenko reclaiming her belt at Noche UFC, as most seem to think she wins a decision.
Christos Giagos expecting a "war" against Daniel Zellhuber at Noche UFC: “I'll bring it to him”
Cole Shelton - September 13, 2023
Christos Giagos is eager to finally fight in front of fans again. All three of His last fights have come at the UFC Apex with no crowd, which has been hard for him as Giagos says he is a crowd fighter who feeds off the energy of fans. However, he will not be the crowd favorite on Saturday as he’s booked to return at Noche UFC against Mexican Daniel Zellhuber.
Kyle Nelson expects to put on a striking "clinic" against Fernando Padilla at Noche UFC, eyes Cub Swanson in rumored Toronto card next
Cole Shelton - September 13, 2023
Kyle Nelson wanted a quick turnaround and he got his wish. Nelson returned to the win column back at UFC 289 in Vancouver as he pulled off an upset over Blake Bilder which saved his job. Just over three months later, Nelson is back as he will return at Noche UFC on Saturday against Fernando Padilla.
Jasmine Jasudavicius expecting Tracy Cortez matchup to be a "back-and-forth fight," but confident she'll "shock the world" again
Cole Shelton - September 12, 2023
Jasmine Jasudavicius is no stranger to being the betting underdog and being counted out. Jasudavicius has been the underdog in three of her four UFC fights and has won all three of them. Last time out, she was a big underdog against Miranda Maverick at UFC 289 and pulled off the upset at home in Canada.
Chepe Mariscal eyes a KO win or the "Fight of the Night" against Jack Jenkins at UFC 293: "I love going to enemy territory"
Cole Shelton - September 6, 2023
Chepe Mariscal is excited to go down to Australia at UFC 293 and fight in enemy territory. Mariscal is coming off his UFC debut back in June when he beat Trevor Peek by decision in a very fan-friendly fight. After the performance, he wasn’t sure what would be next, but he wanted a quick turnaround, which is what he got.
John Makdessi plans to be "more aggressive and throw more volume" at UFC 293 to get KO win over Jamie Mullarkey
Cole Shelton - September 5, 2023
John Makdessi will be ending his year-long layoff at UFC 293. Makdessi hasn’t fought since the UFC’s first stop in Paris in September of last year when he dropped a decision to Nasrat Haqparast. It was disappointing result for Makdessi and since then, he dealt with a hand injury that kept him out of the Octagon for over a year.
Kurt Holobaugh reveals Team McGregor had "several" practices canceled due to the Irishman not showing up
Cole Shelton - August 31, 2023
Kurt Holobaugh was surprised to see how little Conor McGregor was truly involved with his team on The Ultimate Fighter. McGregor was coaching TUF 31 opposite Michael Chandler and it was a season of veterans vs. prospects. All the veterans ended up being coached by Chandler which Holobaugh was thrilled about.
Pro fighters make their picks for Ciryl Gane vs. Serghei Spivac
Cole Shelton - August 31, 2023
In the main event of UFC Paris, a battle of top-seven heavyweights goes down as Ciryl Gane takes on Serghei Spivac. Heading into the fight, Gane is a -174 favorite while the Moldovan is a +136 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the fight. The pros are leaning towards Ciryl Gane returning to the win column at home by keeping it standing and likely getting a TKO.
Kurt Holobaugh explains why Paddy Pimblett "needs to fight me" after winning TUF 31
Cole Shelton - August 30, 2023
Kurt Holobaugh has called out Paddy Pimblett following his TUF 31 win. Holobaugh has already had two stints in the UFC as he lost his debut to Steven Siler at UFC 159 in 2013 and was released. He then earned a contract on the Contender Series, but he lost three straight fights to Raoni Barcelos, Shane Burgos, and Thiago Moises and was cut again.
