Exclusive MMA Interviews News
ATT owner believes Joanna Jedrzejczyk only fights again if it's a title fight
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.
Rodtang Jitmuangnon excited to complete trilogy with Petchdam on July 31
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.
Dan Lambert reveals he is no longer co-managing Colby Covington since he left ATT
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.
Pro fighters make their picks for Robert Whittaker vs. Darren Till
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.
Dan Lambert would be "really surprised" if Amanda Nunes decides to retire
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.
Jesse Ronson expects to earn Fight of the Night bonus in UFC return against Nicolas Dalby
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.
Ricky Bandejas ecstatic to headline Bellator's return, eyes KO win over Sergio Pettis
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.
Peter Sobotta preparing for "wild" fight against Alex Oliveira, plans to callout Demain Maia and Gunnar Nelson
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.
Giga Chikadze vs. Alex Caceres slated for August 8
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.
Pro fighters make their picks for Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Joseph Benavidez 2 title fight
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.
Deiveson Figueiredo confident he will make weight, promises to KO Joseph Benavidez again
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.
Jack Hermansson asked for Kelvin Gastelum fight, eyes future matchups with Till and Adesanya
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.
Dan Ige embracing underdog role, plans to "break" Calvin Kattar in Fight Island main event
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.
Frankie Edgar "would love for a chance at redemption" against Jose Aldo at bantamweight
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.
Korean Zombie wants "revenge" against Brian Ortega, but could face winner of Volkanovski-Holloway says Eric Albarracin
Cole Shelton - July 10, 2020
Eric Albarracin believes Korean Zombie wants to get revenge against Brian Ortega for slapping his friend, Jay Park. At UFC 248, Ortega was caught slapping Jay Park, a Korean singer, and friend of Chan Sung Jung’s. It immediately made Zombie mad and the two have gone back-and-forth at one another. Many fans were hoping a fight was imminent and for Zombie’s coach in Albarracin, he hopes that fight does happen.
UFC 251 | Pro fighters make their picks for Jessica Andrade vs. Rose Namajunas 2
Cole Shelton - July 10, 2020
On the stacked UFC 251 card Jessica Andrade and Rose Namajunas are set to have their highly-anticipated rematch. Heading into the fight, the Brazilian, Andrade, is a +175 underdog while the American is a -225 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. Although Andrade won the first fight by KO at UFC 237, the majority believe it will be Namajunas who gets the job done.
Volkan Oezdemir plans on making a "statement" with KO win over Jiri Prochazka to get into title conversation
Cole Shelton - July 8, 2020
Volkan Oezdemir knows his UFC 251 fight against the promotional newcomer, Jiri Prochazka, will end by knockout. Prochazka is the former RIZIN light heavyweight champ and both he and Oezdemir are known as knockout artists. Yet, for the Swiss native, he says when the fight was originally offered he didn’t love the idea of fighting an unranked opponent. But, he knows he is a tough foe. So, he’s eager for the opportunity to welcome him to the Octagon.
UFC 251 | Pro fighters make their picks for Alex Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - July 8, 2020
In the co-main event of UFC 251 on Fight Island, Alex Volkanovski looks to defend his featherweight belt when he rematches Max Holloway. Heading into the fight, the champ is a -230 favorite while the Hawaiian in Holloway is a +180 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 Holloway will make the necessary adjustments to reclaim his featherweight title.