Career Averages - Cody Durden
Career Averages - JP Buys
Cody Durden
JP Buys
Cody Durden - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jafel Filho | 0 | 23 of 63 | 36% | 50 of 93 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 1 | 3:08 |
| Cody Durden | 0 | 34 of 72 | 47% | 91 of 136 | 5 of 5 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 5:14 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jafel Filho | 0 | 3 of 12 | 25% | 9 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 1 | 2:00 |
| Cody Durden | 0 | 11 of 23 | 47% | 36 of 50 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:20 | |
| 2 | Jafel Filho | 0 | 8 of 28 | 28% | 17 of 39 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:44 |
| Cody Durden | 0 | 15 of 34 | 44% | 21 of 41 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:37 | |
| 3 | Jafel Filho | 0 | 12 of 23 | 52% | 24 of 36 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 |
| Cody Durden | 0 | 8 of 15 | 53% | 34 of 45 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 3:17 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jafel Filho | 23 of 63 | 36% | 10 of 44 | 7 of 13 | 6 of 6 | 16 of 54 | 7 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 34 of 72 | 47% | 21 of 54 | 4 of 6 | 9 of 12 | 24 of 61 | 3 of 4 | 7 of 7 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jafel Filho | 3 of 12 | 25% | 1 of 7 | 1 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 11 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 11 of 23 | 47% | 8 of 18 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 14 | 2 of 3 | 6 of 6 | |
| 2 | Jafel Filho | 8 of 28 | 28% | 2 of 19 | 2 of 5 | 4 of 4 | 7 of 26 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 15 of 34 | 44% | 6 of 24 | 1 of 2 | 8 of 8 | 14 of 33 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Jafel Filho | 12 of 23 | 52% | 7 of 18 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 17 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 8 of 15 | 53% | 7 of 12 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 2 | 7 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Filho (-600); Durden (+450)
Round 1
A late replacement up a weight class, Durden (17-10-1, 6-8-1 UFC) hopes that he can snap a four-fight skid and exorcise his demons against “Pastor” Filho (17-4, 3-2 UFC). The Brazilian celebrates all but one of his pro wins by stoppage, so the Georgia native will need to be on his best behavior for the next 15 minutes or less. Referee Jason Herzog will keep things official as the two men up at bantamweight throw down. They elect to bump clap hands first.
Despite their seemingly intense beginning, no one throws a strike anywhere close to their intended target for nearly 30 seconds. Filho lazily pushes out a front kick, allowing Durden to respond with an overhand right. Durden rushes forward to tackle Filho to the mat, surprising the Brazilian and forcing him to respond with submission attempts. Durden defends the setups, but in the process, he is turned around with Filho pursuing his own level change. Both men get in a 50-50 position with their arms hooked, but it is Filho who is the quicker man as he stands up and wraps his right arm around Durden’s chest like a malicious seat belt.
Filho also slips his legs around Durden’s to try to disrupt his base, and like a python slowly swallowing a goat, he inch-by-inch separates Durden from his balance to put him down. Filho tries to set something up on top, but the frantic Durden bursts out of the position to get back upright. Filho is quick to chase after him with punch combinations, his front kick at the end of one scoring well. Filho changes stances to time a check of a kick he sees coming, and Durden marches him down and slings him to the mat with a trip. When Durden sits up to drop down strikes, Filho off his back looks for a kneebar. Durden turns out of it to take Filho’s back when they stand, and the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Round 2
Durden races out of his corner swinging, hurling big punches while Filho makes a funny face and slides to the side. Durden walks through a thudding calf kick to further crowd the Brazilian, and his subsequent kick is caught. Filho does not take advantage of this, instead lobbing a right left hand upstairs. Durden fires back with his own hook, and his low kick makes Filho recoil it to the side to take some of the sting out of it. Durden keeps pressuring his foe, and his inside leg kick scores a few more times. Filho tries for a step-in knee, and he gets his jaw jacked with a right hand. Durden catches him with a right hand and trips Filho up. Filho hits his back and offers up an upkick, using the moment of impact to explode back to his feet. Durden nonetheless tackles him to the ground, pulling Filho away from the cage as Filho grabs it, and he backs off to find another angle in.
Durden winds up an axe kick, smashing his heel directly into Filho’s cup. He tries to keep attacking, but Herzog remarks that he just kicked him square in the groin and that he needs to back off. After a short recovery time, Filho is good to go, and he starts to apply pressure. He dings Durden with a right hand as he crowds him to initiate in a clinch and possible body lock to throw, but Durden sees it coming and pushes him back. Filho parries a big right hand, but the second from Durden gets through. Filho plods forward, chasing after the American throwing big hands. Durden is elusive enough to evade the worst of what comes his way, only for Filho to grab hold of him and throw him down like too many bags of groceries, because who needs three trips to the car when you can bring them all in with one overloaded trip, as cans and bottles fall out of the bags while one rips, and you bang into furniture and hope you brought it all inside. Check the eggs before putting them in the fridge first. Filho attacks mightily on top, forcing Durden to turn over so he can hunt for a choke. Before he gets it, the bell rings.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Filho
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Filho
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Filho
Round 3
There is a half-hearted hug between the two athletes, and Filho is energized coming out of his corner but does not go wild. Instead, Durden methodically works his way in, using his overhand right to close the distance. Filho ducks in to tie the Georgia native up, and after he tries to manipulate the action, he slashes out with an elbow and a heavy right. Durden breaks off and hunts for a front choke, letting it go to pursue a takedown, ultimate tripping Filho but not getting him down. Both men pop back up, some damage showing under Filho’s right eye, and Durden completes a trip and throw to put the Brazilian on the mat.
Durden looks for an off-angle choke in hopes of otherwise controlling Filho, and the Brazilian’s first roll to escape fails. Filho escapes the grappling exchange but appears totally wiped, slowly trying to stand up. Durden targets a soccer kick square in the ribs, and “Pastor” topples to his back. Durden leaps down to half guard, where he changing his position to take the back. With a single hook in, Durden grabs hold of a neck crank and turns Filho’s head to the left. Filho grits it out but is stuck, with Durden screaming at him or anyone listening while he clubs Filho on the sides of the head. The odd match ends with Durden pumped up and yelling. It may all come down to the first round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Durden (29-28 Durden)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Durden (29-28 Durden)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Durden (29-28 Durden)
The Official Result
Cody Durden def. Jafel Filho via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Big Brady picks Jafel Filho over Cody Durden. He highlights Durden's struggles with grappling and submission defense, noting he has been submitted five times. He is impressed by Filho's performance against Clayton Carpenter, where he got a first-round Kimura. He predicts Filho will take Durden down and submit him in the first round.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Filho easily. He notes that Durden is on a terrible losing streak, has been finished repeatedly, and his only recent win is over a retired fighter. Connor also points out that Filho is a strong wrestler and submission artist, and that Durden's short notice makes the line even more justified.
The host thinks the odds are very wide and that Durden can cause Filho problems due to his scrambly wrestling and Filho's weakness off his back. However, Durden's terrible cardio is a major risk. He says it's an IQ test: impossible to bet Filho, so if you must bet, take Durden. He prefers live betting and will bet Durden +3.5 and over 1.5 rounds.
James picks Filho, expecting him to exploit Durden's grappling weakness with a submission win. He notes Filho's elite jiu-jitsu and early strength, predicting a first-round submission.
