Exclusive MMA Interviews News

Cole Shelton - March 25, 2019

At UFC 235, Kamaru Usman became the new welterweight champion after dominating Tyron Woodley from bell to bell. Following the fight, it was reported Colby Covington would be getting the next title shot at Usman. However, Usman’s manager Ali Abdelaziz has mentioned Ben Askren and Jorge Masvidal as fighters who could also be next next for the new champ. That has left Colby Covington wondering if Usman even wants to fight him.

Tom Taylor - March 24, 2019

Over the last few weeks, former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor has spent quite a bit of time in the United States. During his time on American soil, he’s gotten some training in at a number of notable gyms, including an American Top Team location in Atlanta, and Bas Rutten’s Elite MMA in California. McGregor’s training sessions at these gyms have led some members of the MMA community to speculate that he has parted ways with SBG, his long-time home in Dublin, Ireland, and that he is exploring the options for a new home base.

Tom Taylor - March 22, 2019

Bibiano Fernandes, arguably the most successful fighters in ONE Championship history, never expected to compete on the same card as his long-time friend and training partner Demetrious Johnson. When ONE Championship traded Ben Askren to the UFC in exchange for Johnson, however, it was suddenly a possibility. As luck would have it, Bibiano Fernandes and Demetrious Johnson are both set to compete at ONE: A New Era on March 31 in Tokyo — in back-to-back fights.

Cole Shelton - March 22, 2019

At UFC Nashville, fan favorite Luis Pena will be moving down from 155lbs to 145lbs to take on Steven Peterson. ‘Violent Bob Ross’ was already a big 155’er, and Peterson thinks the weight cut will be a mistake for Pena.

Thomas Taylor - March 21, 2019

Bibiano Fernandes and Kevin Belingon share one of the best rivalries in ONE Championship. The pair first met in China in January of 2016. On that night, Brazil’s Fernandes dispatched of his Filipino rival with a kimura in the first round, defending the bantamweight belt in the process.

Cole Shelton - March 21, 2019

Colby Covington didn’t fight at UFC 235, yet he still managed to generate many of the event’s biggest headlines. The day after the event, for example, video was released of Covington, Ali Abdelaziz, and Kamaru Usman getting into an altercation in the Palms Casino and Resort (see it here).

Cole Shelton - March 21, 2019

The Octagon heads to Nashville, Tennessee this weekend, with a very interesting welterweight matchup in the main event. Former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis will be moving up in weight to challenge former welterweight title challenger Stephen Thompson. Ahead of this welterweight fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the fight.

Thomas Taylor - March 20, 2019

20-year-old Australian flyweight Chelsea Hackett has thrived as a Muay Thai fighter, and now she’s preparing to conquer the world of mixed martial arts. Hackett’s martial arts journey began at just eight years old, when her parents enrolled her in Taekwondo. By the time she was 12, she’d earned a blackbelt in the Korean martial art, and sought out a new challenge in the form of Muay Thai. She signed up for classes at Boonchu Gym on the Gold Coast, which is operated by Angie and John Wayne Parr, and by the time she was 13, she was climbing into the ring for her first fight.

Tom Taylor - March 19, 2019

UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway is headed up to the lightweight division for an interim title fight with Dustin Poirier. While he’s stated that he hopes to return to the featherweight division and defend his belt thereafter, it’s not completely clear how things will actually unfold if he wins interim lightweight gold. Whatever the case, top featherweight contender Alexander Volkanovski wants Max Holloway to know that he still has work to do in the featherweight division.

Cole Shelton - March 19, 2019

At UFC 235, Ben Askren made his highly-anticipated debut, when he took on Robbie Lawler. Askren, who is undefeated, was looking to show he is the best in the world. However, early on, ‘Funky’ was in a lot of trouble when Lawler slammed him on his head.

Thomas Taylor - March 18, 2019

In June of 2018, in Yangon, Myanmar, ONE Championship middleweight and light heavyweight titleholder Aung La N Sang stepped into the cage with DEEP openweight champion Ken Hasegawa. This pairing turned out to be incredibly volatile, as the two stars engaged in a frenetic, back-and-forth war and a bona fide 2018 Fight of the Year contender. In the end, Aung La N Sang was able to win this grueling gunfight with a beautifully timed uppercut in the fifth round. Yet this punch would not end his rivalry with Hasegawa — not by a long shot.

Drake Riggs - March 18, 2019

It takes four years to graduate from high school. It takes the same amount of time to acquire a bachelor’s degree. From any starting point to its end, lessons can be learned and experience will be gained along the way. However, the growing process never entirely stops. Whether it pertains to physical capabilities or the mental. Perhaps both together as a pair as they more often than not go hand in hand.

Thomas Taylor - March 17, 2019

The last few years have not been easy for ONE Championship atomweight titleholder Angela Lee. Although she was able to pick up a decision victory over Mei Yamaguchi in May of 2018, this victory was sandwiched between a harrowing 2017 car accident and a cancelled November, 2018 fight with ONE strawweight champ Xiong Jing Nan.

Cole Shelton - March 15, 2019

Josh Emmett was on the rise in the featherweight division. He shocked many by knocking out Ricardo Lamas to put himself into the top-10 of the division. There, Emmett was looking to build off the win and become a title contender. His next fight was in the main event when he took on Jeremy Stephens. Emmett had some success in the fight until Stephens landed a nice combination of punches and elbows which knocked Emmett out. To make matters worse, Emmett dealt with a bevy of injuries which has kept him out of the Octagon for over a year.

Cole Shelton - March 15, 2019

Vicente Luque is coming off what may very well be the Fight of the Year. At UFC Phoenix, Luque and Bryan Barberena engaged in an unbelievable war and Luque scored a last-second knockout to get the win. Now, Luque is already eyeing his next fight. He wants to fight Neil Magny. Unfortunately for him, Magny has yet to accept his callout.

Cole Shelton - March 14, 2019

The UFC is heading back to London, England this Saturday. In the main event of this UFC London card, Englishman Darren Till is looking to get back into the win column as he takes on the dangerous Jorge Masvidal. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the fight. It was a close one, but the majority are leaning toward Till.

Thomas Taylor - March 11, 2019

If you’re not familiar with Herdem Alacabek yet, you probably will be soon. The Swedish light heavyweight, who has kickstarted his pro mixed martial arts career with five straight finishes, is narrowing in on a UFC roster spot. In fact, he could put pen to paper very soon.

Cole Shelton - March 11, 2019

Jordan Rinaldi was in a must-win situation in his last fight. At UFC 230, he moved down to featherweight to take on Jason Knight, and was fresh off of a tough loss to Gregor Gillespie. Rinaldi knew another loss could mean the end of his UFC career. Luckily, he ended up beating Knight by unanimous decision, protecting his job in the process.