vs
-116 +105
UFC Fight Night 253 · Mar 01, 2025 · Middleweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night 253 Next Fight
Age 32
Height 6' 0"
Reach 72.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 36
Height 6' 2"
Reach 72.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Cody Brundage
2.26 SLpM
48.0% Str. Acc.
3.02 SApM
50.0% Str. Def.
1.88 TD Avg
41.0% TD Acc.
68.0% TD Def.
0.5 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Julian Marquez
5.06 SLpM
45.0% Str. Acc.
5.35 SApM
50.0% Str. Def.
0.0 TD Avg
0.0% TD Acc.
54.0% TD Def.
2.6 Sub. Avg
Cody Brundage
Moneyline
FanDuel -116
KO/TKO
BetRivers +225
Submission
BetWay +800
Decision
BetWay +700
Julian Marquez
Moneyline
Caesars +105
KO/TKO
FanDuel +420
Submission
FanDuel +310
Decision
BetRivers +800
Cody Brundage - Fight History
KO/TKO R2 0:44 · UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Costa · May 16, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Cody Brundage 1 43 of 60 71% 44 of 62 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:34
Andre Petroski 0 8 of 17 47% 21 of 30 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:56
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Cody Brundage 0 6 of 10 60% 6 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Andre Petroski 0 8 of 16 50% 21 of 29 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:56
2 Cody Brundage 1 37 of 50 74% 38 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:32
Andre Petroski 0 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Cody Brundage 43 of 60 71% 40 of 55 2 of 2 1 of 3 8 of 12 0 of 0 35 of 48
Andre Petroski 8 of 17 47% 2 of 7 1 of 4 5 of 6 7 of 16 0 of 0 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Cody Brundage 6 of 10 60% 3 of 5 2 of 2 1 of 3 6 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andre Petroski 8 of 16 50% 2 of 6 1 of 4 5 of 6 7 of 15 0 of 0 1 of 1
2 Cody Brundage 37 of 50 74% 37 of 50 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 2 0 of 0 35 of 48
Andre Petroski 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Cody Brundage vs. Andre Petroski

Round 1
Chris Tognoni is the referee. It’s a deliberate beginning for the middleweights. Petroski land a low kick. Petroski fires a combination and Brundage circles out. Petroski backs his man up and lands a calf kick. Brundage partially lands a straight right. Both men remain very patient as we reach the halfway point of the round. Burndage lands a front kick to the gut and eats a series of calf kicks. Petroski catches Brundage with a knee as he moves forward. Petroski shoots and lands in side control to negate a guillotine attempt from Brundage. Brundage keeps his grip for a while before relen. Brundage seems content to hold his opponent close to limit offense. Petroski creates some space and lands a few right hands from top position. Petroski goes knee on belly and then achieves mount as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Petroski
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Petroski
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Petroski

Round 2
Brundage throws a looping right and then seconds later, drops his foe with a massive left hook after feinting another right.
Brundage pounces and unleashes a hailstorm of ground-and-pound in pursuit of the finish. Petroski is defending well at first, but Brundage is relentless. The shots are beginning to get through and Tognoni is taking a close look. The veteran official gives Petroski plenty of leeway, but the Pennsylvania-based fighter isn’t improving his situation — so the fight is waved off.
That ends a four-bout winless streak for Burndage.

The Official Result
Cody Brundage def. Andre Petroski via TKO (Punches) R2 0:44
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked May 10, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Cody Brundage

Angelo picks Cody Brundage despite acknowledging his inconsistency and cardio issues. He believes Brundage is the better wrestler and striker with more power, and has faced tougher competition. However, he is hesitant due to Brundage's tendency to fade. He loves the +170 odds but is unsure about betting.

"I'm picking Cody because I think he's the better fighter. The skills are there. I think he's the better wrestler. I think he's the better striker. I think he's got more power."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked May 12, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Cody Brundage

Big Brady picks Cody Brundage for the upset, citing Petroski's glass chin and Brundage's early power. He notes that Brundage has wrestling to stuff takedowns early and only needs one shot to knock out Petroski. He admits this is a greasy pick and rarely picks Brundage.

first round KO
"I'm going to take Cody Brundage for the upset."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked May 13, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Cody Brundage

Cody picks Cody Brundage as a dog, despite his poor record, because he believes this is a winnable matchup. He notes that Brundage has struggled against long, rangy fighters, but Andre Petroski is his size and has a similar wrestling style. Cody thinks Brundage's speed and overhand right can catch Petroski, who has poor durability and gasses. He predicts a Brundage knockout in round one.

Brundage by KO in round one; under 1.5 rounds.
"I have a feeling that Cody Brundage is going to finish this fight, catch him with an overhand and knock him out."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked May 15, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Andre Petroski

Connor picks Petroski, agreeing with Zane. He describes Petroski as a busted experiment who is tense and fragile, but Brundage is even worse—a panicking fighter with no technique who corners himself. He notes Brundage could knock himself out by level-changing into a knee.

Same odds as Zane. Connor calls Brundage a 'meatheaded middleweight' and says his fight schedule is 'that of a whore'.
"So, um, yeah, I'll take Petrosky. I think he's, you know, he'll probably get Cody Brundage down. Yeah. I should do it. Should be enough."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked May 10, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Andre Petroski

Lucrative James confidently picks Andre Petroski to win by submission, citing Petroski's superior grappling and top control. He notes Brundage's tendency to quit when pressured and Petroski's ability to take him down. He predicts an inside-the-distance finish.

win by submission
"I have to take Andre Petroski to get the grappling going. And once he gets the grappling going, we've seen time and time again Cody Brundage basically just quits."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked May 12, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Andre Petroski

The host believes Petroski is the better fighter but is hesitant to trust him at -200, as Brundage has power and could land an early knockout. He expects Petroski's wrestling and top pressure to wear down Brundage, leading to a decision win. He is interested in the Petroski decision prop if at +200 or better.

Petroski by decision (if +200 or better)
"I think Petroski will start to wear down Brundage, and I think that's where we'll see Petroski get to his wrestling, and that should be enough to for him to really start grinding this fight out."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 13, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Andre Petroski

The host picks Andre Petroski over Cody Brundage, expecting Petroski's wrestling to take over in deep water. He notes that Petroski's durability must hold up early, but if it does, Petroski will grind out a decision win.

"I fully expect Petroski's wrestling to really start to come through, especially in deep water, as long as his durability can hold up early here. He should be able to survive the early onslaught from Brundage, then really grind this …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked May 13, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Cody Brundage

Paul also leans toward Cody Brundage, joining Cody in the Brundage by KO prop. He notes that Petroski knocked himself out on Malcoun's hip and has suspect durability. He believes Brundage has a chance to land a big shot and finish the fight early.

Brundage by KO.
"I'm going to join you in that uh in the round one and bumage by KO prop because Petroski what knocked out knocked himself out on Malcoun's hip that one time."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked May 15, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Andre Petroski

Zane picks Petroski because he thinks Petroski will get Brundage down and should be enough. He notes Brundage's only idea is to shell up and throw a desperate overhand, and he often panics. However, he acknowledges Brundage could land a big punch.

