Category: Exclusive MMA Interviews

  • Felicia Spencer “disappointed” in Amanda Nunes fight cancelation, believes it’ll happen in early June

    Felicia Spencer “disappointed” in Amanda Nunes fight cancelation, believes it’ll happen in early June

    Felicia Spencer was looking forward to fighting Amanda Nunes for the featherweight belt on May 9. Yet, that will no longer be the case after the champion announced she won’t be competing at the event as she can’t train properly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the news came out on Monday, Spencer said she […]

  • Rich Franklin explains how new podcast came together

    Rich Franklin explains how new podcast came together

    Rich Franklin wears many hats. He’s a former UFC champ. He’s a ONE Championship executive. He’s the President of ONE Warrior Series and the host of the web series of the same name. And now, he’s a podcast host. Last week, the former UFC middleweight champion announced the launch of his new podcast, Franklin Speaking, […]

  • Alessio Sakara praises Scott Coker, wants to fight Rampage Jackson

    Alessio Sakara praises Scott Coker, wants to fight Rampage Jackson

    The entire mixed martial arts world is on a hiatus due to all the coronavirus madness going on these days, and so is Italy’s fighting legend Alessio Sakara. Since the beginning of the full lockdown in Italy, the former UFC fighter, and current Bellator star, is quarantined just like the rest of his fellow countrymen. […]

  • Coach: Carlos Condit will fight in 2020, wants “money fights”

    Coach: Carlos Condit will fight in 2020, wants “money fights”

    Carlos Condit has not fought since UFC 232 in December of 2018, but expect that to change this year. Condit, who is currently on a five-fight losing skid, where he has lost to the likes of Robbie Lawler, Demian Maia, and Neil Magny, was expected to return against Mickey Gall in December. Yet, a detached […]

  • Al Iaquinta predicts Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson outcome

    Al Iaquinta predicts Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson outcome

    Al Iaquinta believes Khabib Nurmagomedov will probably beat Tony Ferguson — if they ever end up fighting. In the main event of UFC 249, the undisputed lightweight champ Nurmagomedov was set to defend his title for the third time against Ferguson. Unfortunately, the event was ultimately canceled, marking the fifth time a bout between the […]

  • Francis Ngannou believes he’s already earned title shot

    Francis Ngannou believes he’s already earned title shot

    Francis Ngannou was expected to battle Jairzinho Rozenstruik at the recently canceled UFC 249 card. While this was a massive fight for the division, Ngannou feels he’s already earned another crack at UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic. Ngannou, who is riding consecutive knockout wins over Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos, opened up […]

  • Pro fighters name the all-time MMA GOAT

    Pro fighters name the all-time MMA GOAT

    One of the biggest questions in all of MMA is who is the GOAT? Is it someone who had the biggest impact on the sport or the person who won the most? It’s an interesting debate for fighters and fans alike to have at any time. So, with far less MMA on the calendar than […]

  • Holly Holm is “one fight away from a title shot” according to Mike Winkeljohn

    Holly Holm is “one fight away from a title shot” according to Mike Winkeljohn

    Mike Winkeljohn believes Holly Holm is close to another crack at UFC gold. Holm fought for the bantamweight title back at UFC 239 where she suffered a first-round knockout loss to Amanda Nunes. Winkeljohn says the former champion made some crucial mistakes that costed her. “The Preacher’s Daughter” then rebounded with a decision win over […]

  • Pro fighters name the women’s bantamweight GOAT

    Pro fighters name the women’s bantamweight GOAT

    One of the biggest questions in all of MMA is who is the GOAT? Is it someone who had the biggest impact on the sport or the person who won the most? It’s an interesting debate for fighters and fans alike to have at any time. So, with far less MMA on the calendar than […]

  • Mike Winkeljohn believes “it’s time for Jon Jones to take the big fights” and go up to heavyweight

    Mike Winkeljohn believes “it’s time for Jon Jones to take the big fights” and go up to heavyweight

    Mike Winkeljohn believes the time is now for Jon Jones to go up to heavyweight. For years now, the talk around “Bones” has been when will he go up to heavyweight? He’s cleaned out the entire light heavyweight division twice, but has been reluctant to move up in weight. Now, however, Winkeljohn says Jones needs […]

  • Francis Ngannou serious about boxing aspirations: “I want to make a statement”

    Francis Ngannou serious about boxing aspirations: “I want to make a statement”

    UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou is preparing for a possible title eliminator at UFC 249 on April 18 against Jairzinho Rozenstruik, but he has very high goals for his entire fighting career. In an exclusive interview with BJPENN.com’s Inside The Cage, Ngannou was asked about a potential crossover to boxing later in his career, and he […]

  • Francis Ngannou: My team and I will be tested for COVID-19 prior to UFC 249

    Francis Ngannou: My team and I will be tested for COVID-19 prior to UFC 249

    As the UFC moves forward with UFC 249, questions have come up to the safety of all those involved with the event, from the fighters to the coaches, and all event personnel, and what safety precautions will be in place due to the ongoing COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. One fighter on the card, Francis Ngannou, provided […]

  • Pro fighters name the strawweight GOAT

    Pro fighters name the strawweight GOAT

    One of the biggest questions in all of MMA is who is the GOAT? Is it someone who had the biggest impact on the sport or the person who won the most? It’s an interesting debate for fighters and fans alike to have at any time. So, with little MMA on for the foreseeable future, […]

