Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Pro fighters make their picks for Thiago Santos vs. Johnny Walker
Cole Shelton - September 29, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 38, Thiago Santos looks to snap his losing streak when he battles Johnny Walker. Ahead of the fight, Santos is a -160 favorite while the comeback on the Brazilian is +140. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority believe Santos will get back into the win column in a big way as he will KO Walker.
Johnny Walker confident he'll finish Thiago Santos in his first UFC main event: 'It's going to be fireworks'
Cole Shelton - September 28, 2021
Johnny Walker is glad to finally be headlining a UFC show. Walker is a fan-favorite and many have thought he would be a top-five contender for years to come. He knows gets his opportunity in the main event of UFC Vegas 38 against Thiago Santos, and for Walker, he’s ecstatic to be heading a card.
Dan Hooker says City Kickboxing will likely relocate from New Zealand due to lockdown rules: 'Our hand is forced'
Cole Shelton - September 24, 2021
Dan Hooker, a captain of City Kickboxing, says the gym will likely move from New Zealand. Due to New Zealand’s strict lockdown rules, the gym was shut down, and Hooker and other fighters couldn’t train. To make matters worse, the country has closed the quarantine booking system, meaning if you leave the country now, it may be a year or before you are allowed to return. With that, Hooker says the team at CKB has discussed moving the gym elsewhere to get away from New Zealand.
Jalin Turner expects to 'put away' Uros Medic in the first round at UFC 266: 'I'm going to take his hype'
Cole Shelton - September 24, 2021
Jalin Turner knows he’s being overlooked ahead of his UFC 266 fight. Turner is set to return to the Octagon for the first time in over a year as he faces the undefeated, Uros Medic at UFC 266. It’s an intriguing matchup but for Turner, he says he’s just glad to be able to fight again after everything he has gone through in the past year.
UFC 266 | Pro fighters make their picks for Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler 2
Cole Shelton - September 23, 2021
On the main card of UFC 266, Nick Diaz is set to make his highly-anticipated return as he rematches Robbie Lawler in a middleweight bout. Diaz is a +120 underdog while the former UFC welterweight champ is a -140 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros are nearly unanimous in thinking Robbie Lawler wins due to activity but the pros admit this is a tough one to call.
UFC 266 | Pro fighters make their picks for Valentina Shevchenko vs. Lauren Murphy title fight
Cole Shelton - September 22, 2021
In the co-main event of UFC 266, Valentina Shevchenko is looking to defend her flyweight belt as she faces Lauren Murphy. Ahead of the fight, the champ is a massive -1250 favorite while the challenger is a +750 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. To no surprise, the pros are unanimous in thinking Shevchenko remains the flyweight champ, the bigger question for the pros was whether or not the champ finishes the fight.
UFC 266 | Pro fighters make their picks for Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega title fight
Cole Shelton - September 22, 2021
In the main event of UFC 266, the featherweight title is on the line as Alexander Volkanovski looks to defend his belt for the second time when he battles Brian Ortega. Ahead of the fight, the champ is a -165 favorite while the American is a +145 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority of pros expect Volkanovski to keep it standing and piece up Ortega to defend his belt.
Cynthia Calvillo plans to finish Jessica Andrade at UFC 266: 'If I see the opening for the kill, I'll take it'
Cole Shelton - September 22, 2021
Cynthia Calvillo did something not many people do, call out Jessica Andrade and she got her wish. On the main card of UFC 266, Calvillo is set to return to the Octagon for the first time since she lost to Katlyn Chookagian at UFC 255 last year. When she does step into the Octagon on Saturday she’ll be facing Andrade who she called out as Calvillo says she wants to fight the best.
Dan Hooker excited for 'a crazy fight' with Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266: 'It's the perfect fight'
Cole Shelton - September 21, 2021
Dan Hooker finally has a fight after months of pleading with the UFC to get him one. Due to how New Zealand is doing their quarantine, Hooker says if he didn’t fight at UFC 266 he likely wouldn’t have been able to fight for another six months to a year. With that, he knew UFC 266 was his last shot to fight this year. So, after months of asking for a fight, he finally got one as he will face Nasrat Haqparast on the prelims of the card which surprised many. Yet, for “The Hangman” he has no problem with it.
