MMA Podcasts News

Cole Shelton - July 21, 2020

The third episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Fight Island 3 and Bellator 242. Host Cole Shelton is first joined by American Top Team owner Dan Lambert (1:56). Then, UFC welterweight Peter Sobotta (24:29) comes on and the final guest is Bellator bantamweight, Ricky Bandejas (41:26).

Cole Shelton - July 14, 2020

Just like the debut episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com the second show is a stacked one ahead of the July 15 and 18 Fight Island shows. Host Cole Shelton is first joined by sixth-ranked UFC featherweight Calvin Kattar (1:19). Then, 10th-ranked featherweight, Dan Ige (17:13) comes on, and the final guest is middleweight contender Jack Hermansson (38:28).

Cole Shelton - July 7, 2020

The debut episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com is a stacked one ahead of UFC 251 and the debut of UFC Fight Island. Host Cole Shelton is first joined by UFC featherweight champion, Alex Volkanovski. Then, Volkan Oezdemir comes on, and the final guest is future UFC Hall of Famer and friend of the website, Frankie Edgar.

Jason Kindschy - June 30, 2020

Colby Covington returns to the show with yet another cannot-miss conversation. Following his departure from American Top Team, Colby Covington Inc. was born and so begins another chapter of the former interim champions career. Colby gives us the details on what led to him parting ways with ATT and how his exit reignited bad blood with former teammates like Dustin Porier. Confident that we have yet to see the best of his abilities displayed in competition, Covington is digging his heels into the Miami sand and explains why there are only a few sensible options for his return to action. One of which of course being a showdown against his friend-turned-enemy Jorge Masvidal. Colby gives us his take on Masvidal’s soured negotiations with the UFC, and explains why he believes the BMF belt is just a participation trophy. Of course, Colby’s primary focus is capturing the UFC welterweight title in a rematch with Kamaru Usman, but if that doesn’t come to fruition, we might see Covington throw down with WWE’s Drew McIntyre in an unsanctioned street fight. All that and more from Colby “Chaos” Covington. Josh Emmett joins us to recap his sensational win over a very game opponent in Shane Burgos. Emmet predicted that he would finish Burgos prior to fight night, but a devastating leg injury forced Josh to pick Burgos apart in what many fans considered a fight of the year candidate. With a potentially lengthy recovery ahead of him, Josh Emmett has a tough decision to make. Avoid surgery and attempt to come back with no ACL, or opt for surgery and be sidelined for a significant time period while he’s on the cusp of a crack at featherweight gold. One thing is for certain, Josh believes that he is the worst possible matchup for current champ Alexander Volkanovski, and that the similarities in their respective styles makes for a true barn burner.

Jason Kindschy - May 25, 2020

EKIC or Extreme Kumite International Championships is an all-new and innovative promotion focused on bringing authentic martial arts competition to combat sports fans around the globe. Revolutionary in their approach, the founders of EKIC aim to give combat sports athletes every opportunity available to them all under one roof, while also prioritizing fair pay to those under contract. The EKIC brand will bring three different rulesets of combat to international viewers. Freestyle Kumite, which will be modeled after some aspects of MMA but eliminates the cage and gloves. Bareknuckle Boxing under The London Rules rather than Marquess of Queensberry Rules, and finally traditional boxing as it’s seen today. All three rulesets from one promotion. The founders of EKIC joined us to announce the official launch of the brand and discuss their goals for the company. President Ed Simpson, Vice President Mark Goldstein, and fellow VP Jeff Arcio gave BJPENN Radio exclusive insight on EKIC from it’s inception to where they see the company in five years. With an advisory board and brand ambassadors that include the likes of Hector Camacho Jr., Cung Le, and Stephan Bonnar, the EKIC team is ready to take the combat sports world by storm. Having already been bombarded by athletes interested in competing for the brand, it’s only a matter of time before EKIC grows from fledgling promotion to pugilistic powerhouse.

Jason Kindschy - April 30, 2020

Israel Adesanya joins the show for a quick but entertaining conversation. Having taken the combat sports world by storm on his meteoric rise to super-stardom, “Stylebender” has become a popular target for many of MMA’s biggest names. While solely focused on defending his middleweight crown in early summer opposite Paulo Costa, Adesanya is confident in his abilities against Jon Jones and even the likes of heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic. Coupled with dominant performances, Adesanya has also shown an incredible knack for promotion and pushing his individual brand via social media. We’ll discuss what matchups at 185 are most intriguing, the inevitability of a showdown with Jon Jones, and what younger combat athletes can learn from Izzy’s style of promotion and showmanship. John Wayne Parr returns to the show to discuss his return to action following a brief retirement from combat sports. While this interview took place some time ago, it remains one of the best conversations we’ve had with the “Gunslinger.” As is the case with most fighters, the realities of retirement are difficult to cope with and that was certainly the case for the multiple time Muay Thai champ. Having fell into a deep depression following his sensational win over fellow Aussie combat star Anthony Mundine, Parr had become visually irritant with family and friends. That is until John accompanied his daughters boyfriend, Rocky Ogden, to a kickboxing event with ONE Championship. After speaking with Chatri Sityodtong and being offered a contract that could not refuse, the “Gunslinger” decided to return for a few more showdowns against top level talent before finally deciding to hang up his holster. We will discuss all that and much more in this quality conversation with John Wayne Parr.