Zane picks Filho confidently, noting that Durden has lost four in a row and six of his last seven, and is getting crushed in most losses. He points out that Durden's confidence is gone after being knocked out, and that Filho is a strong submission artist with good top control. Zane also mentions that Filho is moving up from flyweight, which should make him even stronger.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Durden | 0 | 8 of 21 | 38% | 54 of 69 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 0 | 3 | 4:50 |
| Nyamjargal Tumendemberel | 0 | 25 of 42 | 59% | 43 of 60 | 4 of 4 | 100% | 1 | 2 | 6:52 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Durden | 0 | 4 of 8 | 50% | 21 of 25 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:51 |
| Nyamjargal Tumendemberel | 0 | 9 of 13 | 69% | 15 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 1:37 | |
| 2 | Cody Durden | 0 | 4 of 11 | 36% | 8 of 15 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 0:37 |
| Nyamjargal Tumendemberel | 0 | 12 of 22 | 54% | 20 of 30 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:51 | |
| 3 | Cody Durden | 0 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 25 of 29 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 2 | 2:22 |
| Nyamjargal Tumendemberel | 0 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 8 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 2 | 2:24 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Durden | 8 of 21 | 38% | 5 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | 7 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 2 |
| Nyamjargal Tumendemberel | 25 of 42 | 59% | 20 of 34 | 1 of 3 | 4 of 5 | 7 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 17 of 22 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Durden | 4 of 8 | 50% | 1 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
| Nyamjargal Tumendemberel | 9 of 13 | 69% | 5 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 5 | |
| 2 | Cody Durden | 4 of 11 | 36% | 4 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
| Nyamjargal Tumendemberel | 12 of 22 | 54% | 11 of 20 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 10 | |
| 3 | Cody Durden | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Nyamjargal Tumendemberel | 4 of 7 | 57% | 4 of 6 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 7 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Tumendemberel (-148), Durden (+124)
Round 1
What should be a grappler’s delight will treat fans as flyweights Durden (17-9-1, 6-7-1 UFC) and Tumendemberel (9-1, 0-1 UFC) ply their trade against one another. The former has dropped three straight, while the latter’s “Art of Knockout” nickname may be a little off-kilter as the Mongolian celebrates most of his victories via tapout. Regardless of funky, multi-syllabic, the two will meet under the auspices of referee Jason Herzog, and they race towards one another without a touch of gloves to get things started.
Durden peels back right before crashing into his opponent, and they offer low kicks at one another before Durden shoots for a double-leg entry. Tumendemberel defends by jumping guard with a guillotine choke, and both fighters are fresh and dry as a bone. Tumendemberel adjusts his grip to grab hold from a different angle, hanging the choke higher up but not locking it down entirely. Durden slithers his neck out of danger and looks to get off some ground strikes, and it takes mere seconds before Tumendemberel scrambles. Tumendemberel is able to stand, and Durden takes his back from one side and has his gloves grabbed while doing so. Herzog warns the Mongolian of the foul, and Tumendemberel leans to put Durden against the cage behind him to take the weight off his back. Tumendemberel shakes his foe off, and the two reset. Both land a single leg kick before Durden shoots, and once more Tumendemberel attacks a guillotine.
Durden twists all the way around to free his neck far easier this time, and he forces them to stand so he can take Tumendemberel down in a way he wishes. The house lights flicker on and off during the match, and Durden looks to Herzog confused while also stifling a takedown shot. Durden knees a bent-over Tumendemberel in the face, and Tumendemberel lifts him off the ground and slams him down on his back. Durden hits the ground and sets up an armbar, snatching hold of Tumendemberel’s right limb but failing to grip it fully. Tumendemberel wriggles out and retreats, and Durden pops back up. Tumendemberel swings for a big right hand, and Durden shoots for a counter takedown. Tumendemberel flips Durden to his back and elbows him in the face a few times, but Durden is still pressing for the takedown. When Durden flips his foe over, the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tumendemberel
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Tumendemberel
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Tumendemberel
Round 2
Herzog issues Tumendemberel a stern warning to not strike Durden in the back of the head between rounds, and Tumendemberel acknowledges this. They start off the second round with Tumendemberel whipping low kicks, and his long punches keep Durden from recklessly shooting…for a time. Durden does go after a takedown, and he gets tossed to his back and attacks a leglock. Tumendemberel sits down to take the danger out of the ankle/heel lock, and he drills Durden in the side of the head until he legs it go. Tumendemberel grabs hold of Durden’s back and assumes a body triangle, and Durden still looks to turn and break out of it. Durden manages to put Tumendemberel on his back despite a brief body lock, and the Mongolian is once more warned for hooking his fingers inside of Durden’s gloves. The ensuing scramble results in Tumendemberel flipping Durden over, where he holds on with a guillotine choke from his back.
This allows a potential Von Preux submission, but Durden smiles when it is applied and his smiles disappears when he gets belted in the face by Tumendemberel’s free right hand. Herzog is on top of these two as there are possible fence grabs, illegal upkicks and other malfeasance going on, and the moment Durden gets up, Tumendemberel hits a clean tackling double to put the American back down. Tumendemberel smothers while in top control grinding his elbow on his foe’s face while Durden motions to Herzog for some intervention. Tumendemberel drills Durden hard in the back of the head, and Herzog calls for him to aim for the ear. Durden gets to his knees and stands, where he rushes after Tumendemberel and nails him with a one-two. When Durden keeps throwing, time expires, and Tumendemberel punches him clearly after the bell. What are rules?
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tumendemberel
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Round 3
Durden opens up with a huge right hand, and Tumendemberel counters him by tackling him to the floor. Durden turns the corner to take the back of the Mongolian, who manages to shimmy and slowly buck Durden off of him. Tumendemberel thumps Durden on the chin with a few more elbows, and Durden returns to a knee in hopes of standing. When Durden stands back up, Tumendemberel mat returns him and takes his back to lock up a body triangle. Tumendemberel starts fishing for a rear-naked choke before getting position, and he nails Durden in the back of the head again. Durden slumps over and finds himself in RNC danger, with Tumendemberel’s arm across his face. Durden hand-fights to defend the submission, and he breaks the grip around his face and abdomen to reverse “Art of Knockout.”
Durden drops down a single right hand and positions himself to attack an arm-triangle choke, and he is in half guard with Tumendemberel answering the proverbial telephone to defend the submission. Durden lays flat on top before jumping to the other side, and Tumendemberel rolls to his knees to break out of it. Durden clings to his man from the back, and Tumendemberel bumps and shakes but Durden has his toes hooked in the cage to prevent him from getting rolled off. Durden hangs on for dear life, but he is inch-by-inch sliding off. Tumendemberel finds the moment to free himself and he lashes out with a hard right hand, all while planting Durden flat on his back. Tumendemberel leans his shoulder down to pressure for a possible arm-triangle, and he stands up and finds himself in Hail Mary heel hook danger. Tumendemberel yanks his limb free and the bell sounds, but he decides he is not done fighting and tries to boot Durden in the face with a soccer kick after the bell. Herzog shoulder-checks the Mongolian to his back, but nothing else happens.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tumendemberel (30-27 Tumendemberel)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Tumendemberel (29-27 Tumendemberel)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Tumendemberel (29-27 Tumendemberel)
The Official Result
Nyamjargal Tumendemberel def. Cody Durden via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Angelo says Cody Durden used to be a dog but is now a shell of himself, while Nyamjargal is a powerful striker who can be hit but is durable. He notes that Carlos Hernandez took down Nyamjargal four times but got dropped, and Carlos is more durable than Cody. He picks Nyamjargal to win.
Big Brady picks Nyamjargal Tumendemberel over Cody Durden. He acknowledges Durden is likely more skilled but worries about his durability after taking massive damage in recent fights. Durden has been finished five times by submission and two by KO, and his chin appears to be fading. Tumendemberel has good front chokes and opportunistic submissions. Brady predicts Durden will look good early, get hurt, shoot for a takedown, and get submitted in the second round.
Cody picks Tumendemberel, citing Durden's cardio issues and hittability. He notes that Tumendemberel only needs to land one shot. He expects a late knockout.
Connor picks Durden because he believes Durden's relentless aggression will overwhelm Tumendemberel, who lacks a clean answer for pressure. He notes that Tumendemberel is a dangerous puncher but has been taken down easily in the past. Durden's jab and combination punching should allow him to initiate exchanges effectively.
Daniel Vreeland picks his friend Cody Durden, acknowledging bias but providing reasoning. He believes Durden's experience against higher-level competition will be key, and that Durden will avoid getting caught early. Vreeland notes that Durden's career is on the line and expects him to give a veteran lesson.
James picks Cody Durden as an underdog, believing the fight is close to 50/50 and Durden is the value side. He notes Durden's superior competition and skills, but acknowledges his poor chin and tendency to get hurt. James thinks Durden can dominate if he avoids getting knocked out, but admits it's a tough call due to Durden's durability issues.
Tumendemberel has shown improved defensive grappling and durability. He can stop Durden's wrestling and threaten with submissions or power shots. Durden's recent losses show his ceiling. The under 2.5 rounds is appealing as both have finishing ability.
Paul picks Tumendemberel, citing Durden's tendency to fade after the first round. He notes Tumendemberel's durability and power. He expects to bet live after Durden wins the first round.
