Exclusive MMA Interviews News
UFC Rochester | Pro fighters make their picks for Kevin Lee vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Cole Shelton - May 16, 2019
In the main event of UFC Rochester, Kevin Lee is moving up in weight to make his welterweight debut against former lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the fight.
ATT owner believes if Khabib Nurmagomedov gets tired against Dustin Poirier he 'is in for a world of sh*t'
Cole Shelton - May 15, 2019
Dustin Poirier has had a crazy road to get to a title shot. The 30-year-old had fought the very best of both the featherweight and lightweight divisions before getting an interim lightweight title shot against Max Holloway at UFC 236. Poirier would go on to defeat Holloway for the second time in his career that night in Atlanta. To see ‘The Diamond’ finally capture UFC gold was a surreal feeling for American Top Team owner, Dan Lambert.
UFC Rochester | Kevin Lee expecting 'bloodbath' against Rafael dos Anjos
Cole Shelton - May 15, 2019
Kevin Lee is set to make his welterweight debut this Saturday against former UFC lightweight champion and current third-ranked welterweight Rafael dos Anjos. For Lee, to get the chance to fight a top-three opponent in his welterweight debut is exciting. He also likes the fact that dos Anjos is a former lightweight too.
Dan Lambert believes Joanna Jedrzejczyk could get title shot now that Jessica Andrade is champion
Cole Shelton - May 14, 2019
At UFC 237, the strawweight title was on the line as Rose Namajunas was looking to defend the belt against Jessica Andrade. In the end, Andrade captured the belt in wild fashion, knocking Namajunas out with a slam. Before the title changed hands, the widespread belief was that the winner of Tatiana Suarez vs. Nina Ansaroff at UFC 238 would get the winner of Namajunas-Andrade. However, now that Andrade is the champion that plan may change given the fact former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk has a win over Andrade.
UFC Rochester | Sijara Eubanks believes Aspen Ladd is 'perfect' opponent for return to bantamweight
Cole Shelton - May 14, 2019
Sijara Eubanks had a whirlwind 10 days back in the fall. Initially, it was announced that she would headline UFC 230 in Madison Square Garden and fight for the vacant flyweight title against Valentina Shevchenko. However, that plan did not come to fruition, and Eubanks was later booked for an undercard rematch with Roxanne Modafferi instead. Now, Sijara Eubanks is getting ready for another rematch, this time at bantamweight against Aspen Ladd. Eubanks lost her first fight against Ladd by decision.
BJ Penn opens up following UFC 237 loss to Clay Guida
Chris Taylor - May 13, 2019
Former two division UFC champion BJ Penn returned to the octagon for a lightweight fight with Clay Guida at Saturday’s UFC 237 event in Rio. After a good opening round for ‘The Prodigy’, Guida was able to turn the tide later in round two. ‘The Carpenter’ went on to get off the better volume of strikes in round three and was thus awarded a unanimous decision victory over Penn (29-28 x2, 29-27) after fifteen minutes of action.
Megan Anderson and the featherweight torch
Drake Riggs - May 13, 2019
Fighters are responsible for a lot more things than perhaps meets the eye. On the surface level, they’re responsible for providing for themselves as anyone is in their profession. Others may argue that they’re also responsible for the entertainment of their audiences as performers and public figures. But it can go much deeper than that whether it be from representing one’s family, country, or gym. When you’re fighting, you’re fighting for a purpose. A select few may have spotlights magnified upon them from the starts of their careers whereas others really have to grind and work their ways into it. Everything is situational and for Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia’s finest in Megan Anderson, it’s almost like a never-ending battle in and outside of the cage.
Ryan Spann plans to make a statement with finish of Lil Nog
Cole Shelton - May 10, 2019
Ryan Spann is heading into enemy territory to take on Brazilian MMA legend Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, aka “Lil Nog,” this Saturday at UFC 237. Spann won his UFC debut by unanimous decision against Luis Henrique Barbosa de Oliveira. Following the fight, the Fortis MMA product wanted to fight “Lil Nog” and asked for the fight — something not many people do. The reason he wanted the fight is simple.
Diego Ferreira expecting a war with Francisco Trinaldo in UFC 237 PPV opener
Cole Shelton - May 9, 2019
Diego Ferreira is ready for arguably the biggest fight of his career when he takes on Francisco Trinaldo in the pay-per-view opener of UFC 237. When the Brazilian first heard about the fight he was ecstatic as he knows a win over Trinaldo will most likely put him into the UFC lightweight rankings.