Chad Anheliger open to dropping down to flyweight, wants UFC debut this year
Cole Shelton - September 17, 2021
Chad Anheliger was confident he would be able to shock many and beat Muin Gafurov on the Contender Series. Anheliger entered the fight as a sizeable underdog and after dropping the first round, knocked down Gafurov in the second. The third round was close but when they went to the scorecards, the Canadian was confident he had done enough to win the fight.
Bi Nguyen undeterred by Jenelyn Olsim loss: "The confidence hasn't changed"
Tom Taylor - September 15, 2021
At ONE: Battleground 3 in August, Bi Nguyen lost a competitive decision to rising Filipina talent Jenelyn Olsim. It was Nguyen’s fourth decision loss since joining the ONE Championship roster in early 2019, and like the three that preceded it, it wasn’t exactly cut-and-dry. “Story of my life,” Nguyen told BJPENN.com looking back on her loss to Olsim. “I’m always going to be honest with you, and there’s a lot of factors that go into this fight. If this fight was graded round-by-round, I would win, no doubt. If it was judged in America, I would win, no doubt. But it’s not, and that’s the reality of it—and that’s part of the reason I won the Ritu [Phogat] fight, because it was graded overall.
Devin Clark says he doesn't like Ion Cutelaba, plans to get first UFC finish against him and fight a ranked opponent next
Cole Shelton - September 15, 2021
Devin Clark admits he doesn’t like his UFC vegas 37 opponent Ion Cutelaba. Clark and Cutelaba were set to fight in May but Clark tested positive for COVID-19 which forced Clark out of the fight. Once he recovered, “Brown Bear” asked for the fight to be rebooked as he says he doesn’t like Cutelaba.
Phil Davis ecstatic to welcome Yoel Romero to Bellator, plans to make 'the fight difficult for Yoel'
Cole Shelton - September 13, 2021
Phil Davis is eager to get the chance to welcome Yoel Romero to Bellator. In the main event of Bellator 266 on September 18 in San Jose the two will share the cage. Davis is coming off the grand prix loss Romero will be moving up to light heavyweight for is debut. It’s an intriguign mathup and for Davis, when he got the call he would be fighting Romero, he says it was an immediate yes.
Julian Erosa knew he would submit Charles Jourdain, wants to 'beat up' Steven Peterson next for being 'disrespectful'
Cole Shelton - September 8, 2021
Julian Erosa knew he would not only beat Charles Jourdain but would finish him despite taking it on short notice. Erosa took the fight on 10 days’ notice and was confident he had the skill set to defeat him. He knew he was the more technical striker and had a big advantage on the ground. So, for Erosa, he said the game plan was to not get into a brawl and as the fight started to play out, to then implement his grappling.
Alex Morono eyes Matt Brown next after win over David Zawada
Cole Shelton - September 7, 2021
Alex Morono was pleased with his victory over David Zawada and he has an opponent in mind for his next fight. Morono stepped up on short notice at UFC Vegas 36 against Zawada as he was looking to fight again. He knew it was a good style matchup and that proved as he coasted to a decision victory. Although he got the win and he’s pleased with the performance he does wish he finished the fight.
Bellator veteran Chidi Njokuani plans 'to make a run in the UFC' with a win on Contender Series
Cole Shelton - September 3, 2021
Chidi Njokuani knows he has all the skills to hang in the UFC and all that is left to prove it. Njokuani signed to Bellator in 2015 and went 5-3 and has notable wins over Melvin Guillard and Ricky Rainey. His losses, meanwhile, were to the best of the best in Andrey Koreshkov, John Salter, and Rafael Carvalho. The 32-year-old also beat Max Griffin on the regional scene in 2015 and now he will get a shot to enter the UFC.
Pro fighters make their picks for Derek Brunson vs. Darren Till
Cole Shelton - September 2, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 36, a pivotal middleweight bout headlines the card as Derek Brunson takes on Darren Till. Heading into the fight, Till d. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros are split on this one but the majority believe Till will get his hand raised and likely by KO.
Ray Cooper III believes he's best wrestler in MMA ahead of PFL 2021 Finals, 'I would outwrestle Kamaru Usman any day of the week'
Drake Riggs - September 1, 2021
Ray Cooper III is just one win away from pocketing yet another million-dollar PFL championship. The PFL went without a season in 2020 before picking back up in 2021 where multiple big-name additions entered the fold. Going forward in the world, eventual normalcy will restore the idea of cross-promotion in the sport to its fullest — PFL CEO Peter Murray has seemingly opened up to the idea as this year’s finals draw near.