The MMA Guru picks Cody Durden, despite a personal beef. He believes Durden's grappling and pressure will be too much for Tumendemberel, who lacks experience. He expects Durden to win by decision, noting his toughness and volume.
Zane agrees with Durden, though he expresses disdain for Durden's personality. He notes that Tumendemberel's ideas stop at one punch and that Durden can deal with that. He acknowledges the possibility of Tumendemberel landing a big shot or a submission, but thinks Durden's pressure will be too much.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allan Nascimento | 0 | 52 of 115 | 45% | 52 of 115 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Cody Durden | 0 | 57 of 128 | 44% | 57 of 128 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allan Nascimento | 0 | 26 of 58 | 44% | 26 of 58 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Cody Durden | 0 | 36 of 73 | 49% | 36 of 73 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:03 | |
| 2 | Allan Nascimento | 0 | 26 of 57 | 45% | 26 of 57 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Cody Durden | 0 | 21 of 55 | 38% | 21 of 55 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allan Nascimento | 52 of 115 | 45% | 19 of 69 | 7 of 17 | 26 of 29 | 51 of 114 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 57 of 128 | 44% | 47 of 112 | 5 of 9 | 5 of 7 | 57 of 128 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allan Nascimento | 26 of 58 | 44% | 7 of 31 | 3 of 9 | 16 of 18 | 25 of 57 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 36 of 73 | 49% | 28 of 61 | 5 of 8 | 3 of 4 | 36 of 73 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Allan Nascimento | 26 of 57 | 45% | 12 of 38 | 4 of 8 | 10 of 11 | 26 of 57 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 21 of 55 | 38% | 19 of 51 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 21 of 55 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Nascimento (-260); Durden (+210)
Round 1
Due to Durden (17-8-1, 6-6-1 UFC) stepping in to replace Rafael Estevam on short notice, he has agreed to face “Puro Osso” Nascimento (21-6, 3-1 UFC) at a catchweight of 130 pounds. This wrestler vs. grappler affair will be officiated by referee Mark Smith, who claps the athletes in as they touch gloves to signal their relief in being able to fight and get paid this weekend.
Durden bounces up and down on his heels, possibly presenting looks for takedowns, but then springs forward and drills the Brazilian with an overhand right. Durden pops Nascimento with a jab, and he smacks the front leg with his shin. Durden evades a kick and hurls an overhand right, and he pushes out a front kick that is caught and forces him to the mat. Durden lets him back up and puts a jab right in the Brazilian’s face. Nascimento hammers the lead calf with a kick, and a second puts Durden on notice. Durden races ahead throwing punches, and Nascimento slips to the side and beats him with another thudding kick. He scores one more when Durden comes his direction, and Durden still crashes the pocket and checks Nascimento’s chin with a left hand on the cheek. The jabs from Durden are marking up Nascimento’s cheek, and he is not far from splitting it open with sheer volume.
Nascimento keeps his back to the cage and tosses out kicks, and he sharply counters Durden with a right hand and plants one more calf kick for good measure. Durden punches through the guar to reach the taller Brazilian, and he catches him with a right hook and makes Nascimento double over. Nascimento reels and backs away, and Durden knocks him back to the wall with an overhand right. Nascimento goes back after his leg kick, and Durden punches him in the guts to back him away again. Nascimento checks a kick and lets his hands go, and his head kick does reach the top of the head. Durden kicks and shoots for a takedown, and Nascimento stands him up and skirts away from the offense he anticipates. Durden still marches him down, his leg lump and welted from the kicks, so that he can put his hands on Nascimento’s jaw. They trash one another with heavy leg kicks, and Nascimento stings Durden and forces him to shoot on him. Nascimento stands back to let it fly by him, and the horn sounds to end what became a close round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Round 2
Durden starts out the round as aggressive as ever, and he scores on the Brazilian early. Nascimento slows him down with a steady diet of calf kicks, and his right hands continue to find their home while Durden rushes after him. They clash shins when kicking at the same time, and then bang their heads together when coming towards one another. Nascimento backs off, with Smith telling them to be careful, and he rushes in behind a knee. Durden shakes it off and responds with a plethora of punches, only slowing when Nascimento tries to introduce his shin to the Georgia native’s chin. Nascimento whiffs on a looping left hand, and he has a leg kick checked. Nascimento stands Durden up with a right hand, and he gets his head snapped back in the counter. Nascimento pounds on the front leg, and he eats three punches down the middle like they are nothing. Durden gets clipped with a left hand, constantly pressing forward even when under fire. Nascimento rattles him with a long one-two, wrapping his hand around the back of the neck but not using it for a takedown.
Both met let their hands go, and Nascimento puts Durden down with a counter right hand.
Durden ducks to shoot, and he finds himself immediate ensnared in an anaconda choke. Nascimento has the submission virtually completed the moment Durden hits his knees, in what may be the worst choice that “Custom Made” could have made. Durden turns to his back, but there is no way out, so he has to give up.
Durden taps until Smith intervenes, and Nascimento has now recorded 15 submissions in his 22 pro wins. He asks for a ranked opponent, specifically calling out Steve Erceg for his next outing.
The Official Result
Allan Nascimento def. Cody Durden R2 3:13 via Submission (Anaconda Choke)
Angelo picks Allan Nascimento, but is hesitant. He notes Nascimento's jiu-jitsu is excellent but his takedowns are poor, so he relies on being taken down to sweep. He thinks Cody Durden's wrestling and cardio have declined, and he gets tired. However, he worries that if Durden doesn't wrestle, Nascimento won't finish on the feet, leading to a low-scoring fight. He may avoid it in DFS.
Big Brady picks Allan Nascimento, noting Cody Durden is on short notice, 34 years old, and has taken a ton of damage in recent fights. He highlights Nascimento's size, length, and excellent grappling. He believes once the fight hits the ground, Nascimento will have a huge advantage and predicts a second-round submission.
Connor also picks Nascimento, noting that Durden is super vulnerable on defense and aggressive to a fault. He thinks Nascimento's submission game is dangerous enough to catch Durden, but he wouldn't be surprised if Durden rides out a win on top. He mentions Durden's bigger signature wins but still leans Nascimento.
Nascimento's BJJ will get Durden into bad spots and he will eventually pull off a submission. The host's favorite spot is the under 2.5 rounds at even money.
The MMA Guru picks Allan Nascimento, noting his size advantage at catchweight and superior grappling. He compares Nascimento's dominant grappling against Jafel Filho to Cody Durden's struggles against Jake Hadley. He worries about Durden taking the fight on short notice and predicts Nascimento wins by decision or submission in the second or third round.
