-
“The Leech” Li Jingliang aims to drain the momentum of Elizeu Dos Santos
Brazilian welterweight contender Elizeu Dos Santos has won his last seven fights. China’s Li Jingliang plans to put an end that win-streak. The pair will meet in the co-main event of the under-the-radar UFC Shenzhen card this Saturday in Jingliang’s native China. This is a big opportunity for the Chinese fighter nicknamed “The Leech”, as […]
-
Jessica Andrade plans to prove she is ‘the best in the world’ at UFC Shenzhen
Jessica Andrade is set for her first title defense in the main event of UFC Shenzhen. She will be taking on Weili Zhang in the challenger’s home country of China. For Andrade, defending her belt in hostile territory will be a new experience, but fighting in someone else’s backyard will not be. “I’m used to […]
-
Andrea Lee signs new six-fight extension heading into UFC 242
Andrea Lee will return to action next weekend in a pivotal women’s flyweight matchup with Joanne Calderwood at UFC 242 and will do so with a new contract with the organization. In a recent interview with BJPENN.com, “KGB” revealed that she has signed a six-fight deal with the organization heading into her bout with Calderwood, […]
-
Weili Zhang open to Valentina Shevchenko fight after UFC Shenzhen
There has never been a Chinese champion in the UFC. Hebei’s Weili Zhang is looking to change that. This Saturday, when the UFC touches down in Shenzhen, China, the streaking strawweight contender will battle Brazilian champion Jessica Andrade for divisional gold. Zhang can imagine no outcome more perfect than becoming the UFC’s first Chinese champion […]
-
UFC Shenzhen | Pro fighters make their picks for Jessica Andrade vs. Weili Zhang title fight
This weekend, the Octagon heads to Shenzhen, China. In the card’s main event, Jessica Andrade will put her strawweight title on the line against China’s Weili Zhang. Heading into the fight, the champion is a -160 favorite, while the challenger from China is a +130 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several […]
-
Sodiq Yusuff wants ranked opponent on D.C. card after huge UFC 241 win
Sodiq Yusuff had a big opportunity at UFC 241. He fought on the main card and he knew it was his chance to make his a household name. Ultimately, Yusuff did just that as he knocked out his opponent Gabriel Benitez in the first round. For the 26-year-old, the fight went exactly as he and […]
-
TUF 28 winner Juan Espino explains absence, gives timeframe for return
If you watched The Ultimate Fighter 28 you would know the two winners were Juan Espino and Macy Chiasson. Since winning it, Chiasson has fought twice and has her third fight booked. Juan Espino, meanwhile, has still yet to fight. He beat Justin Frazier at The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale in November of 2018 and […]
-
Mark De La Rosa is ready to make some noise in the flyweight division
Mark De La Rosa is ready to up the ante as he faces off against Kai Kara-France at UFC Shenzhen. The former 135-pounder is moving down to flyweight for the second time to face Kara-France in China on Saturday, August 31. Despite losing his most recent fight to Alex Perez earlier this year, De La […]
-
Austin Vanderford gives update on wife Paige VanZant
Paige VanZant has not fought since January of this year, when she submitted Rachael Ostovich. Since then, she has been sidelined due to yet another broken arm. For her husband Austin Vanderford, it has been hard to see her be on the shelf once again. “The hardest part of our relationship has been her arm. […]
-
Volkan Oezdemir hopes to battle Jan Blachowicz or KO Dominick Reyes
Switzerland’s Volkan Oezdemir has wanted to run it back with Dominick Reyes ever since his controversial loss to the American earlier this year. But Reyes is set to take on Chris Weidman, so the fight isn’t possible right now. For that reason, Oezdemir is turning his attention to Jan Blachowicz. “Reyes is the fight I […]
-
Mike Kimbel right where he wants to be as he prepares for Bellator 225
Mike Kimbel is days away from another fight with Bellator MMA, and another fight in his home state of Connecticut, as he’s set to battle Chris Disonell at Bellator 225 this Saturday. Kimbel is currently 3-1 as a professional, with all of his fights occurring in the Bellator cage. His most recent fight was a […]
-
Austin Vanderford wants ‘marquee names’ after Bellator 225
Austin Vanderford will return to the cage at Bellator 225 and will take on Joseph Creer. Both men are undefeated. When he makes the walk to the cage he will be fighting at middleweight for the first time. He decided to move up a division for a simple reason, but also notes a return to […]
-
Javy Ayala expects Vitaly Minakov fight to be ‘fireworks’
Javy Ayala is coming off of the biggest win of his career, as he TKO’d Frank Mir back in December. Now, in the co-main event of Bellator 225 this weekend, he’s set to take on the former champion in Vitaly Minakov. Although Javy Ayala hasn’t fought since December, he isn’t worried about his layoff. Instead, […]
-
Anthony Smith rips Luke Rockhold and gives advice to Chris Weidman
Anthony Smith and Luke Rockhold have had a heated rivalry for quite some time. Ever since “Lionheart” moved up from the middleweight division and began having success at light heavyweight, the former middleweight champion Rockhold has been critical of him. Yet when Rockhold made his own debut at 205-pounds, he was knocked out in the […]
-
Anthony Smith believes he would get a rematch against Jon Jones right now if he was healthy
