Exclusive MMA Interviews News

Tom Taylor - February 26, 2018

Earlier this month, on the undercard of UFC 221, Australian featherweight Alex Volkanovski scored a fourth-straight dominant UFC win, taking out Jeremy Kennedy with a swarm of second-round punches. With this dominant performance in the books, Volkanovski feels it’s time he’s rewarded with a top-15 or even a top-10 opponent. The rising talent made his case on the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio.

Tom Taylor - February 26, 2018

With a newly announced gig as an Invicta ring boy, an established modelling career, an entertaining YouTube channel, and lots more, UFC middleweight Elias Theodorou stays plenty busy outside the cage. That said, his packed schedule hasn’t detracted from his desire to fight. The Canadian star, who is the owner of an impressive 14-2 record, is currently eyeing a return to action this spring. “Looking to jump in April-ish… April-May,” Theodorou said on Episode 72 of BJ Penn Radio when asked about the ideal timeframe for his return. “But [I’m] always ready. I’m a professional athlete, 365, and even though I have a very busy day outside the cage, I’m still training every single day, and I’m a professional athlete as well.”

Tom Taylor - February 25, 2018

After fighting out his previous UFC contract under the advisement of his former manager, there was some doubt as to whether or not rising lightweight contender Steven Ray would re-sign with the promotion. Luckily, the Scottish fighter was ultimately able to hash out a new deal with the UFC, and is now set to return to the cage opposite Kajan Johnson when the UFC touches down in London on March 17. Speaking on the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio, Ray recounted the turbulent process that led to his new UFC deal.

Drake Riggs - February 23, 2018

One of the UFC lightweight division’s biggest dark horses continued his winning ways last Saturday after earning yet another impressive victory over Francisco Trinaldo thus extending his current winning streak to four. “The Texicutioner” James Vick is ready for 2018 which he thinks will be his year as he told BJ Penn Radio this week. “I’m about to be 31 years old this week, on Friday’s my birthday, I’m gonna be 31 years old. I don’t feel old at all I started in this game late. I feel young as shit, I feel like I’m in my athletic prime. But at the same time the older you get, the UFC is hardly promoting me now, the older you get it’s even harder to get promoted. I’m not gonna fight someone for the same damn pay unless they’re ranked above me.

Chris Taylor - February 6, 2018

Tyron Woodley: “Stephen Thompson is today’s Jon Fitch” Earlier today UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto that he was targeting a summer return and would likely be fighting former lightweight title challenger Nate Diaz in his next bout.

Tom Taylor - February 5, 2018

Former UFC bantamweight title challenger Valentina Shevchenko could not have been more impressive in her Saturday night flyweight debut, out-landing her opponent Priscila Cachoeira by a 230-3 margin en-route to a second-round submission win. Regrettably, much of the buzz surrounding this fight has been negative, as the widespread perception is that referee Mario Yamasaki let this one-sided beatdown go on for far longer than it should have. Priscilla Cachoeira, you showed so much heart and toughness in that fight. I’m honored to have you fight in the UFC. Unfortunately the ref is there to protect you and Mario DID NOT do that. This isn’t his first disgusting performance in the octagon. Another unfortunate thing is that i can’t do anything about I️t only the Brazilian commission can and i am hoping after this scary, incompetent showing he hopefully will never set foot in that Octagon again. Strikes landed was 230-3.

Tom Taylor - February 5, 2018

At present, there are two clear frontrunners in the race to the next shot at UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley. One is surging contender Colby Covington. The other is former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos. Speaking on the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio, Colby Covington explained why he, not Rafael dos Anjos, deserves the next crack at Tyron Woodley.