Zane picks Nascimento to catch a submission, noting that Durden sells out so hard on offense that he makes himself vulnerable to submissions. He acknowledges that if Nascimento doesn't submit him, Durden could grind out a win. He mentions Nascimento's durability and solid submission game.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Durden | 0 | 9 of 41 | 21% | 12 of 47 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:42 |
| Jose Ochoa | 1 | 30 of 79 | 37% | 52 of 107 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:13 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Durden | 0 | 9 of 39 | 23% | 12 of 45 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:42 |
| Jose Ochoa | 0 | 25 of 73 | 34% | 47 of 101 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:09 | |
| 2 | Cody Durden | 0 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jose Ochoa | 1 | 5 of 6 | 83% | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Durden | 9 of 41 | 21% | 6 of 34 | 1 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 8 of 37 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 3 |
| Jose Ochoa | 30 of 79 | 37% | 18 of 42 | 7 of 28 | 5 of 9 | 24 of 71 | 3 of 5 | 3 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Durden | 9 of 39 | 23% | 6 of 32 | 1 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 8 of 35 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 3 |
| Jose Ochoa | 25 of 73 | 34% | 13 of 36 | 7 of 28 | 5 of 9 | 22 of 68 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Cody Durden | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Jose Ochoa | 5 of 6 | 83% | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ochoa (-180), Durden (+150)
Round 1
Trying to break out of a bit of a rough patch, having lost three of four, Durden (17-7-1, 6-5-1 UFC) needs a win bad and wants it even more because this match takes place at home. A product of American Top Team Atlanta, he will welcome wild-swinging Ochoa (7-1, 1 NC; 0-1 UFC) to the ATL. When the dust settles between these two flyweights, one will return to the win column—barring something unexpected. Referee Kevin MacDonald will be on top of the action. The two combatants bump fists, and Ochoa comes out erratically with bouncing, jittery movement and kicks. Ochoa stabs the body with his toes extended, and he does this two more times before Durden comes back at him with a left hand. Ochoa continues working the body with the same move, and he spins with an elbow on the counter try from Durden. Durden shakes it off and is ready to trade, but it is Ochoa who lands in bunches. Ochoa’s movement allows him to avoid the worst that Durden tosses at him, while keeping a solid range with his legs outstretched constantly. Durden latches onto Ochoa’s right leg in pursuit of a single, wrangling the younger man to the mat and lacing his hooks around them for a moment. Durden slithers to the side in an attempt to take the back, but Ochoa knows this is coming and turns himself around while standing up. Durden knees his way out of the clinch, and Ochoa thanks him for this by kicking him in the fast-reddening lead leg. Ochoa slips a punch to connect with three, with Durden’s chin holding up but taking damage early. Ochoa tags the Georgian with a fast combination, and he grabs hold of a guillotine when Durden shoots and knees him to break up the shot. Ochoa goes to the body with a left, and he spams two head kick from the same leg and chains punches and another kick behind it. Durden tries to bully him back, only to absorbs an elbow and a mean left hand. Ochoa is a meat grinder, marching Durden down and putting him through his paces. Durden takes several more blows on the chin, and in response he unloads a right hand from the depths that stuns Ochoa to his core. This allows Durden to easily change levels and take Ochoa down, but Ochoa hits his back and starts firing off upkicks aplenty. Durden lowers himself down through the flailing legs, dropping down a few standing-and-ground punches. As soon as Ochoa locks up a triangle choke, the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa
Round 2
The second round kicks off with Durden grinning like a banshee. As he moves to the center of the cage, Ochoa meets him there. Durden reaches out with a right hand to initiate an exchange, and the younger fighter dips back and clubs him with an uppercut that shakes the Covington, Georgia, native up badly. As Durden wobbles back to put the fence behind him, Ochoa just misses with a flying switch kick aimed at his mug.
The moment he plants his feet, Ochoa dodges a left hook and unloads a blistering short left hand that jacks Durden in the jaw and sends him careening to the floor. While MacDonald is sprinting to the fighters to wave things off, Ochoa hammers the local with two or three more fierce right hands.
MacDonald gets in to stop the fight, and Durden’s eyes are wide and rolling around in his noggin. Ochoa walks off and celebrates, while Durden looks around confusedly and briefly protests but needs to be helped back to his feet, further justifying the stoppage. Ochoa earns his first UFC victory in big way, putting down a gritty grappler like Durden in the latter’s home territory.
The Official Result
Jose Ochoa def. Cody Durden R2 0:11 via KO (Punches)
Angelo leans Cody Durden because he is battle-tested and relentless with takedowns. He notes that Jose has good takedown defense but hasn't faced a wrestler as determined as Cody. He acknowledges Cody's suspect chin but believes his pressure will be key.
Big Brady picks Jose Ochoa by second-round submission. He likes Ochoa's striking and sneaky submission game, and notes that Cody Durden has been taking damage and has four submission losses. He believes Ochoa is dangerous everywhere and will either knock out Durden or snatch a submission.
Ochoa's superior striking and aggressive BJJ will overwhelm Durden. He will eventually secure a submission and force the tap.
The Guru picks Jose Ochoa, impressed by his performance against Lone'er Kavanagh where he showed finishing ability and hurt him to the body. He notes Ochoa is a 'nasty finisher' with submission skills, and expects a finish in the first two rounds, possibly by body shot or submission after hurting Durden.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua Van | 0 | 70 of 217 | 32% | 74 of 223 | 2 of 8 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 3:14 |
| Cody Durden | 0 | 165 of 304 | 54% | 184 of 323 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:20 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua Van | 0 | 14 of 33 | 42% | 18 of 38 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 3:14 |
| Cody Durden | 0 | 30 of 49 | 61% | 46 of 65 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Joshua Van | 0 | 27 of 99 | 27% | 27 of 100 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Cody Durden | 0 | 72 of 136 | 52% | 73 of 137 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:09 | |
| 3 | Joshua Van | 0 | 29 of 85 | 34% | 29 of 85 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Cody Durden | 0 | 63 of 119 | 52% | 65 of 121 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua Van | 70 of 217 | 32% | 60 of 203 | 6 of 8 | 4 of 6 | 70 of 217 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 165 of 304 | 54% | 131 of 262 | 22 of 27 | 12 of 15 | 144 of 279 | 19 of 22 | 2 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua Van | 14 of 33 | 42% | 13 of 30 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 14 of 33 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 30 of 49 | 61% | 24 of 39 | 2 of 4 | 4 of 6 | 15 of 32 | 13 of 15 | 2 of 2 | |
| 2 | Joshua Van | 27 of 99 | 27% | 22 of 93 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 27 of 99 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 72 of 136 | 52% | 57 of 119 | 14 of 15 | 1 of 2 | 71 of 134 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Joshua Van | 29 of 85 | 34% | 25 of 80 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 4 | 29 of 85 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 63 of 119 | 52% | 50 of 104 | 6 of 8 | 7 of 7 | 58 of 113 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Van (-155), Durden (+130)
Round 1
Speed is the name of the game in this flyweight affair, as skilled grappler Durden (17-6-1, 6-4-1 UFC) will try to ply his trade against offense-first Houstonian by way of Myanmar Van (11-2, 4-1 UFC). The two 125ers looking to climb the ranks share similar stoppage rates of 71% and 73%, respectively, which is rare at this division and something referee Chris Tognoni should keep in mind when officiating this contest. Fists are bumped, and they come into close range to trade. Durden lands a low kick and comes up short on a one-two. Van connects with a hard low kick, and Durden fires back with a surprisingly effective high kick and a punch salvo. Durden punches his way into a double-leg takedown, and he gets elbows in the side of the head when trying. Durden drops all the way down to fish for Van’s ankle, and he lifts “The Fearless” up and deposits him to his seat. Van methodically works his way back to his feet with Durden pressuring and leaning on him, and he hacks with a few elbows before Durden drags him back down to the floor. Van strikes with elbows to the side of the dome, and Durden takes a moment to cover as he does not like absorbing them. Van muscles his way up to his feet, but Durden is on him like a cheap suit. Van rips the body with a right hand to break away, and he rushes forward behind his jab. Durden fires off a left hand, and the two trade blows in the pocket. Van pierces the guard with a few jabs and works the body in subsequent strikes, and he snaps the head back with a sharp uppercut. Van gets Durden’s attention, slipping an uppercut to get Durden’s attention. Van slams his shin on the front leg of his foe, and he walks square into an uppercut that Durden is spamming. As Van meanders forward, Durden stops him with a double-leg entry. Van defends with elbows until Durden switches to a single-leg takedown attempt, and Van is able to set his leg down while keeping himself upright. Durden tries to lift Van up in the air, but he settles for grinding out the remainder of the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Van
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Round 2
