Cody Durden (born March 29, 1991) is an American

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorp ...

who competes in the

Flyweight Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing above 49 kg (108 lb) and up to 51 kg (112 lb). Professional boxing The flyweight division was the last of bo ...

division of the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

Background

A 2009 graduate of Eastside High School, he wrestled under coach Michael Smith-Foot, leading the Eagles to two state championships. He compiled a remarkable 121-31 record, winning four area championships, two sectional titles and advanced to the state final as a senior. He was offered a scholarship to the

United States Military Academy The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...

in West Point, New York, but due to the arrival of his son, he started working instead of attending school. After the invitation of his long-time friend and mixed martial artist Travis Knight to train at a gym, he started training regularly and made his amateur debut in 2014. While not training, he holds down a day job as a construction worker and is a married father of two.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Durden's first bout in 2014 brought him a loss against Francisco Quijada in the amateur National Fighting Championship promotion. Following that loss, Durden went on a five-fight win streak with the NFC, prompting the fighter to move up to a more professional level. Durden won his first four professional fights, then suffered back-to-back defeats to Jared Scoggins and Ryan Hollis. He would go on to win the next 7 bouts, all via stoppage, winning the VF Bantamweight Championship in the process.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Durden, as a replacement for

Luke Sanders Luke Daniel Sanders (born December 12, 1985) is a retired American mixed martial artist who competed in the Bantamweight division. A professional competitor since 2011, he also competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Strikeforce an ...

, faced

Chris Gutiérrez Christopher Gutiérrez (born April 22, 1991) is an American mixed martial artist and currently competing in the Bantamweight (MMA), bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As of December 6, 2022, he is #12 in the List of cu ...

on August 1, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan. The fight ended in draw. Dropping down to flyweight, Durden faced Jimmy Flick on December 19, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal. He lost the bout via flying triangle choke in the first round. Durden faced Aori Qileng on November 20, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate. He won the bout via unanimous decision. Durden faced

Muhammad Mokaev Muhammad Mokaev (born 30 July 2000) is an English professional mixed martial artist and former freestyle wrestler. He currently competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He formerly competed in Brave Combat ...

on March 19, 2022, at

UFC Fight Night 204 ''UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 204'' and ''UFC on ESPN+ 62'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on March 19, 2022 at The O2 Arena in Lo ...

. He lost the fight via guillotine choke in round one. Durden faced JP Buys on June 25, 2022, at

UFC on ESPN 38 ''UFC on ESPN: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot'' (also known as ''UFC on ESPN 38'' and ''UFC Vegas 57'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on June 25, 2022, at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise ...

. He won the fight via technical knockout in the first round. Durden was expected to face Kleydson Rodrigues on October 29, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Allen. However, Rodrigues withdrew from the bout and was replaced by

Legacy Fighting Alliance Legacy Fighting Alliance is an American mixed martial arts promotion, created as a result of the ''Legacy Fighting Championship'' and ''Resurrection Fighting Alliance'' merger in early 2017. History Resurrection Fighting Alliance On October 11, ...

flyweight champion Carlos Mota on four day's notice. Durden won the bout via unanimous decision. Durden faced Charles Johnson on April 29, 2023, at UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simón. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Durden was scheduled to face

Bruno Gustavo da Silva Bruno Gustavo Aparecido da Silva (born 16 March 1990) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Mixed martial arts career Early career Starting his career in 2011, Si ...

on September 23, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 228. However, the bout was cancelled as Durden was instead scheduled to face Jake Hadley at UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font on August 5, 2023. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Durden is scheduled to face

Tagir Ulanbekov Tagir Radzhabovich Ulanbekov (russian: Тагир Раджабович Уланбеков; born July 8, 1991) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He i ...

on December 16, 2023, at UFC 296.

Championships and accomplishments

*Valor Fighting Challenge **VF Bantamweight Championship (One time; former)

Mixed martial arts record

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Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...

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Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...

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Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Tennessee, Knox County in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 United States census, Knoxville's population was 190,740, making it the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Di ...

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Duluth, Georgia Duluth is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia, Gwinnett County, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. Located north of Interstate 85, it is approximately northeast of Atlanta. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, Duluth had a ...

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References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Durden, Cody 1991 births Living people American male mixed martial artists Flyweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing wrestling Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters American male sport wrestlers Amateur wrestlers People from Covington, Georgia Mixed martial artists from Georgia (U.S. state)