Odds: Petroski opened -200, now -185; Brundage opened +160, now +170. Zane calls it a 'shit ass fight' and 'bottom barrel'.
"So, um, yeah, I'll take Petrosky. I think he's, you know, he'll probably get Cody Brundage down. Yeah. I should do it. Should be enough."
LOSS vs Donte Johnson
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 326 · Mar 07, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Donte Johnson 0 45 of 106 42% 84 of 146 0 of 0 --- 0 1 3:32
Cody Brundage 0 31 of 83 37% 34 of 88 2 of 7 28% 0 0 4:22
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Donte Johnson 0 10 of 25 40% 29 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Cody Brundage 0 5 of 20 25% 6 of 23 1 of 2 50% 0 0 3:21
2 Donte Johnson 0 13 of 30 43% 28 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 1 3:01
Cody Brundage 0 6 of 14 42% 8 of 16 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:45
3 Donte Johnson 0 22 of 51 43% 27 of 56 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:31
Cody Brundage 0 20 of 49 40% 20 of 49 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:16
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Donte Johnson 45 of 106 42% 35 of 92 4 of 8 6 of 6 35 of 92 0 of 0 10 of 14
Cody Brundage 31 of 83 37% 19 of 70 2 of 3 10 of 10 31 of 82 0 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Donte Johnson 10 of 25 40% 8 of 23 1 of 1 1 of 1 10 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
Cody Brundage 5 of 20 25% 4 of 19 0 of 0 1 of 1 5 of 19 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Donte Johnson 13 of 30 43% 12 of 28 0 of 1 1 of 1 3 of 16 0 of 0 10 of 14
Cody Brundage 6 of 14 42% 1 of 8 2 of 3 3 of 3 6 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Donte Johnson 22 of 51 43% 15 of 41 3 of 6 4 of 4 22 of 51 0 of 0 0 of 0
Cody Brundage 20 of 49 40% 14 of 43 0 of 0 6 of 6 20 of 49 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Cody Brundage vs. Donte Johnson
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Johnson (-620), Brundage (+400)

Round 1
It’s time to officially begin the UFC on CBS era, as this is the first fight from this organization airing on the network. It will also serve as the widest betting disparity on the lineup, this middleweight slobberknocker, as undefeated finisher Johnson (7-0, 1-0 UFC) clocks in around -800 against the skidding Factory X product Brundage (11-8-1, 1 NC; 5-7-1, 1 NC UFC). There are no sure things in MMA, and anything is possible for as long as the fight is on. Referee Marc Goddard will make sure everything is on the up-and-up for its duration, and he bears witness to a sporting glove touch to open the match.
Johnson springs at Brundage after the glove touch, and this puts himself off-balance to the point that Brundage tackles him to the floor in response. Brundage sits on top in half guard, while Johnson scoots himself towards the wall in hopes of escaping. Brundage grinds rather than unleashing any offense, pressing Johnson down with his shoulder. Fans are not amused. Brundage briefly flirts with an arm-triangle choke, and Johnson shakes his neck out of the brief danger. Brundage commits to the arm-triangle, and Johnson leans his shoulder on the wall to take the leverage out of it. Time ticks off the clock with nothing else going on besides Brundage hanging out on top.
Johnson traps his foe’s left hand between his legs to stop any submission from coming together, and Goddard tells them to work. Johnson explodes back to his feet, and Brundage welcomes him back up with a knee to the head. The underdog sticks out a nab, and he catches Johnson flush with a right hand as Johnson’s chin is up in the air as if he were asking to get hit. Brundage blocks and counters with a left, and he knocks Johnson back a few steps. Brundage chips at the front leg, and Johnson splits his guard with a jab. Brundage comes up short with a looping right hand, and he parries and replies with an overhand right. Johnson gets Brundage’s attention with two punches, but Brundage fires back. Brundage shoots for a takedown at the bell, and fans in the building boo him heartily.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Brundage
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Brundage

Round 2
Johnson offers up a glove touch to start off the second round, and does not leap into attack this time. He measures out with a head kick, and Brundage lets go with a right hand. Johnson gets in the pocket to trade, and Brundage is ready and willing to bang it out. Johnson rips a kick to the side and swings for the fences, and he is prepared to defend against a tackling takedown by grabbing hold of Brundage’s neck and pushing him flat to the ground. Brundage remains on his knees and chills out, not concerned about a submission or looking to push any further. Johnson hooks his left arm under the chin but does not go for a guillotine, instead standing back up so he can bust Brundage in the face. Brundage pushes through to take the fight down on his own terms, and he scrambles to get hold of the undefeated fighter’s back.
Johnson looks to shimmy Brundage off of him, as Brundage is high on the back, and this results in Brundage hitting the floor in search of an armlock. Johnson defends the kimura to armbar setup and wrenches his arm out, and he unleashes a flurry of punches to either side of the head. Johnson holds Brundage down with a head lock, smacking him in the side of the head with short but ultimately ineffectual right hands on the inside. Brundage turns to sit himself down with his back to the fencing, and Johnson pops him in the chops with right hand after unanswered right hand. Brundage clings to Johnson, who is flirting with a choke but not committing to it. Johnson pushes off Brundage’s forehead and stands back up, and he slaps Brundage as a finger jams firmly into his eye. Goddard calls time, and Brundage takes a few seconds but wants to get back to business. On the restart, Johnson comes out swinging, and both men land one or two before the awkward round concludes.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Johnson

Round 3
Johnson meanders out of his corner recklessly and unafraid of what comes at him, and Brundage sits back on his heels looking for a counter so that he can set up a double. Johnson pushes him down face-first to the floor and stands back up, and Brundage follows him. Johnson tees off with jabs and the occasional left hand, and Brundage’s body language is poor as he does not look to have much fight left in him. Brundage loops a right hand behind the head, and he kicks the front leg but gets nailed with a counter. Brundage flicks out a few jabs, and one connects while Johnson is marching forward, resulting in him taking a funny step. Johnson tosses out a high kick and offers out a right hand, walking down the offensively muted Brundage. Johnson splits the guard with a jab, and he is answered with one back.
Brundage’s jab does manage to stop Johnson’s biggest of swings, and he suddenly spurs into action with two hooks. Johnson backs off before re-engaging, and the two land single strikes one another. Brundage damages the calf with a few kicks, and he opens a mouse under Johnson’s right eye with his jab. Johnson clubs his man with a right hook, and Brundage answers with a body lock and failed takedown attempt. Johnson frames off and is met with jabs, as Brundage takes a long look at the clock that reads one minute. Brundage loads up on two hooks and looks to the time again. Both lunge with jabs, and Brundage shoots for a double that is stopped in its tracks. Brundage hooks his fingers in the glove to get a takedown, but Johnson rips his hand away and they stand back up. When the 10-second clapper sounds, both men swing it out, with neither landing flush and both struggling until time mercifully expires. Welcome to the UFC on CBS era, indeed.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Brundage (29-28 Brundage)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Brundage (29-28 Johnson)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Brundage (29-28 Brundage)

The Official Result
Donte Johnson def. Cody Brundage via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 1, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Donte Johnson

Big Brady picks Donte Johnson over Cody Brundage. He highlights Johnson's size, power, and quick hands, noting he looked good at middleweight. Brundage took the fight on short notice after a recent KO loss and has a history of quitting when put on his back. Brady expects Johnson to finish Brundage quickly, likely by first-round TKO, as long as he avoids hitting the back of the head.

Johnson by first round knockout
"Give me Dante Johnson to win this fight. I'll take Dante Johnson to win this fight by first round knockout."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Dashon Johnson

Cody also picks Johnson, highlighting his explosiveness and improved grappling. He notes Brundage's tendency to get knocked out or disqualified. He expects Johnson to win by knockout.