The flyweights race out of their corners to re-engage, and engage they do. Both men load up on wild strikes, and Van rocks his opponent with a flurry. Durden fires back, and he keeps Van honest but is not taking him out of the equation. Van shrugs off a head kick to do some damage with punch combos, and he sprawls to stop a takedown and clips Durden with an uppercut. Van chains his punches together, and Durden’s balance is starting to betray him as his knees wobble. Van knocks his man back with an accurate series of punches, and he drills the midsection and is ready to stop a takedown. Durden flops to his back, and Van tells him to get up. Tognoni has him stand up, and they start up throwing fire again. Durden lands, and all Van does is smile and swing back with a vengeance. Durden’s power is starting to slip due to fatigue, while Van is accurate and putting high volume that marks Durden’s face up on the nose and eyebrow. Durden overswings, and he eats a crisp overhand right for his effort. “The Fearless” fearlessly engages in a slugfest, landing first and last in exchanges. Van is not loading up, instead allowing Durden to do that so he can capitalize on the wild, lumbering swings and retaliate sharply. Van stops a takedown in its tracks so he can drive home an uppercut, and he wades away from a spinning back fist and slides in to connect with a right hand. Durden’s inaccurate left hook leads to three punches busting him in the chops. Durden keeps swinging hard, and the telegraphed strikes are either missing entirely or sliding off the target and getting rolled with. Van puts a one-two on the chin, and Durden responds with a left and a big right. Van strings together five punches in rapid succession, leaning back to dodge “Custom Made” and forward to connect cleanly. When Van eats the power strikes, he does not budge, while every other blow seems to draw a reaction out of the slowing Durden. The round ends with the two trading leather.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Van
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Van
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Van
Round 3
A glove touch commences the final frame, and Van is immediately in striking range as he flusters Durden with movement and footwork. Durden fights behind his jab, and he puts some mustard behind a follow-up right hand. Van no-sells the strike and nails Durden with two powerful low kicks, and Durden swipes back at him with left hooks. Van goes high and then to the body and low calf, mixing things up to keep Durden guessing. Durden tries a Superman punch from up close, only fur Van to block it and knock him back a step. One-twos from both sides land on the guard, and Van clubs his foe on the temple and drops Durden to a knee. Durden signals that it was not a big deal, drawing Van into a brawl. Yan’s offense is gradually breaking Durden down, and he connects with a particularly rough left hand that makes Durden fall to his back. Durden is forced to stand back up, and he keeps his right hand covering the eye socket that might have been hurt. Van strings three punches into a knee to the liver, and Durden shells up and launches a huge right hand that goes wide. Van stifles a takedown and misses with a haymaker, only to drift back when Durden spins with a back fist. Van slips and counters his foe, and Durden wobbles but stays on his feet. A jab from Van makes Durden frown, but it does not slow him down as he hurls huge hooks anywhere he can aim them. Van walks him down and connects cleanly, knocking Durden’s mouthpiece out. Tognoni calls time during a moment to break to replace Durden’s gumshield, and the two resume their torrid brawl. Durden may be leading with his chin, but he is swinging with everything he has. Van hurts him with a few hooks, a knee and a head kick, and Durden is hanging on tight but just taking damage. Durden swings it out until the final bell, putting an end to an exciting striking affair.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Van (30-27 Van)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Van (29-28 Van)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Van (29-28 Van)
The Official Result
Joshua Van def. Cody Durden via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-26, 30-27)
Angelo picks Cody Durden as a dog, citing Durden's relentless pressure wrestling and cardio as key factors. He believes Durden's takedowns will frustrate Joshua Van and deplete his confidence. Angelo notes both fighters are chinny but expects Durden to focus on winning rather than brawling. He is monitoring the line movement and may bet if the odds widen further.
Cody picks Van but expects a tough first round. He notes Durden's wrestling and fast starts, but thinks Van's cardio and volume will take over in later rounds. He suggests live betting Van after the first round.
Connor picks Durden, though he hates to do it. He notes that Durden starts fast and pressures aggressively, which could overwhelm Van, who tends to start slow and build into fights. Connor points out that Van has been taking too much damage recently and is fighting too frequently, which raises concerns about his durability. He also mentions that Durden's pace and wrestling could be a problem for Van, who has shown vulnerability early in fights.
Daniel admits bias as Durden's friend but provides analysis: he believes Durden's well-rounded attack and ability to exploit Van's uncomfortable ranges will lead to a win. He expects Durden to mix takedowns and striking effectively.
Van successfully bounced back from his knockout loss to Charles Johnson by defeating Edgar Chairez. He will take that momentum, showcase improved takedown defense, keep the fight standing, and eventually catch Durden slipping to get a knockout victory.
Paul picks Durden as an underdog, citing his wrestling and fast starts. He notes Van's high fight frequency and potential wear. He thinks Durden can win the first two rounds and hold on, but acknowledges the risk.
The MMA Guru picks Cody Durden, citing Van's tendency to get rocked on the feet and Durden's improved hands and grappling. He thinks Durden's size and takedowns will be too much for Van, and that once Durden gets a lead he is hard to catch. He predicts a 29-28 decision based on the first two rounds.
Zane also picks Durden, expressing concern for Van's health and development. He notes that Van is inexperienced and makes bad decisions under duress, and that Durden's early pressure and wrestling could exploit that. Zane points out that Van has been in wars recently and is fighting too often, which could lead to him getting knocked out or losing a decision. He believes Durden is a tough out and that Van's ceiling is higher but not yet realized.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Durden | 0 | 40 of 83 | 48% | 40 of 83 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Matt Schnell | 0 | 34 of 78 | 43% | 37 of 81 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:10 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Durden | 0 | 40 of 80 | 50% | 40 of 80 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Matt Schnell | 0 | 33 of 77 | 42% | 36 of 80 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Cody Durden | 0 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Matt Schnell | 0 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:10 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Durden | 40 of 83 | 48% | 32 of 73 | 3 of 3 | 5 of 7 | 38 of 81 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Matt Schnell | 34 of 78 | 43% | 31 of 73 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 34 of 78 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Durden | 40 of 80 | 50% | 32 of 71 | 3 of 3 | 5 of 6 | 38 of 78 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Matt Schnell | 33 of 77 | 42% | 30 of 72 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 33 of 77 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Cody Durden | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Matt Schnell | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Durden (-335), Schnell (+220)
Round 1
Due to the late nature of this flyweight pairing coming together—Durden (16-6-1, 5-4-1 UFC) will serve as a replacement to Alessandro Costa—the two men next will be fighting up in weight at bantamweight. Both short-notice Durden and Schnell (16-8, 1 NC; 6-6, 1 NC UFC) are hovering around the .500 mark in the promotion, so a win may go a long way while a loss could spell disaster. Referee Chris Tognoni will serve as the Octagon ranger for this contest, and gloves are touched to get things going. Durden moves to the center of the cage and is caught with an early uppercut. Durden backs off and finds another way in, and Schnell clips him twice more in a speedy exchange. Schnell points at him but does not capitalize on hurting and reddening Durden, instead allowing Durden to walk him down. Durden elects to fight to his disadvantage, brawling wildly and backing Schnell up a big. Durden lands several body shots until Schnell fires back, and Schnell’s attacks are more powerful and result in Durden thinking twice. Durden lands a right and eats two rights back. Durden unleashes a fury of punches, and Schnell shakes him up with furious counters that are heavier and faster. Durden wipes his hands and blinks it out, and he backs away as Schnell kicks him in the ribs. Durden wings a few punches that come up short, and Schnell times an outside leg kick that buckles the knee. Durden catches his man on the end of a left hand, and Schnell fires back with a right. Durden clubs him with a hard right, and Schnell skirts to the side and prepares an uppercut that lands on the nose. Schnell clacks the front leg again, and he allows Durden to overswing so he can counter effectively. Durden still manages to get off his right hand a few times, and Schnell’s head movement and footwork keeps him from absorbing any flush. Schnell snipes his man a few times until Durden pushes out a front kick to slow him down. Schnell ducks a head kick that skims his hair, and the two throw caution to the wind and brawl again. Schnell gets tagged with a left hand on the nose, and he winds up and retorts with a flurry of fists. Durden connects at the end of a right hand that cuts Schnell’s eyebrow, and Schnell bites down on his gumshield and blasts Durden in the face with an overhand right. Durden spins with a wheel kick that brushes past his opponent, and Schnell gathers his thoughts and punches his way into a short combo. They trade left hands, and Schnell lands three while Durden gets off two. The two trade right to the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Schnell
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Round 2
The fighters are ready to pick up right where they left off, and after a few low kicks, Schnell lands a big left hand. After connecting, Schnell shoots in with a telegraphed takedown, and Durden’s eyes go wide and he grins as he snatches hold of a guillotine choke. Schnell twists around, and Durden chains his submission into a ninja choke. When “Danger” keeps turning, he finds himself in even graver danger, as Durden locks the choke down and turns Schnell to his back. As soon as Schnell is on his back, he taps with both hands in a panic as the submission was likely to put his lights out. Durden releases the choke when Tognoni gets between them and goes over to the cage to shout at someone in the audience. His team manages to calm him down, and he celebrates his handiwork with his wife and corner. While Durden gives his post-fight interview, Schnell removes his gloves and places them in the center of the cage to signal his retirement. Instead of looking for a moment on the mic, Schnell departs the cage, overcome with emotion.
