Exclusive MMA Interviews News

Cole Shelton - August 9, 2019

Valentina Shevchenko is preparing for a different Liz Carmouche. In the main event of UFC Uruguay, the flyweight title will be on the line. It will also be a rematch nine years in the making. In Shevchenko and Carmouche’s first fight, it was Carmouche who won by doctor stoppage, yet with no video, that outcome has become a subject of debate.

Tom Taylor - August 9, 2019

In the long history of the UFC, only a few fighters have managed to earn 20 wins inside the Octagon. They are: Georges St-Pierre, Michael Bisping, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, Demian Maia, and as of last Saturday, lightweight veteran Jim Miller. Miller earned his 20th career win when he submitted fellow veteran Clay Guida in the co-main event of UFC Newark.

Tom Taylor - August 9, 2019

Colby Covington is a big fan of President Donald Trump, and has gotten plenty of face-time in with the Commander In Chief and his family over the last year. His most recent interaction with the Trumps occurred last weekend at UFC Newark. The First Family was in attendance for Covington’s main event showdown with former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler, and even visited him in his locker room in the moments before his fight.

Cole Shelton - August 8, 2019

Valentina Shevchenko is set for her second title defense when she takes on Liz Carmouche in the main event of UFC Uruguay. The lead up to the fight has been interesting given the two fought back in 2010, when Carmouche beat Shevchenko by TKO after the doctor stopped the fight. Carmouche says it was a legit stoppage, while the current champion Shevchenko says it was a lucky strike and the fight shouldn’t have been stopped.

Tom Taylor - August 8, 2019

Colby Covington is expected to get his long-awaited shot at UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman later this year, and he’s already stinging his rival with some venomous trash talk. Speaking on BJPenn.com Radio this week, Covington explained that he has even more distaste for Usman than he did for the former champion Tyron Woodley, who he also campaigned to fight.

Cole Shelton - August 7, 2019

Volkan Oezdemir and Ilir Latifi will finally fight at UFC Uruguay after two previous attempts failed. Back in June, the two were set to fight at UFC Stockholm, but Latifi got hurt and was forced to pull out just days before the fight. The scrap was then re-booked for UFC Newark, but Visa issues from “No Time” postponed that a week to UFC Uruguay, which goes down this Saturday on ESPN+ (learn how to watch here).

Cole Shelton - August 7, 2019

Greg Hardy is now 2-1 inside the Octagon and coming off of a TKO win over Juan Adams at UFC San Antonio. Many thought “The Kraken” would be the one to stop the former NFL star in his tracks, yet that was not the case. Now, after two straight knockout wins, the question of what is next for Hardy is something many people are interested in. He could very well get a ranked opponent next, and according to Dan Lambert, everyone at American Top Team wants that to happen.

Tom Taylor - August 7, 2019

Valentina Shevchenko, the reigning UFC flyweight champion, has battled UFC bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes twice before. Both times the pair fought, Shevchenko came up short via close, competitive decision. Given Nunes and Shevchenko’s dominance in their respective divisions, and their previous history, many fans are interested in seeing them rematch in a champion versus champion super fight.

Cole Shelton - August 6, 2019

Liz Carmouche is the only person to ever finish Valentina Shevchenko, and she expects to do that again. In the main event of UFC Uruguay, Carmouche will rematch Shevchenko for the UFC flyweight belt. The two fought back in 2010, and the American defeated the future UFC champ from Kyrgyzstan by stoppage. Although that was nine years ago, the outcome is still somewhat controversial.

Cole Shelton - August 5, 2019

Joanna Jedrzejczyk has a lot riding on her next fight at strawweight. In the main event of UFC San Francisco, she will take on Michelle Waterson. It will also mark her first fight at 115-pounds since she beat Tecia Torres by decision back in July of 2018.

Cole Shelton - August 2, 2019

Count American Top Team Owner Dan Lambert among those that think Jorge Masvidal should either get Conor McGregor or a welterweight title shot next. For Lambert to see the knockout of Ben Askren in person was surreal. He saw Jorge Masvidal train the flying knee in the gym and heard him tell everyone in the gym that is how the fight would play out. Even though that is how it happened, it was still shocking for the ATT owner and everyone at the gym.

Cole Shelton - August 2, 2019

When Colby Covington beat Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 225 to win the interim welterweight title, the consensus was he would be fighting for the undisputed title next. Yet, that never happened, and after more than a year off, he will return to take on Robbie Lawler in the main event of UFC Newark. This is far from a title shot as Lawler is ranked 11th, but Covington’s manager and American Top Team owner Dan Lambert knows this fight is super important for “Chaos” to win.

Tom Taylor - August 1, 2019

In May, at UFC Ottawa, former Olympic wrestler Arjan Bhullar picked up a decision victory over Juan Adams, extending his win-streak to two-straight and his overall UFC record to 3-1. Several weeks later, the Indian-Canadian heavyweight parted ways with the UFC and signed with Singapore-based promotion ONE Championship. Bhullar, who trains alongside Cain Velasquez and Daniel Cormier at American Kickboxing Academy, is now set to make his ONE Championship debut against former Cage Warriors champion Mauro Cerilli at ONE: Dawn of Heroes on Friday, August 2.

Cole Shelton - July 31, 2019

Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal are best friends and have been for years. The two welterweight contenders always train with each other to help one another for their upcoming fights. But that is no longer the case. At least, not currently. Covington and Masvidal are two of the UFC’s top welterweights, and according to American Top Team owner Dan Lambert, they are no longer training together as they believe they’ll inevitably have to fight each other.

Cole Shelton - July 30, 2019

Amanda Nunes is the reigning bantamweight and featherweight champion and is fresh off of a knockout win over Holly Holm at UFC 239. Now, Amanda Nunes is hoping to defend her featherweight title, but it’s hard to say who she’ll fight. Cris Cyborg could soon be a free agent, and other than that, there are no real contenders on win-streaks available for Nunes.

Cole Shelton - July 30, 2019

Felicia Spencer is not dwelling on her loss to Cris Cyborg at UFC 240. Although the Canadian lost the fight by unanimous decision she knows she had plenty of success. She cut Cyborg’s forehead, and took the Brazilian’s hardest shots and kept moving forward. All in all, she is happy with some parts of her performance but knows she could have done better.

Tom Taylor - July 29, 2019

Dave Leduc walks into Arts Martiaux Patenaude in Gatineau, Quebec like any other student might: quietly, with a bag slung over his shoulder, and a few minutes late. In fact, were it not for his size and his interesting tattoos, he might not warrant a second glance. Yet contrary to appearances, this Quebecer is a member of the martial arts pantheon; a fighting titan; a hero in a sport from half a world away. He is the King of Lethwei.

Cole Shelton - July 26, 2019

Geoff Neal did not expect to wait this long in between fights, but he is excited with the way things worked out. The Texan will now fight on the main card of UFC 240 against Niko Price in a fight that promises to deliver. “It is really cool. Everyone knows it will be a really fun fight,” Neal said to BJPENN.com. “This is the type of fight that I like to see, so I know fans will love to see. Just a great matchup.”