"I got Dante Johnson to do the damn thing and collect another knockout win."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Donte Johnson

Connor picks Johnson because Brundage is a limited fighter with poor technique and a tendency to fold when his one idea fails. Johnson is a power wrestler who should outwrestle Brundage, as even lesser wrestlers have done. He notes that Johnson is small for middleweight but that Brundage is not a significant size threat.

"Dante Johnson seems like he can, he's a power wrestler. That's what he wants to do. And yay, Brundage wrestles all the time."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Mar 3, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Dashon Johnson

Daniel Vreeland confidently picks Dashon Johnson, citing his athleticism, undefeated record, and serious approach. He believes Johnson will finish Cody Brundage, who is inconsistent and often loses when facing adversity. Vreeland notes that Brundage is a killer-be-killed fighter but thinks Johnson's confidence and physicality will prevail.

"Dante doesn't strike me as that kind of guy. He strikes me as someone that takes things super seriously and he strikes me as a guy that's going to come in here Saturday night most importantly and finish Cody Brundage."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert picked Mar 5, 2026 (2 days before fight)

The host is undecided on this fight. He notes that Johnson is a heavy favorite (-683) but has only 7 pro fights and has never been past round one, making his cardio unknown. Brundage has improved cardio and is tough, but the host considers it a high-risk bet. He plans to wait until weigh-ins to decide, as he wants to see if Brundage looks compromised. He estimates Brundage might have a 25-30% chance, which would make the +468 odds valuable, but he hasn't committed.

Host mentions implied probabilities: Johnson 87%, Brundage 18%. He says if Brundage has a 25-30% chance, it's a good bet. He will wait for weigh-ins.
"If I were to bet Brendage this weekend, it would be basically taking a calculated gamble on the unknown."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Mar 1, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Dashon Johnson

James picks Dashon Johnson to win by knockout, citing Johnson's athleticism, power, and composure. He notes that Brundage is coming in on short notice and took recent punishment, making him vulnerable. James sees Johnson as a high-ceiling prospect who will overwhelm Brundage.

"I think Dante's going to knock him out. You know, I don't have much more to say about this one, boys."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 3, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Donte Johnson

Johnson is explosive and powerful, but untested. Brundage is durable and can grind early. Johnson should eventually find a knockout in the second or third round. The over 1.5 rounds is a better bet than the heavy moneyline.

over 1.5 rounds at +165; Johnson inside distance
"I like Johnson to win inside the distance, but over that one and a half round mark."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Dashon Johnson

Paul picks Johnson, citing his prospect status and power. He notes Brundage's short notice and poor durability. He expects Johnson to win by knockout, though the price is high.

"Dante Johnson's the pick."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 5, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Donte Johnson

The MMA Guru picks Donte Johnson, calling him a great prospect who should destroy Brundage. He notes Johnson's wrestling and power, and predicts a first-round TKO. He criticizes Brundage for taking short-notice fights.

first round TKO
"I'm going to go Dante Johnson first round TKO."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Donte Johnson

Zane agrees that Johnson should win, calling Brundage a 'fungal infection' who has only beaten low-level opponents. He notes that Brundage has no footwork, no punching technique, and a rudimentary understanding of range. Johnson's wrestling should be enough to take him down and control him.

"Cody Brundage, man. For guys whose name does sound like a sort of fungal infection. He has proven to be persistent because this, his only win since 2023... is an utterly broken down Julian Marquez."
LOSS vs Cam Rowston
KO R2 4:08 · UFC 325 · Feb 01, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Cam Rowston 0 57 of 119 47% 73 of 139 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:04
Cody Brundage 0 29 of 65 44% 31 of 67 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:19
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Cam Rowston 0 23 of 54 42% 23 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Cody Brundage 0 20 of 43 46% 21 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
2 Cam Rowston 0 34 of 65 52% 50 of 85 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:53
Cody Brundage 0 9 of 22 40% 10 of 23 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Cam Rowston 57 of 119 47% 41 of 96 7 of 13 9 of 10 32 of 70 6 of 8 19 of 41
Cody Brundage 29 of 65 44% 22 of 58 1 of 1 6 of 6 27 of 61 2 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Cam Rowston 23 of 54 42% 15 of 41 1 of 5 7 of 8 20 of 50 3 of 4 0 of 0
Cody Brundage 20 of 43 46% 14 of 37 1 of 1 5 of 5 20 of 43 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Cam Rowston 34 of 65 52% 26 of 55 6 of 8 2 of 2 12 of 20 3 of 4 19 of 41
Cody Brundage 9 of 22 40% 8 of 21 0 of 0 1 of 1 7 of 18 2 of 4 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Cody Brundage vs. Cameron Rowston
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Rowston (-360), Brundage (+285)

Round 1
It remains to be seen if Rowston (13-3, 1-0 UFC) pulled his “Battle Giraffe” nickname from One Piece character Kaku, but at least he has a nickname. Brundage (11-7-1, 1 NC; 5-6-1, 1 NC UFC), who could easily call himself “Mr. Unlucky,” does not sport a fighting name. This match for him is a crucial one to see if he can rectify his record to an even .500. Referee Jim Perdios draws the charge for this middleweight affair, one that could take place anywhere before it is all said and done. The athletes do not have any plan on touching gloves before competing.
The tall, rangy Rowston stands firm in the center of the cage, and he gets batted back by a few jabs. He answers with a clean one-two and a low kick, and he checks a leg kick coming back at him. Brundage comes up short when looking for a left hook, and the two men trade hacking leg kicks. Rowston jabs and holds his left hand extended to set up additional punches, and he gets knocked back a step by the American. Rowston takes a left hook square on the chin when threatening with his jab, and Brundage charges him to close his distance and smashes his fist on Rowston’s jaw a few more times. Rowston answers with a knee right on the button, and he lines up and fires off another. Brundage spins with a back fist and stings Rowston, who falls to his hands and gets right back up. Brundage sells out with his big swings to hurt Rowston again, and the Aussie backs off the reset and clear out the cobwebs.
Brundage whiffs on a spinning back fist, and Rowston’s counter meets Brundage cleanly. Rowston steps in with a knee to the sternum, and he takes a right hand across the forward bow. Rowston fakes and feints his way in to draw out reactions, and he dances away from the big swings from the Factory X fighter. Rowston sticks his foe with a pair of jabs, and he kicks low as his foot slides up the leg and bangs into Brundage’s cup. Perdios sees it and immediately calls time, and fans realize it is a foul on the replay. Brundage only needs about 20 seconds to shake it off, and with a minute remaining on the clock, Rowston leads the dance with long jabs and even longer front kicks. Brundage’s counters fall short, as he loads up and puts plenty of arc on his punches while Rowston’s are straight down the middle most of the time. Rowston reaches Brundage with a one-two down the middle, and he walks into a right hand when Brundage digs down deep with a huge hook. Rowston kicks the front leg and jabs, and he slides away from the responses as the round wraps up.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rowston
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Rowston
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rowston

Round 2
Brundage comes out of his corner with a giant smile on his face, and it fades as he starts to deal with the feints and fakes that Rowston constantly offers. Rowston draws out ample reactions by Brundage, and he checks the kick aimed at his leg. Brundage grits his teeth and winds up with bombs, chasing Rowston around and only partially landing. Rowston kicks out Brundage’s leg to disrupt a combination, and he puts a one-two firmly on the chin. Brundage reaches at the end of a left hook, and he bounces off the wall and takes a knee but allows Rowston to get close so he can start slugging. Rowston swings with a big right hand, and Brundage ducks and counters him. Rowston digs a kick to the liver, and he bends Brundage over with a right hand down the middle. Brundage shakes out his right hand after connecting with it, and he continues to hurl it even as Rowston is able to pick up on it. Rowston laughs off a big swing so he can knee Brundage in the face, and Brundage responds with a takedown shot.
The gangly, coordinated Aussie stifles it and turns the corner, where he starts pounding on the side of Brundage’s head. Rowston is able to manhandle Brundage and keep him on his knees, elbowing him a few times and stepping over to set up a choke. Brundage desperately tries to get up and survive but is taking fire on either side of the dome.
Rowston pounds on Brundage, alternating a never-ending stream of lefts and rights on the ear as Brundage’s posture slowly deteriorates. The Aussie keeps on battering the Factory X fighter until Perdios saves the unsuccessful Brundage from his own toughness.
In victory, the man who may or may not still be known as “Battle Giraffe” moves to 2-0 in the Octagon with two knockouts to his credit.