Anthony Smith is confident that, if he were healthy, he could be getting a rematch against Jon Jones immediately. The two fought back at UFC 235. Jones won the fight by unanimous decision. Since then, “Lionheart” has submitted Alexander Gustafsson, while “Bones” beat Thiago Santos. At present, there aren’t any clear contenders for Jon Jones […]
-
Colby Covington says fans ‘can expect great things’ when he fights Kamaru Usman
After putting on a dominating performance against Robbie Lawler at UFC Newark, the expectation is that Colby Covington now fights Kamaru Usman for the welterweight belt. Of course, “Chaos” has been promised a title shot before. So, he isn’t holding out hope for it, especially after what happened after his fight with Lawler. When he […]
-
Anthony Smith believes Kinektic grappling ‘could be the future’ of grappling competition
Kinektic grappling is starting off with a bang. On Aug. 16, they will have their first event, which is a team grappling competition. The promotion is co-founded by Urijah Faber and features the likes of MMA stars Chael Sonnen, Chris Lytle, and Anthony Smith. For Smith, when the Kinektic team asked him to be a […]
-
UFC 241 | Pro fighters make their picks for Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic 2 title fight
Two of the sport’s greatest heavyweights will imminently run it back. In the main event of UFC 241, Daniel Cormier is looking to defend his heavyweight title for the second time when he takes on Stipe Miocic, the most dominant champ in the UFC heavyweight division’s history. It will be a rematch of their fight […]
-
Cory Sandhagen plans to jump Sterling, Yan in title picture with UFC 241 win
Cory Sandhagen is on the short list of fighters in the bantamweight title discussion and he believes he can get right to the top of that list Saturday night. Sandhagen will square off against perennial contender Raphael Assuncao at UFC 241. The event takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. with the 135-pound […]
-
UFC 241 | Ian Heinisch believes he will ‘physically and mentally’ break Derek Brunson
Ian Heinisch expects a dominating performance at UFC 241 when he takes on Derek Brunson. The 31-year-old called for this fight and for a good reason. He doesn’t believe Brunson is on his level and plans on exploiting him come Saturday. “I think I can get him emotional and with the pressure I bring we […]
-
UFC 241 | Pro fighters make their picks for Anthony Pettis vs. Nate Diaz
UFC 241 will be headlined by a heavyweight title fight between champion Daniel Cormier and former champ Stipe Miocic. Yet the fight many fans are most looking forward to is the co-main event, which will see Anthony Pettis take on Nate Diaz, who is returning to the Octagon after more than three years away. Ahead […]
-
Paulo Costa makes confident prediction for Yoel Romero fight
Paulo Costa has high expectations for himself heading into his UFC 241 fight against Yoel Romero. The Brazilian has been asking for this fight for a long time and now, after three previous attempts failed, the two will finally meet. Costa wanted the fight for a simple reason. He believes he can beat Romero easily. […]
-
Tim Elliott says opponent Deiveson Figueiredo looked ‘sloppy’ in last fight
Last week, it was confirmed by Combate that flyweight contenders Tim Elliott and Deiveson Figueiredo will be going head-to-head at UFC San Francisco on October 21. Figueiredo is riding high since picking up a unanimous decision win over Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 240. It was a solid performance, but you can’t please everyone. His future […]
-
UFC 241 | Pro fighters make their picks for Yoel Romero vs. Paulo Costa
The UFC has stacked the deck for UFC 241, with the heavyweight title on the line and some very intriguing bouts on the main card. In one of those bouts, former middleweight title challenger Yoel Romero will take on Brazilian knockout artist Paulo Costa, who has been asking for this fight for a long time. […]
-
Jim Miller details what surprised him about Clay Guida fight
Jim Miller and Clay Guida met in the co-main event of UFC Newark in a battle of two lightweight veterans. Miller picked up the win in Newark, setting up a submission by rocking his foe on the feet. That being said, he too found himself on wobbly legs after Guida landed on him right before […]
-
Leon Edwards talks UFC future, potential Jorge Masvidal fight
No. 4 ranked UFC welterweight contender Leon Edwards recently sat down with BJPenn.com’s Natasha Hooper at his training camp: Core Fit in Birmingham, England. In this chat, “Rocky” discusses how he started fighting, and what he plans to achieve in his remaining UFC career. He also shares his thoughts on the upcoming fight between reigning […]
-
UFC Uruguay | Valentina Shevchenko preparing for any surprises Liz Carmouche may have
Valentina Shevchenko is preparing for a different Liz Carmouche. In the main event of UFC Uruguay, the flyweight title will be on the line. It will also be a rematch nine years in the making. In Shevchenko and Carmouche’s first fight, it was Carmouche who won by doctor stoppage, yet with no video, that outcome […]
-
Jim Miller reacts to getting his 20th win in the UFC, talks retirement plans
In the long history of the UFC, only a few fighters have managed to earn 20 wins inside the Octagon. They are: Georges St-Pierre, Michael Bisping, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, Demian Maia, and as of last Saturday, lightweight veteran Jim Miller. Miller earned his 20th career win when he submitted fellow veteran Clay Guida in the […]