Exclusive MMA Interviews News
Julian Marquez responds to claims that he blew it with Miley Cyrus: "I didn't miss my chance, I can tell you that"
Cole Shelton - February 15, 2021
Julian Marquez had an interesting callout after his win at UFC 258, as he requested for Miley Cyrus to be his Valentine. To some surprise, Cyrus responded with intetest but Marquez then supplied her with an ultimatum. That decision caused Daniel Cormier and most of the MMA community to say Julian blew his chance. However, Marquez doesn’t think that is true.
Anthony Hernandez expects to pick apart "very hittable" Rodolfo Vieira at UFC 258
Cole Shelton - February 12, 2021
Anthony Hernandez knows people are counting him out. At UFC 258, Hernandez is the biggest underdog on the card at +325, as he faces undefeated grappling wizard, Rodolfo Vieira. Although not many people would want to face Vieira, Hernandez said this is a fight he is very interested in.
Gillian Robertson plans to go "straight for the throat" and submit Miranda Maverick at UFC 258
Cole Shelton - February 11, 2021
Gillian Robertson is not hiding her gameplan for UFC 258. In the first fight of the night, Robertson is making the walk to the Octagon against Miranda Maverick. It’s a very intriguing matchup, but a fight many were surprised it is happening given the fact they are two of the up and coming prospects. However, the Canadian actually thought this would be her opponent.
Ryan Hall details the injury that forced him out of Dan Ige fight, wants Jeremy Stephens in April
Cole Shelton - February 11, 2021
Ryan Hall’s return to the Octagon will be delayed a few months. Earlier on Thursday, BJPENN.com broke the news that Hall was forced to withdraw from the fight due to an injury. Shortly after the news became public, Hall revealed to BJPENN.com that he tore his hip flexor.
Julian Marquez expects to finish Maki Pitolo and remind the middleweight division he is here to stay
Cole Shelton - February 10, 2021
When Julian Marquez makes the walk to the Octagon on the main card of UFC 258 it will be 953 days since his last fight. The middleweight contender last fought back in July of 2018 and lost a very controversial split decision to Alessio Di Chirico. However, what made the loss worse was during the fight, Marquez tore latissimus dorsi. The injury eventually led to two other surgeries that kept him out of action. He was then looking to fight in 2020 but a global pandemic and an opponent botching his weight cut kept the layoff even longer. But, on the main card of UFC 258, Marquez will return against Maki Pitlo, and despite the layoff, isn’t too worried about ring rust.
Jim Miller expects to put away Bobby Green "early," hopes to have retirement fight at UFC 300
Cole Shelton - February 10, 2021
Jim Miller is set for another short-notice fight. At UFC 258, Miller is set to finally fight Bobby Green after they were supposed to meet in 2014 at UFC 172. Since then, both men have gone their own ways, but when the UFC told Miller three weeks ago he would be on UFC 258 he didn’t know who the opponent would be. Yet, just a week and a half before the fight, it was revealed it would be Green which Miller is excited about.
Ian Heinisch expects to finish Kelvin Gastelum in "spectacular fashion" at UFC 258
Cole Shelton - February 9, 2021
Ian Heinisch wasn’t too surprised he was the one facing Kelvin Gastelum. After Heinisch was supposed to face Brendan Allen in November before getting COVID-19, he knew a big opportunity would be coming to him. He saw how the UFC was pushing new talent up the middleweight ranks in Marvin Vettori and Kevin Holland and knew he was next.
Maycee Barber expects to dominate and finish Alexa Grasso and fight Joanne Calderwood next
Cole Shelton - February 9, 2021
Maycee Barber plans to remind the world just how good she is. In the co-main event of UFC 258, Barber is set to return after her first career loss and a torn ACL to battle Alexa Grasso. It’s a very intriguing matchup but many fans are surprised this is the fight because both Barber and Grasso are two up and comer prospects.
Mike Rodriguez looking to move past Ed Herman controversy with KO win over Danilo Marques
Cole Shelton - February 4, 2021
Mike Rodriguez is looking forward to putting the Ed Herman controversy behind him. At UFC Vegas 10 in September, Rodriguez landed a knee to the body of Herman that dropped him. Rodriguez would’ve needed a few punches to finish the fight, but the ref called time for a groin strike. However, video replay wasn’t used and Herman got five minutes to recover from a body shot and ended up submitting Rodriguez in the third.