The Official Result
Cameron Rowston def. Cody Brundage R2 4:08 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jan 25, 2026 (7 days before fight)
Cam Rowston

Angelo picks Cam Rowston, citing his durability and ability to weather the storm. He notes that Cody Brundage is talented but inconsistent, with cardio and durability issues. He thinks Rowston will survive the first round and take over in the second and third. He says no bet because he wants to root for Cody without worrying about money.

no bet
"Cam is going to be the pick. I like Cody a lot. I'm going to be rooting for Cody, but if I just have to look at this objectively and say who I think wins, it's going to have to …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 25, 2026 (7 days before fight)
Cam Rowston

Big Brady is confident in Cam Rowston, praising his grappling and knockout power. He notes Rowston is long, rangy, and has submissions over half his wins. He sees no path for Cody Brundage, predicting a second-round submission.

Rowston by submission in round 2
"Give me Camston. I think Cameron Alston wins this fight. ... I'll say he wins this fight by submission. Second round."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jan 28, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Cam Rowston

Cody is very confident in Rowston, criticizing Brundage's tendency to quit and find ways to lose. He notes that Rowston is a big middleweight with good cardio and power, and that Brundage has been outworked and finished in most of his fights. He expects Rowston to win by knockout or decision.

"I think Roston absolutely cooks some. Do I love the money line? Well, like I was hoping to get a better price... but at this number, it's like I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and die on …"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Cam Rowston

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Rowston. He emphasizes that Brundage is a bad fighter who should not be in the UFC, and Rowston's size and awkwardness will be too much. Connor also notes that Rowston is a heavy favorite and the odds are fine.

Same odds commentary.
"Yeah, I gotta pick Ralston, but just a goofy fight. Yeah."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jan 15, 2026 (17 days before fight)
Cam Rowston

Daniel Vreeland confidently picks Rowston to finish Brundage, citing Brundage's history of quitting when pressured and his mental weakness. He notes that Rowston is a confident Australian prospect with dangerous elbows and ground-and-pound, and that Brundage's jet lag and lack of confidence will work against him.

"I think Cam Rousson's going to come out here and finish Cody Brundage emphatically."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jan 25, 2026 (7 days before fight)
Cam Rowston

James picks Rowston to win, noting his better striking and jiu-jitsu, and that Brundage is inconsistent and gasses out. He expects Rowston to finish in later rounds, possibly by rear-naked choke. James acknowledges Brundage's wrestling but believes Rowston's cardio and skill advantage will prevail.

"I've got Kam to win this fight. I've got Kam to finish him in the later rounds, maybe a rear naked choke."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jan 27, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Cam Rowston

Rowston is a long striker with improving confidence and BJJ. He has shown the ability to snipe opponents from distance and finish with strikes or submissions. Brundage is a wild card with durability issues and a tendency to look for an exit when hurt. Rowston should see Brundage's shots coming and counter effectively, possibly getting a club-and-sub finish. The host expects Rowston inside the distance.

Rowston inside the distance; parlay with Rowston
"I'm going to go roasting here and roasting inside the distance."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jan 28, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Cam Rowston

Paul echoes Cody's sentiments, detailing Brundage's history of controversial results and lack of finishing ability. He believes Rowston's size, volume, and durability will be too much for Brundage, who needs a finish or DQ to win.

"Cody Brund needs to finish to win because he's not going to outwork you. He needs to finish you or he needs to get you DQed. That's the only way this thing is going to go down."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 31, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Cam Rowston

The Guru predicts a first-round TKO for Cam Rowston, citing his development at CKB, six-inch reach advantage, and real power in his hands. He dismisses Cody Brundage's grappling, noting Brundage was outgrappled by Dumas. He believes Rowston will put Brundage away early.

first round TKO
"Cam Ralston's going to destroy Cody Brundage in round one."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Cam Rowston

Zane picks Cam Rowston (referred to as Ralston) because he is a huge, awkward wrestler who will make a nuisance of himself. He notes that Brundage tends to go apeshit and lose track of the fight, and Rowston's awkward striking and size advantage should allow him to drag Brundage into his world. Zane acknowledges Rowston is not a great wrestler but believes his awkwardness will be enough.

Rowston opened at -300, now -360; Brundage opened at +250, now +295.
"I'm gonna pick camera Austin to win this me too. He's big and awkward and he isn't a good enough wrestler that he could stop Torres Finney from just taking him down all the time, but he will make a …"
LOSS vs Eric McConico
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Dolidze vs. Hernandez · Aug 09, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Eric McConico 0 31 of 65 47% 43 of 78 3 of 7 42% 0 0 5:28
Cody Brundage 0 26 of 72 36% 54 of 102 0 of 0 --- 0 0 3:12
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Eric McConico 0 8 of 18 44% 8 of 19 1 of 4 25% 0 0 2:32
Cody Brundage 0 3 of 11 27% 8 of 17 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
2 Eric McConico 0 11 of 20 55% 19 of 28 2 of 3 66% 0 0 2:56
Cody Brundage 0 7 of 23 30% 20 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:20
3 Eric McConico 0 12 of 27 44% 16 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Cody Brundage 0 16 of 38 42% 26 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:44
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Eric McConico 31 of 65 47% 26 of 57 3 of 5 2 of 3 19 of 45 12 of 20 0 of 0
Cody Brundage 26 of 72 36% 18 of 58 7 of 13 1 of 1 16 of 53 10 of 19 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Eric McConico 8 of 18 44% 7 of 17 0 of 0 1 of 1 7 of 15 1 of 3 0 of 0
Cody Brundage 3 of 11 27% 2 of 9 1 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 9 1 of 2 0 of 0
2 Eric McConico 11 of 20 55% 8 of 16 2 of 2 1 of 2 0 of 5 11 of 15 0 of 0
Cody Brundage 7 of 23 30% 4 of 19 3 of 4 0 of 0 2 of 11 5 of 12 0 of 0
3 Eric McConico 12 of 27 44% 11 of 24 1 of 3 0 of 0 12 of 25 0 of 2 0 of 0
Cody Brundage 16 of 38 42% 12 of 30 3 of 7 1 of 1 12 of 33 4 of 5 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Cody Brundage vs. Eric McConico
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Brundage (-190); McConico (+160)