UFC 237 | Pro fighters make their picks for Rose Namajunas vs. Jessica Andrade
Cole Shelton - May 9, 2019
In the main event of UFC 237 on Saturday, strawweight champion Rose Namajunas will look to defend her title in Brazil against the country’s own Jessica Andrade. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions. Although Andrade is the slight betting favorite, Namajunas is the favorite to win according to the pros.
UFC 237 | Jared Cannonier confident he can knock Anderson Silva out
Cole Shelton - May 8, 2019
Jared Cannonier is set for arguably the biggest fight of his career this Saturday, in the co-main event of UFC 237. The 10th ranked middleweight will be taking on one of the greatest fighters of all time in Anderson Silva. Learn how to watch UFC 237 here. Although Silva is ranked below him, Cannonier still understands how big of a fight this is. And, with fight week now upon us, the work is done and the 35-year-old middleweight is just ready for Saturday.
Christian Lee recounts past training sessions with opponent Shinya Aoki
Tom Taylor - May 8, 2019
Christian Lee, the younger brother of ONE Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee, has spent the recent years of his career establishing himself as one of the top fighters in the ONE featherweight division. So, when he found himself on the receiving end of a respectful callout from ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya Aoki, he was a little surprised. “Initially, it came as a shock,” Lee told BJPenn.com. “I wasn’t expecting it — I’m sure no one was expecting it.
Jon Fitch believes 'we need some new people judging fights' after controversial draw against MacDonald
Cole Shelton - May 3, 2019
Jon Fitch had his shot to win Bellator gold last Saturday, and many believed he had succeeded by the time the final bell rang. Fitch, who many counted out, came out and took Rory MacDonald down over and over again and dominated him on the ground. He even won one round 10-8 — but even that couldn’t earn Fitch the win. Rather, only one judge had the fight for the 41-year-old, with the other two seeing it is a draw. This means the fight was ruled a majority draw, and because MacDonald was the champion, he moved on in the welterweight Grand Prix.
Jack Hermansson believes a fight with Kelvin Gastelum is likely next
Mike Straus - May 2, 2019
The days of underestimating Jack Hermansson have passed. The No. 5 ranked middleweight is happy his hard work is starting to pay off. Hermansson did what many pundits thought he could not do at UFC Ft. Lauderdale. That is defeat Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in convincing fashion.
ATT boxing coach Dyah Davis opens up on his work with Dustin Poirier
Mike Straus - May 2, 2019
Boxing is in the blood of American Top Team’s boxing coach Dyah Davis, and so is teaching. The former super middleweight pugilist really has taken to this coaching thing. Now semi-retired, Davis, 37, still spends his days at the gym. Albeit in a different capacity for very different reasons. Coaching is something Davis always thought he might end up doing. However, just not so soon in his career.
UFC Ottawa | Pro fighters make their picks for Donald Cerrone vs. Al Iaquinta
Cole Shelton - May 2, 2019
In the main event of UFC Ottawa this Saturday, Donald Cerrone is set to take on Al Iaquinta in a fight that promises to bring fireworks. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the fight. The majority believe ‘Cowboy’ will win the fight, but all are unanimous in thinking it will be a fun one.
EXCLUSIVE | Scott Coker provides update on Fedor Emelianenko, likes the idea of a 'victory tour' and Josh Barnett fight
Drake Riggs - April 26, 2019
Without a doubt, Russia’s ‘Last Emperor,’ Fedor Emelianenko is one of the greatest mixed martial artists to ever grace the face of the Earth. But despite his incredible success throughout his career and late resurgence through the Bellator heavyweight Grand Prix, it all ended abruptly in January. At Bellator 214, the vacant title was on the line in the tournament’s finals. Standing in Emelianenko’s way on his path to becoming a champion for the first time in 10 years was the current light heavyweight champion of Bellator, Ryan Bader. In the end, 35 seconds was all it took for Bader to sleep the icon with a stiff left hand followed by some on the ground.
EXCLUSIVE | Scott Coker says Kyoji Horiguchi vs Darrion Caldwell 2 not done deal, but working on it
Drake Riggs - April 26, 2019
At RIZIN 14 on New Year’s Eve 2018, we saw a massive inaugural title fight that saw two promotions best bantamweight fighters go head to head. Of course, on one side of the ring, there was the Japanese superstar, RIZIN’s Kyoji Horiguchi. On the other side, it was Bellator bantamweight champion, Darrion ‘The Wolf’ Caldwell who fought for the first time out of the United States.