Exclusive MMA Interviews News

Tom Taylor - May 4, 2018

Dominick Reyes’s MMA career could not be off to a better start. The California-born light heavyweight has won all eight of his professional bouts, including two in the UFC’s Octagon. Only one of those victories has reached the judges’ scorecards.

Tom Taylor - May 4, 2018

Originally, recent UFC light heavyweight title challenger Volkan Oezdemir was expected to collide with former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the co-main event of the UFC’s May 19 debut in Santiago, Chile. In the end, however, the bout was relocated to the main event of the UFC’s July 22 stop in Hamburg, Germany, as a result of the legal issues Oezdemir is currently dealing with in the United States.

Tom Taylor - May 4, 2018

Colby Covington, who battles Rafael dos Anjos for interim welterweight gold at UFC 225 in Chicago this June 9, is perhaps the most polarizing fighter in the game. The American Top Team staple’s actions and comments generate near constant backlash — even from UFC color commentator Joe Rogan.

Tom Taylor - May 4, 2018

Ever since it was announced that former WWE star CM Punk — nee Phil Brooks — would be taking a second fight in the UFC’s Octagon, Mike Jackson has been angling to be his opponent. It’s an opportunity that Jackson believed was his, all along. “It wasn’t about getting the fight, because in my mind, it was my fight,” Jackson told BJPenn.com’s Jason Kindschy this week. “You know, Phil, I’ve just known that if [his second UFC fight] were to happen that I would be the guy, because there’s literally no other person that makes sense for this fight outside of myself. The storyline writes itself. I’ve already been in the UFC. We both have in common, a point, in Mickey Gall. I mean, it’s just … the love triangle is there. And you really can’t bring in another person, you can’t.”

Tom Taylor - May 4, 2018

At UFC 225, which goes down on June 9 in Chicago, Illinois, Colby Covington will step into the Octagon to battle former lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos for the interim welterweight belt.

Tom Taylor - May 2, 2018

When Gunnar Nelson was forced out of his UFC Liverpool co-main event showdown with Neil Magny, sixth-ranked UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal offered to step in and replace him. He only asked that this short-notice bout with Magny be contested at a 180-pound catchweight, as he wouldn’t be able to make the welterweight division’s 170-pound limit in time for the card. “My manager told me about [Nelson’s withdrawal,] and he was like ‘hey man, here’s your chance to smash Magny,’ cause he knows I don’t like Magny one bit,” Masvidal told BJPenn.com’s Jason Kindschy on Tuesday. “So he offered it to me, and he was like ‘what do you think?’ We’ll make it at a catchweight, cause I’m a little heavier right now.”

Tom Taylor - May 1, 2018

Late last week the UFC’s May 27 debut in Liverpool lost its compelling welterweight co-main event, as Iceland’s Gunnar Nelson was forced out of his fight with Neil Magny with an injury. The good news is that sixth-ranked UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal is angling to step in and replace Nelson, provided Magny agrees to 180-pound catchweight bout. Ariel Helwani was first to report Masvidal’s interest in this short-notice bout with Magny. Shortly thereafter, Masvidal spoke with BJPenn.com’s Jason Kindschy to update on this potential bout, and explain why he’s interested in stepping up.

Drake Riggs - April 20, 2018

How does the popular quote go? ‘It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey’?

Tom Taylor - April 19, 2018

All-action Hawaiian welterweight Yancy Medeiros, who battles Mike Perry at UFC 226 this July 7, is a close friend of welterweight legend Nick Diaz. Speaking on the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio, Medeiros discussed the possibility of the elder Diaz brother returning to the Octagon after his four-year hiatus—and ultimately wound up telling a pretty funny Nick Diaz drinking story.

Tom Taylor - April 19, 2018

This Saturday, on the main card of the UFC’s stop in Atlantic City, New Jersey, red-hot heavyweight prospect Justin Willis will collide with all-action fan favorite Chase Sherman.

Tom Taylor - April 19, 2018

Earlier this month, Conor McGregor travelled to Brooklyn, New York for UFC 223, and promptly went ballistic. In a frantic search for Khabib Nurmagomedov, who had confronted his training partner Artem Lobov earlier in the week, the Irishman ran amok inside the UFC 223 host venue, ultimately throwing a dolly through the window of a shuttle bus carrying a number of fighters, and injuring two of them.

Tom Taylor - April 19, 2018

At UFC 225, which goes down on June 9 in Chicago, Illinois, former Invicta featherweight champ Megan Anderson will make her anticipated Octagon debut opposite former bantamweight champion Holly Holm.

Tom Taylor - April 5, 2018

At UFC 224, which goes on on May 12 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Amanda Cooper will serve as the sophomore UFC opponent of highly hyped grappling star Mackenzie Dern.

Tom Taylor - April 5, 2018

By now, you’ve surely heard the news. Matt Brown has been forced out of his anticipated UFC Glendale scrap with Carlos Condit with an ACL injury, and replaced by Brazil’s Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira. 

Tom Taylor - April 4, 2018

On May 12, in the co-main event of UFC 224, Colby Covington will head down to Brazil to battle local hero Rafael dos Anjos for the interim welterweight title. As always, Covington is incredibly confident heading into this fight, and promises to dominate dos Anjos in front of his legions of Brazilian fans.

Tom Taylor - April 4, 2018

Shortly after his October defeat of Demian Maia in Sao Paulo, Brazil, welterweight contender Colby Covington went off on an ant-Brazil tirade, referring to the country as “a dump” and its people as “filthy animals.” Needless to say, Covington is not exactly loved in Brazil. All the same, he’ll head back to the country this May 12, where he’ll battle Rio de Janeiro’s own Rafael dos Anjos for interim welterweight gold in the co-main event of UFC 224.

Chris Taylor - April 1, 2018

Exclusive | Jimmie Rivera believes former champ Cody Garbrandt is being protected by management UFC bantamweight contender Jimmie Rivera (21-1 MMA) will be looking to extend his current win streak to twenty-one in a row by scoring a victory over Marlon Moraes at June’s UFC Fight Night 131 event in Utica, New York.

Chris Taylor - April 1, 2018

Exclusive | Jorge Masvidal sends a strong message to Kamaru Usman! After putting together an impressive three fight win streak, which included stoppage victories over Jake Ellenberger and Donald Cerrone, Jorge Masvidal has since suffered back-to-back decision setbacks to former UFC welterweight title challengers Demian Maia and Stephen Thompson.