Round 1
Don’t look now, but this event taking place tonight at the UFC Apex is the last one scheduled in the building on this year’s current lineup. There are 37 events in UFC confirmed thus far this year, so five-ish more are not yet on the slate and it is entirely possible that November or December shells up with another Apex show. Until then, it’s world traveling after Saturday. This ESPN show—also the last one on the official main ESPN slate for a while, as other sports will be kicking in and taking over like the NFL and their new deal with the UFC’s current broadcast partner. The night beings with a matchup that no one saw coming a week ago. Both fighters jumping up to light heavyweight due to the late notice of the pairing, Brundage (11-6-1, 1 NC; 5-5-1, 1 NC UFC) makes a quick turnaround after his loss overturned to a draw against Tuff-N-Uff veteran McConico (9-3-1, 0-1 UFC). These two could really use a win, and they will try to achieve it under the watchful eye of referee Chris Tognoni. They touch gloves to start off the night, and it’s on with the show.
Advertisement
McConico starts as the initial aggressor, walking the veteran down and looping a massive left hand at his opponent. Brundage throws a kick at the same time, and the booming fist blasts him in the face and sits him down. Brundage tries to preserve himself by shooting for a takedown, and McConico stands up and puts his back to the wall while hacking down with elbows. Tognoni asks for more activity as this action stalls out, so Brundage transitions to a single-leg takedown. McConico keeps his hips wide, and Tognoni splits them up as Brundage fully commits to the single. Neither fighter does much for a spell as they measure one another, with McConico coming up short with a front kick and nothing else. Brundage charges behind big swings, and McConico is well out of harm’s way in time. As McConico bears down on his foe, Brundage counters with a double-leg takedown that he uses to tackle the MMA Lab fighter across the cage and down to his seat.
Brundage lands on top and laces his legs around McConico’s, but McConico is still able to wriggle out and wall-walk to stand. Brundage leans on him from behind, imposing his weight and letting McConico turn around so he can score a right hand. McConico backs off and blocks a head kick, and he probes out with a jab that draws out a knee. Brundage walks through a body kick to fire off his own overhand right, and he gives chase and nails McConico with a few more punches. Brundage launches a head kick and follows with a few step-in knees, and he starts feeling himself and lets his hands go, clubbing McConico and making him bounce off the fencing. McConico grips hold of him to ride out the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 McConico
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Brundage
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 McConico

Round 2
The 205ers typically competing as middleweights touch ‘em up to get going, and McConico starts out firing to back Brundage to the wall. He rips an elbow or two up top, and Brundage responds with hammerfists to the thigh. McConico drives a knee into the gut, and he winds up and blasts Brundage in the midsection again to almost lift him off the ground. Brundage lashes out with an elbow that surprises his opponent, and McConico takes a step back and grits his teeth. The Oregon native unleashes a flurry of fists and knees, and Brundage bounces back at him with fiery fists that catch McConico on the chin and force him to think twice about this brawl. As McConico shakes his head and retreats, Brundage charges after him and takes him to the floor. McConico does not stay on his seat for long, working his way to his feet, although as he leans on the cage, Brundage leans on him.
Brundage pursues the single above all else, and McConico smacks him with an undercut or two beneath Brundage’s elbow. McConico starts spamming elbows to the side of the head when he feels comfortable that he has his balance, and Brundage elevates him slightly to keep threatening. Tognoni asks for more, and Brundage chains into a double and clasps his hands together. After a prolonged effort, Brundage drags McConico away from the fence and deposits him to his back right on top of the Octagon’s central Monster Energy logo. Brundage immediately loops his own legs around McConico’s to keep him stuck on the floor, and Tognoni thinks he is not doing enough and asks for more action. McConico stands up, and Brundage greets him with a head kick. McConico starts stalking his foe down, booting him with his own high kick, digging his shin in the ribs and going upstairs one last time before the round wraps.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Brundage
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 McConico
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Brundage

Round 3
It could be anyone’s fight going into the third stanza, and McConico appears to be the fresher fighter and he demonstrates this by immediately marching forward to attack when the last round commences. Multiple lead-leg kicks come from McConico, who is able to push Brundage back to the wall but not land much cleanly on him. Brundage steps in behind a right hand, and McConico has to reset. The MMA Lab fighter cracks his foe with two left hands, and Brundage takes a hard look at the clock or view screen. McConico engages in the clinch, kneeing the veteran and staying busy enough to not let Brundage counter with a takedown. McConico lets go with an elbow and an uppercut, and Tognoni tells him to not grab the gloves. The elbow cuts the top of Brundage’s head, and blood trickles down his hairline.
Tognoni separates them with a little more than two minutes remaining, and Brundage has a bit of energy and offers it with a looping right hand. McConico walks through it to fire back, but it is Brundage who tags him again with another short but effective right. Brundage rushes forward, and McConico gears up and surges into action with a salvo of punches mixed in with body kicks. Brundage keeps his back against the wall, circling away before darting forward with a knee. Brundage clips McConico with a right hand, who staggers back and regains his footing. Brundage wings a right hand, and he tries a second when the first succeeds. McConico shrugs it off and smacks him with a left hook and a head kick. McConico ducks down to set up a big left, and he narrowly avoids a spinning back fist. Brundage ends the fight with a massive right hand that McConico blinks out, and the close match concludes with judges likely having their hands full.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Brundage (29-28 Brundage)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 McConico (29-28 McConico)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 McConico (29-28 McConico)

The Official Result
Eric McConico def. Cody Brundage via Split Decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Cody Brundage

Big Brady is confident in Cody Brundage, noting that Brundage is typically an underdog but this matchup favors him. He criticizes McConico's performance in his last fight, where he landed only four strikes in the first round before getting knocked out. Brady believes Brundage won't have to worry about a murderous power puncher or high-level grappler, and expects Brundage to shine and get a finish. He picks Brundage by first-round knockout.

first round knockout
"I'm picking him here against Eric McConico. I think they're doing Cody Brundage a favor... Give me Cody Brundage. I'll take him to win by first round knockout."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Cody Brundage

The host believes the short notice nature of the matchup favors Cody Brundage, allowing him to make the fight chaotic from the start. He predicts Brundage will find a knockout under one and a half rounds, indicating confidence in Brundage's ability to finish early.

under 1.5 rounds
"I think the short notice nature of this matchup favors Cody Brundage and that will allow him to make this fight chaotic from jump and eventually find that knockout under one and a half rounds."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 8, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Cody Brundage

The MMA Guru picks Cody Brundage, noting that despite Brundage's odd career, he found an opponent he can beat. He believes Brundage was winning against Mansour Abdul-Malik before the no contest and can replicate that performance. He expects Brundage to mix in grappling and win by decision, possibly 29-28 or 30-27.