Tom Taylor - January 30, 2018

This weekend, on the undercard of UFC 221 in Perth, Australia, red-hot featherweight prospect Alexander Volkanovski will return to the cage for a rescheduled bout with Canada’s Jeremy Kennedy. If Volkanovski can win this bout, he’ll be 4-0 in the UFC, and 16-1 overall, and he expects to be rewarded for this impressive run with a top-15 opponent. “That’s gonna be four,” he said on the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio. “If I win this, that’s four wins in a row. I haven’t even lost a round [in the UFC] yet, so I’ve been dominating most of my opponents and I’m sure they’re gonna wanna give me a ranked opponent. I just think that’s the only option after this. And I’m pretty sure, you know, my manger was talking to [matchmaker] Sean Shelby and that’s pretty much what he was implying, so I definitely think that’s what’s gonna happen, and that’s why I’m happy with the match up and I can’t wait, mate.”

Tom Taylor - January 28, 2018

Back in December of 2017, Team Alpha Male staple Josh Emmett authored the best win of his career thus far, smashing Ricardo Lamas to a first-round knockout win. With this impressive victory, Emmett surged up the UFC featherweight ladder, usurping the number-four spot in the division’s rankings. In the wake of this career-changing win, Emmett quickly began campaigning or a fight with fellow contender Brian Ortega, who recently won big with a submission of Cub Swanson. Unfortunately, Ortega didn’t seem interested in this fight, and opted to wait for his shot at the winner of Max Holloway and Frankie Edgar’s upcoming title fight.

Tom Taylor - January 24, 2018

In the wake of his submission loss to UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson, Kevin Lee has been looking for ways to freshen up his game. He’s hoping renowned MMA coach Firas Zahabi can help him with that. Speaking on the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio, Lee explained that he’ll be doing some work with Zahabi over the coming weeks.

Tom Taylor - January 23, 2018

Having recently come up short in an interim lightweight title fight with Tony Ferguson, “The Motown Phenom” Kevin Lee is eager to get back on track and reinsert himself into the title mix. While he was briefly discussed as a possible opponent for former World Series of Fighting champion Justin Gaethje, Gaethje has now been targeted for a scrap with Dustin Poirier. Now that this Gaethje-Poirier fight has been scheduled, Lee feels he might end up in a fight with Edson Barboza, who recently lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Tom Taylor - January 22, 2018

On April 7, at UFC 223, interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson and undefeated contender Khabib Nurmagomedov will battle for a lightweight title. Will it be the interim title currently owned by Ferguson, or the undisputed title currently owned by Conor McGregor? Dana White was incredibly unclear when asked about this at a press conference in Boston, refusing to say whether the UFC will strip McGregor of his undisputed title, but also assuring the winner of this Ferguson-Nurmagomedov fight will be the champion… Whatever the case ‘The Motown Phenom” Kevin Lee expects Tony Ferguson to be the man who comes out on top – against Nurmagomedov and McGregor.

Tom Taylor - January 14, 2018

Ever since he knocked out Cody Garbrandt to recapture the UFC bantamweight title, TJ Dillashaw has been angling for a flyweight title shot opposite dominant divisional kingpin Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. In order to earn this opportunity, of course, Dillashaw will have to cut down to 125 pounds – something Garbrandt doesn’t believe he can do. I’d make 125 in a month! This fool can’t make 125, he knows what it is. I’ll be here cleaning the division out again, waiting for him🏃🏼🏃🏼 https://t.co/XzybIfRWNv

Chris Taylor - January 12, 2018

T.J. Dillashaw fires back at Cody Garbrandt “You can’t even really be called champ without defending your belt”. Following his thrilling second-round knockout victory over Cody Garbrandt at UFC 217, newly crowned UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw set his sights on a super-fight with current flyweight kingpin Demetrious Johnson.

Chris Taylor - January 12, 2018

UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw (15-3 MMA) is gearing up for “The biggest fight of 2018”. The 31-year-old product of Sonora, California is coming off an incredible second-round knockout victory over former teammate turned bitter rival Cody Garbrandt at November’s UFC 217 event in New York.

Chris Taylor - January 12, 2018

Josh Emmett says a fight with Brian Ortega “needs to happen”, weighs in on Edgar vs. Holloway. UFC featherweight contender Josh Emmett is coming off one of the most sensational knockouts of 2017 at last month’s UFC on FOX 26 event in Winnipeg.

