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EXCLUSIVE | Al Iaquinta confident he would dethrone Khabib Nurmagomedov in rematch
The first time Al Iaquinta met Khabib Nurmagomedov, in the last-minute main event of UFC 223, he had about 24 hours to prepare for the undefeated Russian juggernaut. While Iaquinta ultimately lost this fight by decision, he actually performed better than the vast majority of Nurmagomedov’s other opponents. Speaking on the latest episode of BJPENN.com […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Leon Edwards explains his motivation as he surges to the top of the welterweight division
Leon Edwards is more than just some guy that got into it with Jorge Masvidal at UFC London this past March. In fact, Leon Edwards has the resume that should see him inside the top-10 in the UFC’s welterweight division, yet because he doesn’t trash talk like others in his division, he still sits waiting […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Al Iaquinta eyeing quick finish of ‘Cowboy’ at UFC Ottawa
When Al Iaquinta upset Kevin Lee at the final UFC on FOX event in December, he sent himself rocketing up the lightweight rankings, and set himself up for another big fight in the crowded division. He’ll get that next big fight in the main event of the UFC’s May 4th return to Ottawa, Canada, where […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Khalil Rountree details the unique challenges of fighting Johnny Walker
Johnny Walker has been on a roll. Since his first UFC fight back in November, the massive Brazilian has earned three wins, all by first-round knockout. His total Octagon time is at just 2:48. There is no question that Walker posses a unique skillset that not many light heavyweight have, or can figure out. Speaking […]
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EXCLUSIVE | After WBKFF disaster, Isaac Vallie-Flagg is excited for a fresh start in BKFC ring
The first time Isaac Vallie-Flagg climbed through the ropes to compete in a bare knuckle fight, he didn’t end up getting paid for his work. WBKFF, the promotion he fought for, disintegrated almost immediately after its first event, and Tom Stankiewicz, the man behind it, wound up in jail after failing to pay the majority […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Leon Edwards rips UFC rankings: ‘It’s all more of a popularity contest’
Leon Edwards wants to fight Jorge Masvidal in the near future, but feels that the UFC ranking system is keeping it from happening right away. While Leon Edwards continues to climb in the welterweight ladder and improve his already impressive winning streak, his place in the rankings doesn’t reflect that, and he’s being vocal about […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Artem Lobov wants to see Conor McGregor rematch Khabib Nurmagomedov next
When Conor McGregor made his return to the Octagon at UFC 229 to take on Khabib Nurmagomedov it was the biggest pay-per-view in the UFC’s history. Part of the reason the card was so successful was because of McGregor and Nurmagomedov’s heated rivalry. First, it was the Nurmagomedov confronting McGregor’s friend and teammate in Artem […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Jason Knight believes Artem Lobov is looking past him
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) returns this Saturday with Artem Lobov and Jason Knight making their promotional debuts in the main event of BKFC 5. Although the two are set to headline the card, the pre-fight discourse has been dominated by Lobov and Paulie Malignaggi’s potential fight. With all the buzz surrounding a potential Lobov […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Leon Edwards on Jorge Masvidal: ‘We are fighting on sight’
Coming off their respective wins at UFC London, Leon Edwards and Jorge Masvidal set themselves up for a potential fight. Although they could have just met in the cage, the two instead met backstage following their wins, and an altercation took place that saw Masvidal get his hands on Edwards, who is now looking for […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Jack Hermansson hopes UFC success will help legalize MMA in Norway
Fresh off his most impressive victory to date over the weekend, Sweden’s Jack Hermansson says he is ready to get right back to work. Hermansson made quick work of David Branch in the co-main event of UFC Philadelphia on Saturday night. “The Joker” needed only 49 seconds to submit the Renzo Gracie black belt with […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Former UFC flyweights give their thoughts on the state of the division
The future of the UFC’s flyweight division is murky. It was previously reported that the division was going to close down at the end of 2018. However, that was not the case. Rather, the division stayed on, and headlining the first card of 2019 was a flyweight title fight. Although the fight was considered a […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Anthony Engelen poised to slow the rise of Garry Tonon
Anthony Engelen wrapped up the year 2018 in incredible style, picking up a pair of first-round victories in the span of two weeks in November. Unfortunately, this incredible success didn’t carry into the first phases of 2019, as he lost his first bout of the year, succumbing to a storm of strikes from Won Il […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Eduard Folayang looks back on his remarkable ONE Championship career
In 2011, Filipino Wushu specialist Eduard Folayang was invited to headline the debut event from a brand new promotion called ONE Fighting Championship. Folayang was originally booked to fight fellow Filipino Ole Laursen on the card, but was later matched up with streaking Korean A Sol Kwon when Laursen was sidelined with a knee injury. […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Pro fighters make their picks for Edson Barboza vs Justin Gaethje
The UFC is heading back to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for UFC on ESPN 2 this weekend. In the main event, Edson Barboza will be taking on Justin Gaethje in a matchup that has Fight of the Year written all over it. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions. […]
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EXCLUSIVE | After first staredown, Yuya Wakamatsu believes Demetrious Johnson is ‘intimidated’
Yuya Wakamatsu is being counted out by almost everybody as he prepares to battle former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson this Sunday at ONE: A New Era in Tokyo, Japan. However, the 24-year-old Japanese fighter feels that he has some crucial advantages heading into this matchup with the MMA legend. One such advantage is his […]
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EXCLUSIVE | ATT owner Dan Lambert has a suggestion for anyone who doesn’t want to see Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier
The UFC’s lightweight division will hopefully get a little more organized come UFC 236. In the main event, featherweight champion Max Holloway will move up in weight to take on Dustin Poirier for the interim lightweight championship. However, some fans aren’t thrilled about this matchup, as they thought Tony Ferguson or another lightweight contender deserved […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Chatri Sityodtong opens up on meeting with Georges St-Pierre
ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong recently had a meeting with former UFC middleweight and welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre in Singapore. Given Sityodtong’s recent habit of signing high profile mixed martial artists to ONE Championship, some members of the combat sports world speculated that he could be working on a deal with St-Pierre. Speaking […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Aljamain Sterling ready for bantamweight title shot: ‘How can I not be the next guy in line?’