"I'm going to go with Cody Brundage. Now, I never thought I'd ever say those words ever again, but somehow they have found an opponent that Cody Brundage can beat in the UFC."
Draw R3 0:36 · UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley · Jun 14, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Mansur Abdul-Malik 0 25 of 73 34% 25 of 73 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Cody Brundage 0 30 of 67 44% 30 of 67 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Mansur Abdul-Malik 0 4 of 15 26% 4 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Cody Brundage 0 11 of 21 52% 11 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Mansur Abdul-Malik 0 10 of 28 35% 10 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Cody Brundage 0 10 of 31 32% 10 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Mansur Abdul-Malik 0 11 of 30 36% 11 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Cody Brundage 0 9 of 15 60% 9 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Mansur Abdul-Malik 25 of 73 34% 17 of 55 3 of 13 5 of 5 18 of 60 0 of 0 7 of 13
Cody Brundage 30 of 67 44% 18 of 49 2 of 8 10 of 10 29 of 66 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Mansur Abdul-Malik 4 of 15 26% 2 of 10 0 of 3 2 of 2 4 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
Cody Brundage 11 of 21 52% 5 of 12 1 of 4 5 of 5 11 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Mansur Abdul-Malik 10 of 28 35% 5 of 18 2 of 7 3 of 3 10 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
Cody Brundage 10 of 31 32% 4 of 22 1 of 4 5 of 5 10 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Mansur Abdul-Malik 11 of 30 36% 10 of 27 1 of 3 0 of 0 4 of 17 0 of 0 7 of 13
Cody Brundage 9 of 15 60% 9 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0 8 of 14 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Cody Brundage
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Abdul-Malik (-800), Brundage (+500)

Round 1
The line on this middleweight pairing may not be quite as ludicrous as Wellmaker vs. Moutinho, but Abdul-Malik (8-0, 2-0 UFC) is coming in as a favorite anywhere from -950 to -1200, give or take. With eight finishes across his eight victories, prognosticators believe that his battle with Brundage (11-6, 1 NC; 5-5, 1 NC UFC) may not last long, win or lose. Referee Brent McKeehan is distinctly aware of the possibility, and is on his A-game right out of the gate. Fists are bumped before they are traded, and Brundage fires off some early warning kicks to demonstrate he is not going to be such an easy out. He lands a low kick as Abdul-Malik comes towards him, and he connects with a clean right hand. Brundage’s front kick pushes off the chest, and Abdul-Malik’s is much heavier in response. Brundage stands firm and delivers a kick to the body and one to the lead leg, and Abdul-Malik is unable to find his way in. The middleweights trade punches, and Abdul-Malik drives a front kick through the guard that surprises Brundage. Abdul-Malik walks him down but lets him entirely off the hook. Brundage strikes the front leg and fires a front kick down the middle, before lunging with an overhand right. Abdul-Malik swings a body kick and leaps at his foe with a jump knee, and Brundage steels himself and wings a pair of body shots back at him. The cautious round ends, and again fans drown the competitors out with boos.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Abdul-Malik
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Abdul-Malik
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Abdul-Malik

Round 2
After a quick fist bump, the two meet in the middle of the cage without trading. Abdul-Malik tests the waters with a low kick, and he chambers a head kick and is met on the way down with an inside leg kick. Neither fighter is willing to commit to anything, resulting in a lull in action. Abdul-Malik decides to start fighting suddenly, running at Brundage and catching him with a right hand. Brundage retaliates with a flying knee, and Abdul-Malik tags him with another right on the ear as he plants his feet. The blow cuts Brundage behind his ear, which starts bleeding heavily down his neck. He paws at it and pays it little mind, instead winging a right hand at the overwhelming favorite. Abdul-Malik walks into a left hand as he tries to attack with a knee, and then they back off and measure one another for a while. Abdul-Malik eventually pushes out a front kick, and Brundage finds a way in and connects with two punches. Brundage’s overhand right just misses as the crowd gasps, seemingly desperate for a clean, solid strike to land. Brundage crashes the pocket but backs off when taking a low kick. Abdul-Malik spins with a back kick, and Brundage retaliates with an overhand right. The horn sounds to wrap the disappointing round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Brundage
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Brundage
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Brundage

Round 3
Abdul-Malik runs at his opponent as soon as the round begins, railing Brundage with a flying knee. This immediately devolves in a ludicrous brawl, where both fighters wing hooks with everything they have. Abdul-Malik hurts Brundage, Brundage returns fire, and they proceed to bang it out. Brundage closes in and drives in a knee, and Abdul-Malik turns the corner and rails his opponent with a flush knee to the sternum and a direct head clash. Brundage goes down in a heap, shelling up as Abdul-Malik unloads on him with fiery fists. Abdul-Malik swings with bad intentions, and McKeehan gives Brundage every opportunity to recover before waving the fight off. Brundage immediately protests that he went down because of the clash of heads and not the knee, and the replay official is called upon to show the clear clash of heads. One of the unluckiest fighters in the sport has yet another bizarre ending in his strange tenure with the UFC, and it is up to McKeehan and the officials to send this one to the scorecards for a technical decision due to the fight-ending headbutt and the bout reaching the third round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Abdul-Malik (29-28 Abdul-Malik)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Abdul-Malik (29-28 Abdul-Malik)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Abdul-Malik (29-28 Abdul-Malik)

The Official Result
Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Cody Brundage via Technical Decision (Unanimous) R3 0:36
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Mansur Abdul-Malik

Angelo picks Mansur because he believes the adversity in his last fight gave him a wake-up call. He expects Mansur to wrestle and avoid a firefight with Cody, who is dangerous early. He notes that if Mansur engages in a firefight, he is screwed.

I'm probably going to stay away from this one
"I'm going to pick Mansour because I think the adversity in his last fight gave him a little bit of a wakeup call."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Mansur Abdul-Malik

Big Brady picks Mansur Abdul-Malik by first-round knockout. He expects a violent fight where both swing, but believes Malik's power and ground-and-pound will be too much for Brundage. He notes Brundage is dangerous early but has been fed tough opponents, and Malik is the most terrifying yet.

first round knockout
"I'm going to take Mansur Daleik to win this fight by first round knockout."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 12, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Mansur Abdul-Malik

Connor picks Abdul-Malik, emphasizing the massive reach advantage (79.5 vs 72 inches) and Brundage's tendency to implode when his initial plan fails. He notes that Abdul-Malik is a composed, powerful fighter who will make Brundage work to get inside, leaving him open to counters. Connor thinks Brundage's only chance is an early guillotine, but that is unlikely.

Abdul-Malik opened at -423, now -803; Brundage opened at +287, now +617.
"It's just hard to imagine how he actually loses this fight it really is"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 12, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Mansur Abdul-Malik

Abdul-Malik's athleticism, explosivity, and power will find a big shot to put Brundage away early. Brundage is expected to break quickly under that pressure.

round 1 knockout
"I think Abdul Malik will utilize his athleticism, explosivity, and power to find that big shot to put Brundage away early here."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 13, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Mansur Abdul-Malik

The Guru picks Mansur Abdul-Malik, calling him a powerful prospect who will finish Cody Brundage in the first round. He notes Brundage's tendency to 'tuck up in a ball' when grappling doesn't go his way, as seen against Sedriques Dumas. He expects a TKO, though he acknowledges Brundage could win if he gets a guillotine.

Mansur Abdul-Malik by first-round TKO; also mentioned a prop bet on fight time under 5.5 minutes
"Mansur Abdul Malik is going to [ __ ] up Cody Brundage like what is what is this matchmaking ... I think that Mansur Abdul Malik is going to chin Cody Brundage in the first round."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 12, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Mansur Abdul-Malik

Zane picks Abdul-Malik confidently, noting that Brundage's shallow game plan and inability to adjust will leave him exposed. He points out that Abdul-Malik is young, powerful, and composed, and that Brundage's only path is to wrestle, but he lacks the depth to maintain it. Zane compares this to the Abdul-Razak Alhassan fight where Brundage was brutally finished.