The Official Result
Cody Durden def. Matt Schnell R2 0:29 via Submission (Ninja Choke)
Angelo picks Cody Durden (referred to as Alexandre Costa) because he is a solid striker with real power, good takedown defense, and durability, while Matt Schnell has been in too many wars and his chin is failing. He believes Costa will blast Schnell's legs and crack him in the head, leading to a knockout. He notes that Schnell is not dangerous enough to put Costa away.
Big Brady picks Cody Durden to win by knockout. He notes Durden is stepping in on short notice but looked career-best in his last fight before getting caught. Brady believes Durden's striking will be the difference and that he just needs to land one clean shot. He warns about Schnell's dangerous grappling but thinks Durden will avoid the ground and finish the fight inside the distance.
Cody picks Schnell, arguing that Durden's short notice, weight cut issues, and lack of corner are major red flags. He notes Schnell's superior experience and cardio, but admits Durden's power and aggression could end it early. He sees value at +250 but is not highly confident.
Daniel is biased as a friend of Durden, but he believes Durden's power and Schnell's weak chin will be the deciding factor. He acknowledges Schnell is well-rounded and technical, but thinks Durden will eventually land a knockout. He notes that Schnell has been knocked out in recent fights and that Durden is aware of Schnell's chin. Despite the short notice, Daniel is confident Durden will get the win.
Paul is intrigued by Schnell at +250, noting Durden is taking the fight on a week's notice, moving up to 135 lbs, and may not have a coach. He acknowledges Schnell's chin issues but believes his experience and cardio advantage could pay off if he survives early. He calls it a 'dog or pass' situation and leans Schnell.
The MMA Guru picks Matt Schnell over Cody Durden. He calls Schnell the 'chiniest fighter in UFC history' but believes Alexandro Costa is explosive and powerful. He notes Schnell got wobbled by Sumudaerji and predicts Costa will put him away brutally in round one.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 28 of 63 | 44% | 31 of 68 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 3 | 0 | 2:35 |
| Cody Durden | 1 | 42 of 73 | 57% | 45 of 77 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:23 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 24 of 57 | 42% | 25 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Cody Durden | 0 | 22 of 47 | 46% | 23 of 48 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:12 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 6 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 3 | 0 | 2:23 |
| Cody Durden | 1 | 20 of 26 | 76% | 22 of 29 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 28 of 63 | 44% | 20 of 52 | 5 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 27 of 62 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 42 of 73 | 57% | 31 of 57 | 6 of 10 | 5 of 6 | 24 of 51 | 1 of 1 | 17 of 21 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 24 of 57 | 42% | 16 of 46 | 5 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 24 of 57 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 22 of 47 | 46% | 13 of 33 | 5 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 21 of 46 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 4 of 6 | 66% | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 20 of 26 | 76% | 18 of 24 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 21 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Durden (-122), Silva (+102)
Round 1
In the only other fight on the billing beyond the main event with UFC-ranked fighter, top-15 Durden (16-5-1, 5-3-1 UFC) would like nothing more than to put a rough face crank submission loss in December behind him. He will meet fellow grappler Silva (13-5-2, 1 NC; 3-2, 1 NC UFC) in the center of the cage, in what could be an interesting clash of styles on the mat. Referee Chris Tognoni is ready whether it lasts three minutes or all three rounds, and he commences the match as the 125ers bump fists. Durden is quick to lash out with a body kick, and he walks Silva down and marks Silva’s left eye up early with punches. Durden changes levels, and the two bonk heads as Tognoni tells them to be careful. Durden keeps chasing after his opponent, and Silva pushes him away and lands a sweeping leg kick. Silva races forward to tie the American up, and he lands a knee to the guts while Durden looks to trip Silva up. Durden scores a right at the break, and chases to land another long right hand before Silva can zip away. Silva pushes off with the ball of his foot, and he jabs the body and avoids a front kick. Durden clips his opponent with three punches, and he ducks when Silva tries to spin with a back fist to counter. Durden sits down on a chopping kick, and he evades a scooping uppercut and stops a takedown effort in its tracks from the Brazilian. Durden surges forward, fighting behind his jab, and he swipes with a left hook on his way in. Durden attacks with a leg kick, and he is countered with an overhand right. Durden connects with two hooks, and he meanders forward pawing with hooks until committing to one up top and another to the body. Silva misses with another big uppercut, but his front kick does land cleanly. Durden winds up with a huge right hand that busts into Silva’s nose, reddening his cheek and nose, and he wears it well. Durden parries a body shot, swipes out with a left hand and drills Silva with a right hand. Silva cries foul, and Tognoni pauses the action and calls for a replay to confirm that Durden’s fingers grazed the eyeball. The Brazilian needs a doctor to come in and wipe away his eye, and Tognoni goes to calmly warn Durden for the accidental foul. Silva informs Tognoni that he can continue, but needs a little more time to recover—he has four more minutes, and no booing crowd to urge him to return to combat sooner than he should. Silva tells Tognoni his eye is spasming, but he can keep going, and they get back to it after two minutes of recovery. Both men rush at one hellbent for leather, and the proceed to throw it hard. Both men tag the other, and Durden is warned for outstretched fingers. Silva kicks low as blood trickles out of his nostril, and Durden turns with a back kick that plants square in the solar plexus. Durden points to his success, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Round 2
The flyweights clock in for the second round, and Silva is smiling and ready to return to action. He strikes first in the form of a leg kick, and Durden answers him with a twitchy right hand. Durden finds success with it and beans the Brazilian with two more, putting “Bulldog” on skates. Silva backs off and shoots for a takedown, and Durden catches a brabo choke. Silva turns the proper direction, and he fights off a subsequent anaconda choke. Durden tries a third time to land a similar submission, and Silva survives all three and lowers himself to his back. Silva tries to tug off the fence links to find a better angle, and Durden lays flat on top of him. Silva wall-walks to his knees, and Durden is on him and drags him back down when Silva pops up. Durden stays glued to his man, but Silva explodes back to his feet and walks Durden down.
“Bulldog” walks through a jab and drills Durden in the jaw with a ferocious uppercut, knocking his mouthpiece clean out and sending the American crashing to the canvas. Silva pounces and unloads with relentless right hands, pouring it on and drawing blood that sprays the mat as he beats Durden down. Silva continues landing as Tognoni asks for Durden to fight back, and when Durden’s arms go limp, he intervenes.
This is a crazy comeback for Silva, who turns the tables with just one punch and may have performed some unauthorized dental work on the soon-to-be-unranked contender. This sport never fails to surprise, and no fighter is ever totally safe while the cage door is locked and both competitors are still in the fight.
The Official Result
Bruno Silva def. Cody Durden R2 2:58 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Cody Durden because his aggressive wrestling pace will be too much for Bruno Silva, leading to a close decision. He notes that Silva has power and could land a knockout, but Durden's chin is a concern. He does not mention a bet, but is confident in the pick.
Cody picks Bruno Silva, highlighting his striking advantage and the fact that he accepted the fight before Durden, indicating confidence from training together. He notes Silva's defensive wrestling is solid and that Durden will struggle to take him down. He also mentions Silva's submission win over Tyson Nam as impressive.
Daniel Vreeland picks his friend Cody Durden, citing Durden's superior wrestling, volume, and training with Pantoja. He acknowledges Bruno's explosive power and opportunistic submissions but believes Durden will outwork him everywhere. Vreeland warns against underestimating Durden's standup and submission defense.
Silva is a +100 underdog. He has a slick boxing approach and BJJ black belt, and his takedown defense and ability to work back to his feet should frustrate Durden. Durden will put himself in danger with his wrestling, and Silva can capitalize with a submission or TKO. Silva's inactivity (16 months) is a concern, but his skills should be enough to get the win.
Paul also picks Bruno Silva, agreeing with Cody's points about Silva's striking and the familiarity from training. He thinks Silva has an advantage on the feet and that Durden will be in trouble if he tries to grapple. He also notes the submission prop as a possibility.
The MMA Guru picks Cody Durden, trusting in his activity. He notes Bruno Silva has been inactive, fighting only once since 2021, while Durden has been consistently fighting. He highlights Durden's wins over Jake Hadley and Charles Johnson, and believes Durden is more disciplined and focused. He also mentions Durden is bigger for the division.
