Exclusive MMA Interviews News

Tom Taylor - July 30, 2020

Earlier this week, ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced a new partnership with MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz and his company, Dominance MMA. Abdelaziz and Sityodtong were first introduced through their mutual friend, Renzo Gracie, but only recently began working together. Both agree the relationship is long overdue.

Cole Shelton - July 29, 2020

Edmen Shahbazyan is looking to turn some more heads when he headlines this Saturday’s card against Derek Brunson. Shahbazyan vs. Brunson was originally scheduled to be the co-main event, but after Irene Aldana tested positive for COVID-19,the bout was moved to headliner status.

Cole Shelton - July 29, 2020

Edmen Shahbazyan knows he is lucky to have Ronda Rousey as his manager. When Rousey was the UFC champion, one of her training partners was then 15-year-old, Edmen Shahbazyan who trained at the gym. At open workouts, Shahbazyan was the person Rousey would judo throw. But, since then, “Rowdy” knew he would be something special.

Cole Shelton - July 28, 2020

Alex Perez believes he should be getting the next flyweight title shot. At UFC Fight Island 2, a new flyweight champion was crowned as Deiveson Figueiredo submitted Joseph Benavidez in the first round. Perez expected the Brazilian to win, but not in the fashion he did.

Cole Shelton - July 24, 2020

Joanna Jedrzejczyk is only interested in title fights and big fights according to American Top Team owner, Dan Lambert. Jedrzejczyk last fought back at UFC 248 in March where she and Weili Zhang put on an all-time great fight. The two traded shots for 25 minutes. Jedrzejczyk was looking to reclaim her title while the Chinese champion was looking for her first title defense.

Tom Taylor - July 24, 2020

ONE Championship returns to Bangkok, Thailand, with ONE: NO Surrender on Friday, July 31. Headlining the promotion’s return card will be a trilogy bout for the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship between Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Petchdam Petchyindee Academy. Prior to joining the organization, the Thai strikers met at the world-famous Rajadamnern Stadium in Bangkok twice – Petchdam took the first meeting by decision in 2017, and Rodtang evened the score a year later.

Cole Shelton - July 23, 2020

American Top Team owner, Dan Lambert reveals he is no longer managing Colby Covington since the former interim welterweight champion left the gym. For the longest time, Lambert and Covington were super close, and the ATT owner even manager Covington. Yet, over the past few months that all changed. “Chaos” started to trash-talk several fighters at ATT like Jorge Masvidal, Dustin Poirier, and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

Cole Shelton - July 23, 2020

In the main event of UFC Fight Island 3, a pivotal middleweight clash headlines the card as Robert Whittaker battles Darren Till. Heading into the fight, the former champion in Whittaker is a -120 favorite while the Englishman is a +100 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros believe it is a super close fight as the odds suggest but the majority lean towards Whittaker getting the job done.

Cole Shelton - July 22, 2020

American Top Team owner, Dan Lambert doesn’t expect Amanda Nunes to retire from MMA. Following Nunes’ UFC 250 win over Felicia Spencer where she defended her featherweight title, the Brazilian has hinted at retirement. Nunes has accomplished everything in the sport from being a champ-champ to now defending both titles. Nunes is also widely considered the GOAT of women’s MMA.

Cole Shelton - July 22, 2020

Jesse Ronson didn’t believe he would make it back to the UFC. Ronson was in the UFC from September 2013 to July 2014, but the Canadian went 0-3 with three split decision losses to Michel Prazeres, Francisco Trinaldo, and Kevin Lee. He was then fighting on the regional scenes when he got the call to fight Diego Ferreira on short notice at UFC 231. However, Ronson was pulled from the event due to him having to cut too much weight and Sean Shelby told him he’d never be signed by the UFC again.

Cole Shelton - July 22, 2020

Ricky Bandejas is excited to headline his first Bellator show. In the main event of Bellator 242, which will be the promotions first card since COVID-19, Bandejas is taking on UFC veteran, Sergio Pettis. Yet, for the longest time, the now American Top Team fighter didn’t know he would be the main event.

Cole Shelton - July 21, 2020

Peter Sobotta is back. The 33-year-old German welterweight has not fought since March of 2018 where he suffered a third-round TKO loss to Leon Edwards. Since then, he was supposed to fight Alessio Di Chirico last September, but he was forced to pull out.

Alfredo Zullino - July 17, 2020

A featherweight scrap between Georgia’s Giga Chikadze (10-2 MMA; 3-0 UFC) and Alex Caceres (16-12 MMA; 11-10-1 NC UFC) is in the works for August 8; sources with knowledge of the situation told BJPENN.com. The former Glory kickboxer Chikadze made his UFC debut less than a year ago, in September 2019, and since then he racked up a perfect record of 3 victories and no losses, triumphing over Brandon Davis, Jamall Emmers and Irwin Rivera. All of these wins came by decision.

Cole Shelton - July 17, 2020

In the main event of UFC Fight Island 2, Deiveson Figueiredo and Joseph Benavidez are having an immediate rematch for the vacant flyweight title. Heading into the fight, the Brazilian, Figueiredo, is a -225 favorite while the American is a +175 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority of the fighters believe Benavidez will finally become a UFC champion and beat Figueiredo in the rematch.

Cole Shelton - July 16, 2020

Deiveson Figueiredo is confident he will beat Joseph Benavidez again and make weight in the process. In the main event of UFC Fight Island 2, Figueiredo and Benavidez are running it back for the vacant flyweight title. The two fought back at UFC Norfolk where it was the Brazilian in Figueiredo who won by second-round knockout. Yet, he missed weight leaving the title to still be vacant.

Cole Shelton - July 16, 2020

When Jack Hermansson lost his fight against Chris Weidman due to COVID-19, he was distraught. Yet, that ended quickly when the UFC offered him a scrap against Kelvin Gastelum. Even before the Weidman fight was booked, Hermansson and Gastelum were calling each other out on Twitter. After that, they went to the UFC to make the fight which is what happened as the two will be the co-main event on July 18.

Cole Shelton - July 14, 2020

Dan Ige is no stranger to being the betting underdog. Ige has been the underdog in his past three fights against Edson Barboza, Mirsad Bektic, and Kevin Aguilar and yet won all three contests. But, entering his July 15 main event against Calvin Kattar, it will be the toughest opponent he has faced and he’s excited Kattar took the fight given he is lower in the rankings.

Cole Shelton - July 13, 2020

Frankie Edgar’s bantamweight debut was pushed back once again, but he still has his eyes on several opponents. Edgar was expected to face Pedro Munhoz at UFC 251 and then on July 15 but the Brazilian tested positive for COVID-19 pulling him from the bout.