Abdul-Malik opened at -423, now -803; Brundage opened at +287, now +617. Zane says the odds are too wide but understandable.
"Abdul Malik for sure he's just too powerful and too strong too tireless"
KO R1 4:45 · UFC Fight Night 253 · Mar 01, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Cody Brundage 1 44 of 79 55% 68 of 106 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:48
Julian Marquez 0 37 of 73 50% 53 of 96 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Cody Brundage 1 44 of 79 55% 68 of 106 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:48
Julian Marquez 0 37 of 73 50% 53 of 96 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:30
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Cody Brundage 44 of 79 55% 39 of 71 1 of 2 4 of 6 34 of 65 5 of 8 5 of 6
Julian Marquez 37 of 73 50% 31 of 64 5 of 8 1 of 1 24 of 51 13 of 22 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Cody Brundage 44 of 79 55% 39 of 71 1 of 2 4 of 6 34 of 65 5 of 8 5 of 6
Julian Marquez 37 of 73 50% 31 of 64 5 of 8 1 of 1 24 of 51 13 of 22 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Cody Brundage vs. Julian Marquez
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Marquez (-155), Brundage (+130)

Round 1
The year is 2025, and the UFC has placed Brundage (10-6, 1 NC; 4-5, 1 NC UFC) and Marquez (9-5, 3-4 UFC)—two men with UFC records below .500—in a co-main event slot. With dueling walkouts of “Fantasy” by Mariah Carey for the former and the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” for the latter, all 50 or so people visible in the Apex are having a blast. The middleweights will be joined in the cage by referee Mark Smith. They touch gloves. Marquez runs forward and stops just before getting kicked in the head, but Brundage comes at him with a knee and a massive right hand. A second bomb of a right hand hurts Marquez, who stumbles back and bounces off the fence to stay afloat. Brundage leaps at him with a flying knee, and when he misses, Marquez pushes him away and may have gotten away with an eye poke. Brundage wipes at his eye and lets loose a head kick, and he chops at the front leg with a kick. Brundage sits down on a right hand when Marquez is aiming at the body, and he beats “The Cuban Missile Crisis” to the punch with a jab and an overhand right. Brundage snaps the head back with an uppercut, and he gets pushed back from the blunt force of a clubbing punch from his opponent. Brundage leaps at his man and lands on the ground, and Marquez dives down for a possible takedown. Brundage locks up a Dave Schultz front headlock, and Marquez fights out of it, gets to his feet and drills Brundage with a left hand. Brundage shakes it off and strikes back with a right hand up top, and both men start swinging for the fences from up close. Brundage breaks up the firefight with a head kick, and he leans back as a right hook zooms past him. Brundage settles himself down and chips at the front leg, and Marquez snaps out a power jab and follows it with a monster right hand that dislodges Brundage’s mouthpiece. Brundage, in grave danger, leans over and finds himself in guillotine choke danger. Through sheer force of will, Brundage leans up and surges into action with hilariously damaging punches. Brundage knocks Marquez’ mouthpiece out as well in a scene out of an action movie, and both men blast one another with everything they have. Smith finds a moment to pause and give them both their gumshields back, and they replace them and come back out swinging.
With shades of the Toughman contests of old, both middleweights decide that it is time to slug one another in the face violently and brutally until Marquez hits the deck courtesy of a tremendous right hand. Brundage leaps on top and starts blasting with his free right hand, and Marquez desperately shoots for a takedown to try to get his wits back. Brundage does not let his man off the hook, hammering the MMA Lab fighter with thudding blows. Smith implores Marquez to fight back, but the way Brundage is positioned from behind with his left arm wrapping up Marquez, Marquez is unable to posture up or defend himself. As punches continue rapping Marquez upside the head, Smith has no choice but to say enough is enough and call an end to this ridiculous slobberknocker.
Overcome with emotions, a tear-stricken Brundage roars, and the Apex gets about as loud as it possibly can be after that gunslinger’s duel giving it up for the two men in the Octagon. Marquez removes his gloves after the terrific match but does not appear to leave them in the cage, perhaps deciding not to make a rash decision after such a fun clash.

The Official Result
Cody Brundage def. Julian Marquez R1 4:45 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 23, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Cody Brundage

Angelo picks Cody Brundage, citing his wrestling background, power, and the fact that Julian Marquez is coming off back-to-back knockout losses with a year layoff. He acknowledges Brundage's questionable fight IQ but believes he is a good fighter overall. He also notes that both fighters are exciting and expects the fight to end early.

Under on total rounds (fight likely ends early)
"Cody Brun wins this fight I don't know if it's going to be as clear as the Power Bomb win over Zack ree but I do think Cody brunish can win this fight but like every other Cody Brundage or …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Feb 24, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Big Brady hesitantly picks Julian Marquez, citing his durability and heart, as well as a slick submission game. He notes Cody Brundage is more skilled but has a bad nail and may quit if hurt. He predicts Marquez will win by first-round submission after Brundage gets hurt and shoots for a takedown.

Marquez by submission round 1; 'club and sub'
"I'll pick Marquez to win this fight by submission club and sub... give me Julian Marquez first round club and sub"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Connor picks Marquez, noting that Brundage has a single idea that quickly exhausts, while Marquez is a willing scrapper who can fight through adversity. He mentions that Marquez has been getting knocked out lately but still has the toughness to outlast Brundage. Connor also jokes about Marquez's personality but sticks with him as the pick.

Same odds commentary as Zane.
"I'm still picking marquez. But this is a stupid ass fight."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Feb 26, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

The host expects a chaotic matchup and suggests the under 1.5 rounds is the best bet. He leans with Marquez, believing his power striking and slick submissions can catch Brundage, who has been hurt repeatedly. However, he notes Brundage could also catch Marquez, who has lost three straight by knockout. He predicts a club-and-sub within the first round and a half.

under 1.5 rounds minus 150, club and sub within first round and a half
"I'm going to have to lean with Marquez as I believe his power striking approach and Slick submissions could eventually catch Brundage in some trouble we've seen Brundage get hurt over and over again and I think Marquez is able …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Cody Brundage

The Guru picks Cody Brundage over Julian Marquez. He notes Marquez is on a three-fight losing streak, older, and possibly struggling with drinking. Brundage is younger, hungrier, and has finishing potential. He predicts a finish for Brundage.

"I'm going with Cody Brundage... I'm going to say that Cody brandage gets this one done maybe by finish himself."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Zane picks Marquez despite his recent knockout losses, citing Marquez's willingness to scrap and fight through adversity. He notes that Brundage has a one-plan approach that falls apart after 30 seconds, and while Brundage might have a good idea early, Marquez's brawling will eventually overwhelm him. Zane acknowledges the fight is low-level but favors Marquez's toughness.