Jason Kindschy - February 21, 2020

Valentina Shevchenko returns to recap her dominant over Kaitlyn Chookagian and discuss her future as the flyweight queen. While we did speak to Valentina prior to the announcement that she’ll face Joanne Calderwood at UFC 250, Shevchenko gave us her thoughts on several potential contenders to her championship going forward. “The Bullet” gives her reaction to Halle Berry’s support cage side on fight night, and sheds some light on her character in the film project they worked on together that should be released later this year. Valentina also addresses the ludicrous accusations of her being a Russian spy, but explains why she wouldn’t mind portraying a female version of James Bond on the big screen. She was incredibly generous with her time for this interview, and gave us some heartfelt insight as to what inspires her to achieve greatness. Johnny Walker joins us to preview his return to competition next month in Brasilia against Nikita Krylov. With his aim laser focused on earning a shot at UFC gold, Walker made the move to the famed Tristar Gym in Montreal to work with the legendary team there. Now under the guidance of Firas Zahabi and training with the likes of Georges St-Pierre, Johnny believes he’s made the right adjustments on his martial arts journey. We’ll hear his thoughts on the landscape at 205, and much more.

Jason Kindschy - February 5, 2020

Colby Covington has returned to the media spotlight following his closely contested loss to current welterweight champ Kamaru Usman. Colby kicks off this episode with his usual venomous verbiage and discusses a multitude of topics. We’ll get his thoughts on the fight against Usman and why he believes an immediate rematch should happen. Colby Covington also elaborates on his accusations of corrupt refereeing by Marc Goddard, and challenging 50 Cent to a charity boxing match. All that and much more with “Chaos.” Brian Kelleher joins us to recap his impressive submission win over Ode Osbourne at UFC 246 last month. Following a two-year layoff caused by an injury sustained during training, Kelleher is eager to make up for lost time. We’ll discuss his plans for climbing the bantamweight ranks in 2020, and hear his thoughts on the divisional landscape.

Jason Kindschy - August 7, 2019

Colby Covington is back to drop verbal bombs and continue his tirade in pursuit of the welterweight title. Following an incredibly dominant win against Robbie Lawler in New Jersey over the weekend, Covington has adjusted full focus on a looming showdown with Kamaru Usman.

Jason Kindschy - July 31, 2019

Valentina Shevchenko joins us to preview her upcoming title defense on August 10th in Uruguay against Liz Carmouche. Following her sensational KO victory against Jessica Eye at UFC 238, Shevchenko hopes to keep that momentum and deliver another finish for the South American fans. We’ll get Valentina’s thoughts on Liz as an opponent, and the importance of nullifying a doctor stoppage TKO loss to Carmouche from earlier in their respective careers. A fight in which Shevchenko was dominating until the unfortunate ending. We’ll also hear Shevchenko’s assessment of the division, potential contenders, and her enthusiasm to help the UFC break into yet another new market.

Jason Kindschy - July 8, 2019

Jorge Masvidal returns to the show following what many are calling the greatest knockout in UFC history. With all the animosity built up between Masvidal and Ben Askren leading into fight week at UFC 239, there was no question that “Gamebred” had bad intentions for his opponent. However, the spectacular result of a record-breaking flying-knee KO was above and beyond expectation. Smashing his way into the history books and exemplifying the warrior spirit throughout his combat sports tenure, Masvidal is finally becoming the superstar our sport deserves. In this impromptu chat with Jorge, we’ll recap the knee heard round the world, get his reaction to becoming a record holder, find out where things stand with Ben Askren, and what’s next for the American Top Team staple. From back yards to bright lights, the meteoric rise of “Gamebred” is only getting started.

Jason Kindschy - June 26, 2019

Colby Covington returns following the announcement that he will face former teammate Robbie Lawler in the main event of UFC FN 156 in Newark, New Jersey on August 3rd. “Chaos” explains why he agreed to take this bout after several failed campaigns to fight Tyron Woodley and Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title. Widely considered the right No. 1 contender, this scrap came as a surprise to many, but Covington is very happy with the caliber of opponent. We’ll hear Colby’s thoughts on the stylistically matchup against Lawler, why he believes a win over Robbie is essential to further cementing his legacy, and how he plans to defeat his former ATT stablemate.