Bare knuckle fighters rate Paige VanZant's chances in BKFC
Tom Taylor - February 4, 2021
Paige VanZant is days out from her Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) debut. The former UFC star will battle Britain Hart, sans gloves, at BKFC: Knuckle Mania this Friday in Lakeland, Florida. Ahead of VanZant’s imminent BKFC debut, we reached out to several experienced bare knuckle fighters to get their thoughts on how she’ll perform in the ring.
Cody Stamann uninterested in fighting Merab Dvalishvili next: "There are a lot bigger fish in the sea"
Cole Shelton - February 3, 2021
Cody Stamann isn’t sure he fights Merab Dvalishvili next. Stamann and Dvalishvili were supposed to fight on December 5 and February 6. Yet, Stamann hurt his back the first time it was booked and Dvalishvili got COVID-19 the second. For the 13th-ranked bantamweight in Stamann, he says having the fight postponed again wasn’t an option.
The Golden Cage looks to make MMA mainstream in Italy—starting Feb. 6 on UFC FIGHT PASS
Tom Taylor - February 3, 2021
Italy is as sports-crazed as any country on earth, but so far, mixed martial arts has not caught on inside its famous, boot-shaped border. The Golden Cage, an upstart MMA promotion based in Rome, is hoping to change that. TGC is the brainchild of President Luigi Perillo, a tax lawyer and the president of the Swiss MMA Federation, and Steve Dapper, a music industry executive and expert in linguistics. After two successful events in 2017 and 2018, the TGC team will promote its third this Saturday in Rome. The card, which will feature 10 pro bouts and 10 amateur bouts, will mark the promotion’s debut on UFC FIGHT PASS.
Diego Ferreira preparing for a "brawl" against Beneil Dariush, eyes Felder or RDA next
Cole Shelton - February 2, 2021
Diego Ferreira is excited to rematch Beneil Dariush. At UFC 179 in October of 2014, Dariush edged out a decision against Ferreira in a fight the Brazilian took on short notice. Since then, however, both men have become top-15 lightweights and the Fortis MMA product believes the rematch just makes sense.
Frankie Edgar plans to "turn some heads" with a "stellar performance" over Cory Sandhagen
Cole Shelton - February 2, 2021
Frankie Edgar knew he would end up fighting Cory Sandhagen. At UFC Raleigh in January of 2020, Edgar was booked to make his bantamweight debut against Sandhagen. However, the former lightweight champion ended up accepting a short notice fight against Korean Zombie and the bout against Sandhagen was canceled.
Ben Saunders reveals Bellator and Bjorn Rebney almost made him retire
Cole Shelton - January 28, 2021
Ben Saunders was close to walking away from MMA in 2012 and 2013. After Saunders’ first stint in the UFC, he signed with Bellator. The hope for Saunders was to win a Bellator tournament and become the face of the promotion or eventually get back to the UFC. However, throughout his time in the promotion, he realized Bellator and Bjorn Rebney had him in a horrible contract that nearly made him walk away from the sport.
Ike Villanueva on bonus snub for walk-off KO: "I went to bed heartbroken like the first time I found out Santa Claus wasn't real"
Cole Shelton - January 27, 2021
Entering UFC Fight Island 8, Ike Villanueva was calling his fight against Vinicius Moreira his Game 7 and it was do-or-die for his UFC career. Both men were winless in the UFC. But, Villanueva knew if he touched the chin of Moreira he would go down. However, early on in the fight, the Brazilian had a high guard. That forced Villanueva to attack the body which would then set up the KO punch.
Dan Hooker knows he could fight Conor McGregor next with a win over Chandler and the perfect callout
Cole Shelton - January 22, 2021
Dan Hooker wanted on UFC 257 for one specific reason, a chance to fight Conor McGregor next time out. In the co-main event of the pay-per-view card, Hooker is set to welcome Michael Chandler to the UFC. For the “Hangman” he says to be on this card will only help him moving forward as he knows there will be a ton of eyes on him.
UFC 257 | Pro fighters make their picks for Dan Hooker vs. Michael Chandler
Cole Shelton - January 22, 2021
In the co-main event of UFC 257, Dan Hooker is set to welcome, Michael Chandler to the UFC in a really intriguing bout. Heading into the fight, Hooker is a -135 favorite while the former Bellator lightweight champion is a +105 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The slight majority of pros believe Dan Hooker gets it done by using his reach advantage to piece up Chandler.