JP Buys - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus McGhee | 0 | 4 of 30 | 13% | 4 of 30 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| JP Buys | 1 | 7 of 13 | 53% | 7 of 13 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marcus McGhee | 0 | 4 of 30 | 13% | 4 of 30 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| JP Buys | 1 | 7 of 13 | 53% | 7 of 13 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus McGhee | 4 of 30 | 13% | 2 of 22 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 5 | 4 of 29 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| JP Buys | 7 of 13 | 53% | 6 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 7 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marcus McGhee | 4 of 30 | 13% | 2 of 22 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 5 | 4 of 29 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| JP Buys | 7 of 13 | 53% | 6 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 7 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: McGhee (-350), Buys (+280)
Round 1
In the combined 16 victories for South African wrestler Buys (9-5, 0-3 UFC) and power-punching MMA Lab export McGhee (7-1, 1-0 UFC), neither man has ever heard the final bell. In fact, of the two men, Buys is the only one to ever go the distance, when he lost by decision to Montel Jackson nearly two years ago. Referee Jason Herzog will need to hold onto his proverbial hard hat as these bantamweights get after it. There is a calm glove touch before the potential madness ensues. McGhee tosses out a range-finding low kick and blocks a head kick that comes back at him. McGhee spins with a wheel kick that misses the mark, and he keeps moving to not let Buys land on him with sporadic strikes. McGhee sits down on a thudding leg kick and swats away a high kick, and he throws a right hand with the forward pressure that makes Buys bounce off of him. Buys catches his man with a right hand, and the two trade strikes until a Buys kick splits the uprights. McGhee shakes it off and does not let them pause, as he walks “Young Savage” down and plows into him with a fierce one-two. Buys reels and gathers his thoughts, and he tries to swing kicks but is not able to land anything.
“The Maniac” unleashes a ferocious right hand on the chin that sends Buys crashing down on his face, and Herzog immediately jumps between them as McGhee specifically holds back on any additional strikes. Buys snaps back into focus, and he thinks the fight is still going. Buys chases after McGhee, who has walked off to celebrate, and he half-heartedly tries to take McGhee down.
As Buys crashes into the wall, still not entirely with it, Herzog officially waves the fight off, and Buys has to take a moment to process things after getting short-circuited. The triumphant McGhee is now 2-0 in the UFC with two stoppages, and his finish rate remains sterling at 100%.
The Official Result
Marcus McGhee def. J.P. Buys R1 2:19 via KO (Punch)
Angelo calls McGhee his most confident pick on the card, saying he should be -1000. He highlights McGhee's power, takedown defense, and finishing ability, while Buys has a weak chin and poor defensive wrestling. He plans to hammer the inside the distance prop when it drops.
Big Brady picks Marcus McGhee to win by knockout, likely in the first round. He calls this the biggest mismatch on the card, noting JP Buys's poor durability (knocked down 8 times in 3 UFC fights) and McGhee's power. He acknowledges Buys's wrestling but doubts it will be effective against a bigger McGhee who has improved takedown defense. He predicts a late first-round knockout.
Cody picks McGhee, praising his toughness, power, and training at MMA Lab with Sean O'Malley. He notes Buys' cardio issues and weak chin, and that Buys has been knocked down repeatedly. He thinks McGhee's power and durability will be too much, and that Buys' wrestling advantage is negated by his poor cardio. He predicts McGhee clips him and knocks him out.
James is leaning toward Buys as a +300 underdog, thinking Buys can submit McGhee in the first round. He notes McGhee struggled with takedowns and back takes, and Buys has a good choke game. However, he acknowledges Buys has been destroyed on the feet multiple times. James is considering a bet on Buys' moneyline or a submission prop.
McGhee is explosive and powerful early, with a successful short-notice UFC debut. Buys is on a three-fight losing streak and has a bad gas tank. McGhee's power and speed should be too much for Buys, and he will likely get a knockout in the first round. However, the chalk is too high, so a prop on McGhee by KO in round 1 is better.
Paul picks McGhee, citing size and strength advantages. He notes Buys used to fight at 125 and is moving up, while McGhee is a natural bantamweight. He thinks McGhee's power and takedown defense will be key, and that Buys' cardio issues will be exacerbated by the weight cut. He sees McGhee winning by knockout or decision.
The MMA Guru confidently picks Marcus McGhee over JP Buys, criticizing Buys for taking the fight on short notice while on a three-fight losing streak. He praises McGhee's impressive debut and full training camp, noting his experience since 2012. He predicts McGhee will break Buys down and finish him by second-round TKO.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Durden | 0 | 7 of 11 | 63% | 7 of 11 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| JP Buys | 1 | 23 of 30 | 76% | 34 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:26 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Durden | 0 | 7 of 11 | 63% | 7 of 11 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| JP Buys | 1 | 23 of 30 | 76% | 34 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:26 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Durden | 7 of 11 | 63% | 4 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 5 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| JP Buys | 23 of 30 | 76% | 21 of 28 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 12 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 17 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Durden | 7 of 11 | 63% | 4 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 5 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| JP Buys | 23 of 30 | 76% | 21 of 28 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 12 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 17 |
Angelo picks Cody Durden, finding the line move bizarre. He expects Durden to come forward with big shots and work his takedowns, noting that if Montel Jackson could take JP Buys down four times, Durden can too. He acknowledges Durden tends to fade but believes his chain wrestling and pressure will be enough. He has a moneyline bet on Durden.
Big Brady picks Cody Durden to win by second-round knockout, but expresses low confidence. He notes that both fighters have poor durability and cardio, but favors Durden's striking power and durability over JP Buys's chin (Buys has been knocked down 7-8 times in UFC). He acknowledges Buys's submission threat early, but believes Durden's better cardio and power will lead to a finish in the second round. He calls it a tough fight to call.
Cody likes Buys, citing his youth, wrestling credentials, and better striking. He notes Durden's poor cardio and that Buys will put a pace on him. He thinks Buys can win by submission or decision.
Paul agrees after Cody's reasoning, and will bet Buys. He notes Durden's pattern of wins and losses but thinks Buys has the edge.
The host picks Cody Durden, citing JP Buys' questionable cardio and tendency to fade after a strong start. He notes Durden's good first-round control against Chris Gutierrez and believes Durden will grind out a decision, winning rounds two and three after losing the first. He acknowledges Buys is dangerous and explosive but trusts Durden's pace.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montel Jackson | 4 | 25 of 43 | 58% | 91 of 117 | 4 of 5 | 80% | 1 | 0 | 10:03 |
| JP Buys | 0 | 8 of 24 | 33% | 39 of 60 | 1 of 7 | 14% | 3 | 0 | 1:20 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montel Jackson | 0 | 8 of 12 | 66% | 27 of 34 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 2:36 |
| JP Buys | 0 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 9 of 15 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 2 | 0 | 1:20 | |
| 2 | Montel Jackson | 2 | 7 of 12 | 58% | 21 of 30 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 4:07 |
| JP Buys | 0 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 14 of 20 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Montel Jackson | 2 | 10 of 19 | 52% | 43 of 53 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:20 |
| JP Buys | 0 | 3 of 10 | 30% | 16 of 25 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montel Jackson | 25 of 43 | 58% | 18 of 36 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 17 | 6 of 8 | 8 of 18 |
| JP Buys | 8 of 24 | 33% | 3 of 10 | 4 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 22 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montel Jackson | 8 of 12 | 66% | 4 of 8 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| JP Buys | 3 of 8 | 37% | 1 of 4 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Montel Jackson | 7 of 12 | 58% | 5 of 10 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 6 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 3 |
| JP Buys | 2 of 6 | 33% | 1 of 2 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Montel Jackson | 10 of 19 | 52% | 9 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 10 |
| JP Buys | 3 of 10 | 30% | 1 of 4 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Montel Jackson as he is well-rounded with power, striking, and wrestling. He notes JP Buys has a path via wrestling but Montel is too good everywhere. He does not like the moneyline at -700 but has a bet on over 1.5 rounds because he thinks Buys will survive early and make it past the first round and a half.
Big Brady is very confident in Montel Jackson, citing huge size and reach advantages. He notes JP Buys is moving up a weight class on short notice and has a history of gassing out. He predicts Jackson will finish Buys in the second round, either by knockout or submission, as Buys has never been to a decision.
Cody is very confident in Jackson, citing his size, power, and improved takedown defense. He notes that JP Buys is undersized, on short notice, and failed to wrestle in his UFC debut. Cody believes Jackson will keep the fight standing and land a knockout.