Jason Kindschy - May 22, 2019

Colby Covington is back to bring some ‘Chaos’ and discuss a plethora of topics. He’ll give us the latest developments on the inevitable showdown against Kamaru Usman and detail why he believes Kamaru is taking a page out of Tyron Woodley’s playbook. We’ll also hear Colby’s thoughts on some big upcoming fights at welterweight, what conditions he would fight longtime teammate Jorge Masvidal, and Covington issues a challenge to Mike Perry. Plus, a side of Colby you’ve never heard as he discusses his upbringing and clears the air of some common misconceptions.

Jason Kindschy - April 20, 2019

Rich Franklin returns following the announcement that the former UFC middleweight champion will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame for 2019. ‘Ace’ joins legendary athletes such as Royce Gracie, Randy Couture, and Bas Rutten in the HOF’s pioneer wing. Rightfully so as Franklin was ahead of the curve with his approach to training and a well-rounded arsenal displayed during his UFC tenure. However, Franklin’s contribution to MMA did not end with his retirement from competition in 2015. The Ohio native has been an integral part in the success of ONE Championship and his keen eye for talent has led to Rich at the helm of the promotions talent acquisition program, ONE Warrior Series. Rich talks shop regarding all things ONE Championship, the continued success and global expansion of the company. We’ll also take an in-depth look back on his combat career and discuss everything from Franklin’s proudest moments, to his hardest setbacks, and the legacy he hopes to leave. Ray Cooper III and Zane Kamaka are both top-of-the-food-chain in Hawaii’s MMA landscape, and now the two compete for supremacy in the opening round of the 2019 PFL season. Cooper of course making it to the final last season, leaving a path of destruction in his wake before coming up short against Magomed Magomedkerimov. Kamaka on the other hand is incredibly hungry to prove his worth and feed his family in this promotional debut against Cooper on May 9th in Long Island, New York. As if that’s not enough reason to watch them collide, Ray and Zane are actually cousins cut from the same cloth . You’ll hear why Ray specifically asked to fight Zane in the opening round, why Zane believes he’ll prove to be the superior fighter, and how the bad blood began between the two.

Jason Kindschy - March 24, 2019

Artem Lobov returns to preview his upcoming bareknuckle boxing debut against Jason Knight at BKFC5 on April 6th. Lobov requested his release from the UFC earlier this year after receiving some lucrative offers from other promotions and not being able to get the matchups he was hoping for with the company. Subsequently, BKFC made Artem a six-figure contract offer and the SBG staple felt it was a no-brainer to sign up for the next chapter of his combat sports career. ‘The Russian Hammer’ gives us the details on negotiations with BKFC, his thoughts on transitioning to bareknuckle and how it compliments his fighting style. We’ll also hear Lobov’s prediction for his debut against Knight, his anticipation of a showdown with Paulie Malignaggi, and clear up some rumors about Conor McGregor leaving the Straight Blast Gym in Ireland.

Jason Kindschy - March 17, 2019

Colby Covington returns to recap his eventful weekend in Las Vegas at UFC 235. Many agree that Covington stole the show in usual “Chaos” fashion. From crashing Kamaru Usman’s open workout, to harassing Dana White, causing a ruckus cage side, and almost getting into a brawl in the casino buffet line after the fight, we’re going to cover all that and much more with Colby, including his thoughts on a now looming matchup with Kamaru.

Jason Kindschy - February 17, 2019

Founder and head coach of the famed American Kickboxing Academy, mentor and close friend of Cain Velasquez, Javier Mendez returns to the show to preview the highly anticipated return of his star pupil. We’ll get Javi’s thoughts on the matchup against Francis Ngannou and the challenges he poses for Cain, how Mendez sees the fight playing out, and what the future has in store for the former champion Velasquez. Mendez believes Cain will become the heavyweight king yet again, and is confident about his chances in a potential matchup with Jon Jones. We’ll also get Javi’s thoughts on the immediate future for Daniel Cormier, and what the ideal scenario is for DC to wrap up a historic career in style. Mendez also gives us his thoughts on Khabib’s refusal to compete before November, best-case-scenario matchups for Nurmagomedov, and a whole lot more.

Jason Kindschy - December 16, 2018

Colby Covington returns to the show to give us some in-depth perspective on the recent uncertainty in the UFC’s welterweight division as much has unfolded in the past week. Colby’s arch-nemisis, Tyron Woodley, has publicly stated that Covington will be his next opponent and UFC president Dana White has echoed the same sentiment that this matchup is in the works. However, following the report that Covington and Woodley’s inevitable showdown was being targeted for UFC 233 in January, there’s been strange events that have lead the MMA community to believe otherwise. UFC 233 in Anaheim was abruptly canceled last week, and fellow welterweight Kamaru Usman put out a photo of an alleged bout agreement between himself and Woodley. Conspiracy or not, Covington has a lot to say about the situation in what has to be his most candid interview to date. We’ll cover it all with “Chaos.”