Ian Machado Garry believes he beat Geoff Neal with the mugshot t-shirt, says he won't fight him ever
Cole Shelton - August 29, 2023
Ian Machado Garry says Geoff Neal missed his chance to fight him. Garry and Neal were booked to fight at UFC 292 in Boston but just over a week before the fight, ‘Handz of Steel’ was forced out of the bout due to an injury. The Irishman believes Neal was never actually hurt and was simply traumatized by his head games, especially after selling the mugshot t-shirt.
Volkan Oezdemir confident his power will be too much for Bogdan Guskov at UFC Paris: "I want to get my hand raised while the guy is on the floor"
Cole Shelton - August 29, 2023
Volkan Oezdemir will finally make the walk to the Octagon. Oezdemir last fought back in October when he dropped a decision to Nikita Krylov. It was with the first punch he landed the fight that Volkan broke his hand which hindered his performance. Following the fight, he needed to get surgery as he had been dealing with a nagging hand injury for a while.
BJ Penn believes if he didn't run for Governor he still would've continued to fight: "The Governor run pulled me out"
Cole Shelton - August 28, 2023
BJ Penn knows firsthand how hard it is for fighters to walk away from the sport. Penn last fought back in May of 2019, where he suffered a decision loss to former Strikeforce title holder Clay Guida.
Ian Machado Garry says "it's not an issue" for future fights having so many teammates in the welterweight rankings
Cole Shelton - August 25, 2023
Ian Machado Garry doesn’t think having so many teammates in the welterweight rankings will make it challenging for him to get fights. Garry trains at Kill Cliff FC alongside the likes of Glbert Burns, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Vicente Luque, as well as Kamaru Usman who trains there part-time. With that, some teammates never want to fight one another, but Garry doesn’t think that will be an issue.
Ian Machado Garry promises Stephen Thompson fight happens next, says it will be a "show for the ages"
Cole Shelton - August 25, 2023
Ian Machado Garry is confident he will face Stephen Thompson his next time out. Garry is coming off a one-sided dominant decision win over Neil Magny at UFC 292, and after the win, he called out Stephen Thompson. He said he wanted to prove he was the best striker in the world, but after UFC 292, Dana White claimed ‘Wonderboy’ turned down the scrap.
Mario Bautista unsure if he's willing "to take the risk" of accepting a fight against Cody Garbrandt again after UFC 292
Cole Shelton - August 24, 2023
Mario Bautista had called out Cody Garbrandt for quite some time and finally got his wish. Bautista was booked to fight Garbrandt at UFC 292 in Boston, but a week out, it was revealed the former bantamweight champion was forced to withdraw from the bout due to an injury. Although he knew he would remain on the card, Mario was happy to learn that a fellow UFC fighter in Da’Mon Blackshear took the scrap.
Ian Machado Garry says he had "so much fun" beating up "f*****g piece of shit" Neil Magny at UFC 292
Cole Shelton - August 24, 2023
Ian Machado Garry says his UFC 292 fight against Neil Magny got personal. Garry was originally supposed to fight Geoff Neal at the event, but just a week out,Neal was forced to withdraw from the bout due to injury and was replaced by Neil Magny. It was a scrap that Ian Machado Garry called for, but in the lead-up to the fight, he had no problem with Magny.
Pro fighters make their picks for Max Holloway vs. Korean Zombie
Cole Shelton - August 23, 2023
In the main event of UFC Singapore, a battle of top-10 featherweights goes down as Max Holloway takes on Korean Zombie. Heading into the fight, Holloway is a gigantic -1000 favorite while Chan Sung Jung is a +560 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the fight. To no surprise, the pros expect Holloway to run through Korean Zombie in the main event of UFC Singapore.
Parker Porter looking for redemption against Junior Tafa at UFC Singapore: "I see some holes in his wrestling ability"
Cole Shelton - August 22, 2023
Parker Porter is looking to get some redemption for his KO loss to Justin Tafa back in February. Porter entered that fight with a ton of confidence but got caught early in the first round and knocked out. Although it was his second straight loss, he rebounded nicely back in May with a first-round TKO win over Braxton Smith, and the hope was to return at UFC 292 in Boston.