Daniel Levi picks Montel Jackson to finish JP Buys. He believes Jackson has top-five potential and skills, despite past criticism of his mentality. He notes Buys is composed but lacks the goods, and Jackson's path to victory is finishing him. He advises against betting the moneyline at -650 and suggests looking at props like inside distance.
Preet picks Montel Jackson to win, expecting a finish. He notes Jackson has better striking and power, while Buys is fragile and tends to quit when pressured. He likes the fight doesn't go to decision at -200 and Jackson by KO at +105.
Paul has Jackson in his parlay, noting his physical advantages and Buys' lack of wrestling. He believes Jackson's power and full camp will be decisive. Paul mentions he bet the over 1.5 rounds as well.
The MMA Guru picks Montel Jackson to win by first-round KO, calling it the 'stupidest decision' for JP Buys to take this fight. He emphasizes Jackson's size, power, and grappling advantage, noting he shut down Brett Johns' grappling. He predicts Jackson will land a big shot and finish Buys early.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 3 | 37 of 61 | 60% | 62 of 89 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:51 |
| JP Buys | 0 | 17 of 56 | 30% | 37 of 76 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 15 of 23 | 65% | 29 of 40 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:33 |
| JP Buys | 0 | 6 of 22 | 27% | 21 of 37 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:50 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 3 | 22 of 38 | 57% | 33 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:18 |
| JP Buys | 0 | 11 of 34 | 32% | 16 of 39 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 37 of 61 | 60% | 29 of 51 | 4 of 6 | 4 of 4 | 26 of 43 | 1 of 2 | 10 of 16 |
| JP Buys | 17 of 56 | 30% | 8 of 42 | 4 of 7 | 5 of 7 | 15 of 53 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 15 of 23 | 65% | 8 of 14 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 12 of 18 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 3 |
| JP Buys | 6 of 22 | 27% | 2 of 14 | 1 of 4 | 3 of 4 | 6 of 21 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 22 of 38 | 57% | 21 of 37 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 13 |
| JP Buys | 11 of 34 | 32% | 6 of 28 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 3 | 9 of 32 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
By the time fight night started, UFC on ESPN 21 was left with 10 bouts. We begin this shortened card in the flyweight division, when Buys (9-2, 0-0 UFC) looks for his successful debut against “Bulldog” Silva (10-5-2, 1 NC; 0-2, 1 NC UFC). The former will be aiming to make good on a married couple winning tonight – wife Cheyanne Buys competes later – while the latter searches for his first win inside the Octagon. This card opener draws officiating from referee Mark Smith, and the two 125ers touch gloves to kick off the night. Silva comes out jittery, and when he steps forward with a reaching left hand and flush kick to the cup. Fortuitous opening to the evening’s hostilities. Buys tries to walk it off, but the action is paused for a bit over 30 seconds before he is ready to go again. Both men come out swinging, and Silva aims a calf kick as Buys throws a right hand. Silva sits down on a right hand and another calf kick, and Buys walks through it but is surprised. Silva reaches out with his fingers outstretched and jabs Buys in the eye with his thumb, and we have another break as Smith is not thrilled with Silva. The South African takes 45 seconds to clear his vision, and Smith issues Silva a hard warning. Silva does not close his fists when engaging and draws a shout from Smith. When the two come together, Buys slips and falls to his back, where the Brazilian dives on top into the guard. Buys rolls and nearly frees himself in a scramble, but “Bulldog” is resilient and remains on top. Buys looks to sweep, and as he does, Silva times it and advances to half guard. The newcomer kicks off, and Silva rides the kick and climbs back into his foe’s open guard. Buys scoots his way back to the fence, gets to a knee and wall-walks to his feet. Silva delivers a knee to the chest, and he picks Buys up from behind and slams him down on his face. Buys shakes it off, stands again and threatens with a kimura to sweep. Silva stands up, and Buys is able to reverse the position and press the Brazilian into the wire. Buys works his man on the fence with a couple shoulder strikes, and Silva twists him back around before they separate. Buys whiffs on a big head kick, but he does manage to bully Silva back. Silva responds with an uppercut, and he catches his opponent with another shot before rushing into a clinch. Buys defends himself mashed into the fence by slapping his adversary in the ear, and they break free again. Silva cracks Buys with a spinning back fist that lands on the forearm, and Buys drops to knee as the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Round 2
Silva charges out of his corner to begin the round, and he launches a spinning kick and comes up short as Smith warns him already to not reach with his fingers. Buys chases him down with a few head kicks, and he throws one too hard and loses his balance. As soon as Silva sees this, he charges in and plows Buys over, where he starts dropping down hammers. Even in full guard, Silva is doing work with strikes from on top, until Buys latches on to him to keep him trapped. Silva bucks and stands up, where Buys uses the momentum to get standing as well. As Buys hops away, Silva kicks him in the face, but the South African appears unconcerned. Buys instead charges towards his opponent, throwing combinations and even mixing in a few low kicks. Silva throws back, but Buys is advancing heavily. Buys walks into a clean right hand, and his knees wiggle for a moment but he crashes into the clinch. After a brief clinch exchange, they break apart and Silva nails him with a quick combination. Silva blasts Buys with a nasty right hand and sends Buys flying, leading to Buys doing a somersault to recover. Buys gets up, and he falls back into the fence as Silva is ripping into him with a storm of punches. On rubber legs but still in the fight, Buys tries to escape.
“Bulldog” relentlessly pursues his man, and he loads up with a monster right hand that buckles Buys’ legs and puts him down once and for all.
Smith sees that Buys is done, and he jumps in to save the “Young Savage” from any more damage. What a way to start the night!
The Official Result
Bruno Silva def. J.P. Buys R2 2:56 via TKO (Punch)
Big Brady picks Bruno Silva as an underdog, citing JP Buys' cardio issues and tendency to gas after the first round. He notes Buys has never been to a decision and has been finished before, while Silva is a black belt in BJJ with better cardio and takedown defense. Brady believes if Silva survives the early storm, he will take over and finish Buys by TKO in the second round.
Daniel Levi picks JP Buys, expecting him to get off to a big lead and possibly an early submission. He notes Buys' cardio issues but thinks he can weather the storm and win a decision. He acknowledges Bruno Silva's improvements but sees Buys as the more physical fighter early.
Bruno Silva has shown great cardio against high-level opponents like Dvorak and Ulanbekov, while JP Buys slows down past the first round. Silva's ability to survive the early storm and take over later in the fight is key. Buys has better striking technique but his cardio issues make him vulnerable as a favorite. Silva should win by decision, though Buys has potential if he fixes his cardio.
The MMA Guru picks Bruno Silva over JP Buys. He believes Silva's superior competition (close fights with Tagir Ulanbekov and David Dvořák) gives him an edge. He expects Silva to wear on Buys as the fight goes on, using his grappling and stand-up, and win by unanimous decision (29-28). He notes Buys starts fast but slows down, as seen against Joby Sanchez.
Expert Picks (5)
Angelo picks Cody Durden, finding the line move bizarre. He expects Durden to come forward with big shots and work his takedowns, noting that if Montel Jackson could take JP Buys down four times, Durden can too. He acknowledges Durden tends to fade but believes his chain wrestling and pressure will be enough. He has a moneyline bet on Durden.
Big Brady picks Cody Durden to win by second-round knockout, but expresses low confidence. He notes that both fighters have poor durability and cardio, but favors Durden's striking power and durability over JP Buys's chin (Buys has been knocked down 7-8 times in UFC). He acknowledges Buys's submission threat early, but believes Durden's better cardio and power will lead to a finish in the second round. He calls it a tough fight to call.
Cody likes Buys, citing his youth, wrestling credentials, and better striking. He notes Durden's poor cardio and that Buys will put a pace on him. He thinks Buys can win by submission or decision.
Paul agrees after Cody's reasoning, and will bet Buys. He notes Durden's pattern of wins and losses but thinks Buys has the edge.
The host picks Cody Durden, citing JP Buys' questionable cardio and tendency to fade after a strong start. He notes Durden's good first-round control against Chris Gutierrez and believes Durden will grind out a decision, winning rounds two and three after losing the first. He acknowledges Buys is dangerous and explosive but trusts Durden's pace.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!