With a vacant bantamweight title up for grab, Aljamain Sterling is calling for his chance. The “FunkMaster” is currently on a three-fight winning streak which has seen him beat the likes of Brett Johns, Cody Stamann, and Jimmie Rivera. Now that he finds himself at the top of the division, Sterling wants his chance at […]
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EXCLUSIVE |Aljamain Sterling on Pedro Munhoz: ‘Eventually, he’s going to have to face me’
If the UFC is preparing to make a bantamweight title fight between Marlon Moraes and flyweight champion Henry Cejudo as Dana White said they were, Aljamain Sterling will be looking for an opponent, and Pedro Munhoz might be the one. Munhoz most recently defeated former champion Cody Garbrandt at UFC 235 and finds himself on […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Colby Covington explains why Kamaru Usman is an easier matchup than Tyron Woodley
At UFC 235, Tyron Woodley was put his title on the line when he took on Kamaru Usman, not Colby Covington like many expected. Ultimately, Usman dominated Woodley from bell to bell to become the new welterweight champion. Now, Colby Covington will apparently be getting the first crack at Usman. The two have had a […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Aljamain Sterling on TJ Dillashaw: ‘I like to say where there’s smoke, there’s fire’
The recent news of TJ Dillashaw relinquishing his title due to an adverse finding in his drug test after his fight against flyweight champion Henry Cejudo sent a shockwave through the MMA world. Dillashaw faced Cejudo in attempt to become a two-weight world champion in a time where the future of the flyweight division was […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Artem Lobov explains why he chose BKFC over UFC, Bellator
Earlier this year, Artem Lobov requested his release from the UFC. Despite his popularity among fans, his request was obliged, and he entered a period of free agency. Lobov’s free agency didn’t last long, as he was promptly scooped up by the upstart Bare Knuckle Fighting Federation (BKFC). Just weeks ahead of his April 6 […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Dominick Reyes wants main event fight after Volkan Oezdemir win
Earlier this month, on the main card of UFC London, top light heavyweight contenders Dominick Reyes and Volkan Oezdemir engaged in a razor close, three-round battle. In the end, Reyes emerged the victor of this fight with a split decision win. Not everybody, however, agreed with the scoring for this bout. Some fans, and Oezdemir […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Artem Lobov explains why Conor McGregor ‘would do great’ in bare knuckle fight
Artem Lobov will soon make his debut as a bare knuckle fighter, as he’s scheduled for a gloveless fight with fellow UFC veteran Jason Knight at BKFC 5 on April 6. Ahead of this debut, Lobov has not made any secret of his confidence. He expects to accomplish big things under the BKFC banner. Speaking […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Colby Covington hoping to become friends with Jon Jones again
Colby Covington and Jon Jones have not gotten along of late, but the two UFC stars used to be roommates in college. And while Covington has made some pretty incendiary comments about Jones over the last few years, he’s now hoping to squash the beef and repair their relationship. Covington was actually hoping to get […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Artem Lobov vows to silence Paulie Malignaggi ‘once and for all’
Retired boxer Paulie Malignaggi seems to absolutely detest UFC superstar Conor McGregor, but it doesn’t seem like he and McGregor will have the chance to settle their differences in the ring any time soon. The good news for Malignaggi is that he could soon have the opportunity to fight McGregor’s friend and chief training partner, […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Colby Covington thinks Kamaru Usman will try to avoid him
At UFC 235, Kamaru Usman became the new welterweight champion after dominating Tyron Woodley from bell to bell. Following the fight, it was reported Colby Covington would be getting the next title shot at Usman. However, Usman’s manager Ali Abdelaziz has mentioned Ben Askren and Jorge Masvidal as fighters who could also be next next […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Artem Lobov confirms Conor McGregor is still a member of SBG
Over the last few weeks, former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor has spent quite a bit of time in the United States. During his time on American soil, he’s gotten some training in at a number of notable gyms, including an American Top Team location in Atlanta, and Bas Rutten’s Elite MMA in […]