UFC middleweight Cody Brundage has revealed the support he has received from UFC matchmakers despite being on a three-fight losing streak.
The 29-year-old joined the leading MMA promotion in 2021, suffering a unanimous decision loss to Nick Maximov, protégé of the Diaz brothers. He then won consecutive fights against Dalcha Lungiambula and Tresean Gore, finishing both in the first round, before now finding himself on a three-fight losing streak.
Opportunities to stay in the UFC when you are not winning can be few and far between. However, Brundage has revealed a conversation with Mick Maynard, vice-president of talent relations for the UFC as well as one of the company’s matchmakers, ahead of his upcoming fight with Jacob Malkoun.
He said: “After my last fight I actually had a sit-down with Mick, he was at the fights so I got to talk to him a little bit. He’s like ‘Hey, you just looked flat, it’s okay we’ll get you another one. Just go handle business and we’ll get you a new contract’.
“That feels good. I feel part of that is just being rewarded for always taking fights and never shying away from things other people might say no to.
“I’ve taken short notice fights, I’ve never taken a fight I didn’t think I could win – it’s not like I’m just taking these fights to help the UFC out, I’ve always felt like I have an opportunity to win, unfortunately, they haven’t gone my way. I wasn’t shocked to get another opportunity, just from that conversation that we had had.”
Brundage Discusses Style Matchup With Malkoun
Brundage will face the Australian at UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs Gamrot on September 23 at the UFC Apex. Malkoun also suffered a loss in his UFC debut but since has looked very impressive inside the octagon, notching three wins and a single loss since facing Phil Hawes at UFC 254.
‘Mamba’ has a difficult style for fighters to solve, using pressure and wrestling to wear opponents down. Brundage noted his opponent’s strengths but believes he has the necessary tools to shut him down.
He said: “I think he has constant, steady pressure. The things he does very well, he has a good jab, he has a good head-outside single [leg takedown], he likes to mix in the grappling, he likes to push a decent pace – I don’t think he’s like a cardio monster, he’s not pushing the pace like Sean Strickland was pushing or anything like that.
“Like I said, the things he does very well, he does very well and I feel like those just kind of play into my hands. I feel like I have good responses to wrestling, I know everyone’s like ‘You got out grappled in your last fight by a striker!’, but if you watch that fight I’m not getting taken down.”
The Factory X fighter went on to say that the result will come down to whoever can implement their game plan.
He continued: “He’s not afraid to mix it up, good jab, other than that I don’t think… he doesn’t do anything that’s extraordinary if that makes sense.
“And I don’t necessarily do anything extraordinary either, we both kind of have our game plans and the things that we’re solid at. It’s just gonna be who can translate the best, I’ll be aware of the things that he can do though, for sure.”
Cody Brundage Full Exclusive Interview
You can watch the full interview with Cody Brundage below:
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Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