  • Jessica Eye credits Billie Eilish’s music and personality as motivation

    Jessica Eye credits Billie Eilish’s music and personality as motivation

    The sports and entertainment world always seem to mix, and in combat sports, fighters can truly show another side of themselves by the music they choose to walk out to. At UFC 245, flyweight Jessica Eye walked out too ‘You Should See Me In A Crown’ by Billie Eilish, and that was a message being […]

  • Pro heavyweights name their 265-pound GOAT

    Pro heavyweights name their 265-pound GOAT

    One of the biggest questions in all of MMA is who is the GOAT? Is it someone who had the biggest impact on the sport or the person who won the most? It’s an interesting debate for fighters and fans alike to have at any time. So, with far less MMA on the calendar than […]

  • Jessica Eye: ‘Moving to Las Vegas probably the best thing to happen to my life’

    Jessica Eye: ‘Moving to Las Vegas probably the best thing to happen to my life’

    Looking to improve both her personal and professional life, UFC flyweight Jessica Eye packed up and moved to Las Vegas in February of 2019. Shortly following that move she would find herself fighting for the UFC flyweight title against Valentina Shevchenko. Although her bid for championship gold didn’t go as planned, Eye was just getting […]

  • Mike Winkeljohn believes UFC will start having longer cards to make up for postponed events

    Mike Winkeljohn believes UFC will start having longer cards to make up for postponed events

    Mike Winkeljohn believes we may be seeing 20-plus fights on a UFC event to make up for the postponed events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the coronavirus shutting down the sports world, the UFC was forced to postpone three events and the status of the upcoming cards is unknown. But, Dana White has been […]

  • Jessica Eye provides health update following elbow surgery

    Jessica Eye provides health update following elbow surgery

    Former flyweight title challenger Jessica Eye last competed at UFC 245 where she picked up a unanimous decision win over Viviane Araujo. Eye did end up missing weight at UFC 245 and although the promotion was looking at adding her to the UFC Columbus card in late March, Eye decided to take time off and […]

  • Pro light heavyweights name their 205-pound GOAT

    Pro light heavyweights name their 205-pound GOAT

    One of the biggest questions in all of MMA is who is the GOAT? Is it someone who had the biggest impact on the sport or the person who won the most? It’s an interesting debate for fighters and fans alike to have at any time. So, with little to no MMA on for the […]

  • Pro middleweights name their 185-pound GOAT

    Pro middleweights name their 185-pound GOAT

    One of the biggest questions in all of MMA is who is the GOAT? Is it someone who had the biggest impact on the sport or the person who won the most? It’s an interesting debate for fighters and fans alike to have at any time. So, with little to no MMA on for the […]

  • Dan Ige believes Shane Burgos makes sense as next opponent

    Dan Ige believes Shane Burgos makes sense as next opponent

    Currently riding a five-fight win streak and ranked inside the top-15 in the UFC’s featherweight division, Dan Ige is only looking to the top as he moves forward. Yet Ige knows he’s got more to prove as he continues on his journey to become featherweight champion. In an exclusive interview with BJPenn.com, Ige discussed who […]

  • Pro welterweights name their 170-pound GOAT

    Pro welterweights name their 170-pound GOAT

    One of the biggest questions in all of MMA is who is the GOAT? Is it someone who had the biggest impact on the sport or the person who won the most? It’s an interesting debate for fighters and fans alike to have at any time. So, with little to no MMA on for the […]

  • Dan Ige discusses handling COVID-19 pandemic as a fighter and manager

    Dan Ige discusses handling COVID-19 pandemic as a fighter and manager

    With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the entire sports world, fighters, managers, and coaches alike in the combat sports world are having to adjust to these difficult times. For one UFC fighter, featherweight Dan Ige, having to adjust as a fighter is just part of it, as he’s also a manager for other UFC fighters. Most […]

  • Artem Lobov says he’s been approached about boxing rematch with Paulie Malignaggi

    Artem Lobov says he’s been approached about boxing rematch with Paulie Malignaggi

    Artem Lobov is interested in fighting Paulie Malignaggi again but this time doing it in boxing. Lobov and Malignaggi fought last summer at BKFC 6 where it was a highly-anticipated bout. But, it was “The Russian Hammer” who edged out a decision win. Following the fight, many thought a rematch would make sense but Dave […]

  • Bibiano Fernandes doubtful he can help Demetrious Johnson prep for ONE title fight

    Bibiano Fernandes doubtful he can help Demetrious Johnson prep for ONE title fight

    Demetrious Johnson is gearing up for a May 29 fight with ONE flyweight champ Adriano Moraes: a deadly Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist with power to boot. Needless to say, this would be an opportune time for Johnson call on his long-time friend and training partner, ONE bantamweight champ Bibiano Fernandes, who bears many stylistic similarities to […]

  • Pro lightweights name their 155-pound GOAT

    Pro lightweights name their 155-pound GOAT

    One of the biggest questions in all of MMA is who is the GOAT? Is it someone who had the biggest impact on the sport or the person who won the most? It’s an interesting debate for fighters and fans alike to have at any time. So, with little to no MMA on for the […]

  • Pro featherweights name their 145-pound GOAT

    Pro featherweights name their 145-pound GOAT

    One of the biggest questions in all of MMA is who is the GOAT? Is it someone who had the biggest impact on the sport or the person who won the most? It’s an interesting debate for fighters and fans alike to have at any time. So, with little to no MMA on for the […]

  • Pro bantamweights name their 135-pound GOAT

    Pro bantamweights name their 135-pound GOAT

    One of the biggest questions in all of MMA is who is the GOAT? Is it someone who had the biggest impact on the sport or the person who won the most? It’s an interesting debate for fighters and fans alike to have at any time. So, with little to no MMA on for the […]