Chris Taylor - January 8, 2018

Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn believes that while USADA has definitely helped clean up the sport of mixed martial arts, there is still a ton of room for improvement.   Speaking with BJPENN.com’s Chris Taylor, “The Prodigy” revealed that he believes many fighters have jumped off of testosterone in favor of Human Growth Hormone.   “I think that USADA made the cheaters jump from taking Testosterone to Human Growth Hormone. You know, exactly how Lance Armstrong cheated for all of those years… That is what is happening now.”   Cyclist Lance Armstrong was infamously stripped of his seven Tour de France titles after he admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs which included EPO, HGH and other banned substances.   In October of 2012 USADA formally charged Lance Armstrong of running a massive doping ring which they labelled “the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sports had ever seen.”   According to Penn, the symptoms of HGH, which include having a bloated stomach, are quite visible in the sport of mixed martial arts today.   “USADA told me that they have a test to catch HGH users but I haven’t seen anyone getting busted and everyone’s stomachs are getting bigger. I see it all the time. Fighters shoulders are getting smaller and their stomachs are getting bigger because they are jumping off testosterone and taking HGH.”   Taylor brought up the fact that USADA claims to have a test that would could prove fighters have taken HGH within the past two weeks. Still, Penn questions the lack of results stemming from the test.   “Yea, (Jeff) Novitzky told me they have a test for Human Growth Hormone that  lasts for two weeks. But then why is no one ever getting busted and their stomachs are growing?”   Penn continued:   “It’s kind of like IV’s. I have never seen one fighter get busted for taking an IV twenty-four hours out of their fight. The only fighter who ever got busted for an IV was me, this after I disclosed that I had taken a glutathione IV following a visit with a concussion and brain injury specialist. They (USADA) tried to show that they had teeth by reprimanding a fighter who always speaks out about PED’s. Since that day, I have never seen anyone else get ‘caught’ for taking an IV. From my understanding, the only test that USADA uses for IV’s is looking for puncture holes on a fighter. Maybe they don’t realize that a massive weight gain after a weigh in is performance enhancing. When in reality, IV’s can be a huge advantage in the fight game. We aren’t talking about 150-pound men riding a bike.”   Penn brought up a previous fight where his opponent had put on 26-pounds in just twenty-four hours following the official event weigh-ins. “The Prodigy” recalled a conversation with Jeff Novitzky,  the Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance for UFC, about his opponents rather substantial overnight weight gain.   “My coach had seen my opponent weigh-in just hours before the fight and he had put on 26-pounds. I had eaten everything I could in those twenty-four hours and yet I only managed to put on 8-pounds myself. I told Novitzky about the situation after the fight suggesting that maybe my opponent had taken an IV. Jeff told me that they could not find any puncture holes on his arm and added that maybe my opponent just rehydrated better.”   In the end, BJ Penn simply wants to see a level playing field for fighters in mixed martial arts. At the moment, “The Prodigy” believes that there is still a lot of room for improvement in regards to USADA.   In a previous interview with SportsJoe, Tri-Star head coach Firas Zahabi explained why Human Growth Hormone (HGH) could be the most effective PED for improving a fighters performance.   “One time I was training a doctor and we were talking about that, what would be the most dangerous thing? What should we be aware of that our opponents might be taking. I remember him telling me that the best thing out there is HGH. Why? Because it helps you recover so much.” Zahabi continued:

Tom Taylor - January 3, 2018

Just days removed from her exciting UFC 219 victory over Holly Holm, UFC women’s featherweight champ Cris Cyborg is already looking ahead to her next fight. The champ is now hoping to fight Invicta featherweight queen Megan Anderson, ideally when the UFC touches down in Anderson’s native Australia with UFC 221 on February 11. While Cyborg has heard the calls for a superfight between herself and UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, she feels that it’s important for her to fight a legitimate featherweight like Anderson in her next fight – and for a pretty noble reason.