Marquez opened -147, now -137; Brundage opened +113, now +124. Zane says the line should be dead even.
"So, yeah, i'm i'm still picking marquez. But this is a stupid ass fight."
No Contest (illegal elbows) R1 0:37 · UFC on ESPN: Namajunas vs. Cortez · Jul 13, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Abdul Razak Alhassan 0 23 of 30 76% 24 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:27
Cody Brundage 0 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Abdul Razak Alhassan 0 23 of 30 76% 24 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:27
Cody Brundage 0 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Abdul Razak Alhassan 23 of 30 76% 23 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 4 19 of 26
Cody Brundage 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Abdul Razak Alhassan 23 of 30 76% 23 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 4 19 of 26
Cody Brundage 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cody Brundage
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Alhassan (-162), Brundage (+136)

Round 1
To kick off the main card, the UFC matched up two middleweight finishers that do not like to waste much time in the cage. All 12 victories for “Judo Thunder” Alhassan (12-6, 6-6 UFC) have come by knockout, while Brundage (10-6, 4-5 UFC) has seen eight of his 10 pro wins come inside the distance. Keeping control of the cage for this clash will be referee Dan Miragliotta, and the fighters touch gloves. Brundage whips a one-two at his foe and shoots for a takedown. Alhassan laughs in the face of the takedown and stops it in its tracks while elbowing Brundage in the side of the head, and he shoves Brundage over and busts him in the face with a number of ferocious punches. Brundage rolls around to survive the onslaught, and Alhassan keeps pounding on him. Brundage gets to his knees, and Alhassan hacks at him with elbows that drill the Factory X fighter in the side and back of the head. When two slam into his noggin illegally, Miragliotta emphatically calls time and breaks the fighters apart because of the fouls. Miragliotta informs Alhassan of the bad strikes and also tells him that the angle was close to 12-6 as well. Brundage remains on the ground, struggling to clear his vision as he is clearly compromised from the blows. Miragliotta has Brundage stand up to try to get his head straight, and he calls in the doctor to check on Brundage’s condition. Brundage is in a bad way, as he leans against the cage and is not having a good day. The bloodthirsty crowd hollers at Brundage, and he takes a seat against the cage and tells the doctor that his day is over. Brundage yells at Alhassan, who is upset that there will be a stoppage but not a win. Miragliotta consults with referee Herb Dean to confirm that the ruling will be a no contest due to accidentally illegal elbows, and the fight is waved off with Miragliotta making the normal arm motions that signal a fight’s conclusion. Meanwhile, Brundage’s coach tells him what happened, as Brundage appears to have no recollection of the fight. It is a disappointing result after the bonkers opening seconds, and one hopes the promotion puts this match back together in a month or two.

The Official Result
Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cody Brundage is Ruled a No Contest (Illegal Elbows) R1 0:37
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 7, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Cody Brundage

Angelo picks Cody Brundage as an underdog, citing his insane early pressure, wrestling ability, and power. He notes that Abdul Razak Alhassan rarely uses his high-level judo defensively, leading to a striking match where Brundage's well-roundedness gives him an edge. Angelo also jokes about Brundage's new hairline (Turkish Hair Replacement) boosting confidence. He cautions against betting the under 1.5 rounds as it didn't hit in Brundage's last fight.

Cautions against betting under 1.5 rounds.
"I'm going to pick the underdog I'm going Cody Brundage because the insane pressure early he does have wrestling"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Abdul Razak Alhassan

Cody picks Alhassan, citing his power and durability. He notes Brundage's tendency to quit and believes Alhassan's cardio, though poor, is better than Brundage's. He expects a first-round knockout or a grind where Alhassan's toughness prevails.

"Abdul razak alassan will be the pick for me."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Abdul Razak Alhassan

Daniel Vreeland picks Abdul Razak Alhassan to win. He dismisses the idea that Cody Brundage will wrestle for 15 minutes, calling Brundage a 'kill or be killed' fighter who folds under adversity. He notes that Brundage has poor cardio and has never won a decision against quality opposition. He expects Alhassan's power to overwhelm Brundage early.

"I'm going Abdul razak alhassen to uh to get this dub."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jul 12, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Cody Brundage

Cody Brundage will apply a grinding approach to wear on Alhassan's gas tank. If Brundage doesn't get squashed early, he should push through in deep waters and grind out a decision. The plus 450 decision prop is a good look.

Brundage by decision +450
"I think the plus 450 decision prop here on Brundage is not a bad look"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Abdul Razak Alhassan

Paul picks Alhassan, citing his power and durability. He notes Brundage's history of quitting and believes Alhassan's toughness will be the difference. He expects a finish, possibly by knockout, but acknowledges both fighters have cardio issues at altitude.

"Abdul Rak alhassan is going to figure out a way how to get the job done."
LOSS vs Bo Nickal
Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 3:38 · UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill · Apr 13, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Bo Nickal 0 8 of 13 61% 45 of 59 3 of 6 50% 2 0 7:25
Cody Brundage 0 4 of 12 33% 33 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Bo Nickal 0 5 of 7 71% 24 of 28 2 of 4 50% 0 0 4:25
Cody Brundage 0 2 of 6 33% 16 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
2 Bo Nickal 0 3 of 6 50% 21 of 31 1 of 2 50% 2 0 3:00
Cody Brundage 0 2 of 6 33% 17 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Bo Nickal 8 of 13 61% 6 of 11 2 of 2 0 of 0 3 of 5 0 of 0 5 of 8
Cody Brundage 4 of 12 33% 1 of 9 3 of 3 0 of 0 2 of 10 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Bo Nickal 5 of 7 71% 5 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 4 of 4
Cody Brundage 2 of 6 33% 0 of 4 2 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 5 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Bo Nickal 3 of 6 50% 1 of 4 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 4
Cody Brundage 2 of 6 33% 1 of 5 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 5 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Nickal (-2100), Brundage (+1100)

Round 1
The main card opens up with the widest discrepancy on the betting lines tonight by a mile. As a prohibitive -1400, Nickal (5-0, 2-0 UFC) is largely expected to walk through the tough but outmatched-on-paper Brundage (10-5, 3-4 UFC). There are many questions that could be answered, as the unbeaten four-time DI NCAA All-American has never before competed beyond the three-minute mark in an MMA match. Whether this match lasts 15 seconds or 15 minutes, referee Chris Tognoni is on the call and ready for action. The underdog offers a glove touch, but Nickal wants nothing to do with it. Instead, Nickal fakes shooting for a takedown almost immediately. Brundage is well out of the way, and he fires off a flying head kick and a jump knee. Brundage lands a hard right hand to surprise the unbeaten fighter, and Nickal responds with a power punch and a takedown attempt. Brundage rolls through to get back to his feet, and Nickal presses him hard against the fence. Nickal scoops Brundage up and slams him down, and Brundage pops right back up without batting an eye. Nickal succeeds to get a mat return, dropping Brundage down to his knees, but Brundage stands up before Nickal can get hooks in. Nickal pushes down his full body weight to trap Brundage down on the ground, and he slithers a hook in and sneaks his arm under the chin for a second. Brundage turns his head to the side to thwart the choke, and Nickal keeps one arm on the chin to threaten. Brundage hand-fights to stop the choke from landing, and Nickal elects to just brute force squeeze his head like a nutcracker. Brundage pushes off enough to get space, and Nickal steps over to full mount while claiming a guillotine. Nickal sits up and has Brundage’s left arm trapped beneath his legs, and he starts beating on Brundage with elbows. Brundage times a shifting Nickal to turn to his knees and lean against the wall, and Nickal stays on him without a hook in fishing for a choke. Nickal gets a hook in from behind, and Brundage keeps two-on-one wrist control to stop any submission danger. Nickal bops him in the face with feeble punches, and Brundage laughs him off as the crowd gives it up for him. Brundage maintains control on the wrist and signals for Tognoni to let him up, and he rides out the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nickal
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Nickal
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Nickal

Round 2
As soon as the round begins, Tognoni calls time to remove some debris from the Octagon. The fighter begin, and Brundage walks Nickal down and lines up an overhand right. Nickal throws a high kick from an odd angle, and when he tries to transition to a takedown, Brundage slings him mightily to the ground. Brundage goes after him and tries to lay into him with strikes, but Nickal recovers, shoots and completes a takedown. Brundage turns to his side as he tries to stand, and Nickal lands sporadic ground-and-pound as he moves into half guard. The crowd gets restless again at Nickal wrestling so heavily, but he ignores it and passes the full mount. Brundage throws punches from his back, and Nickal presses his chest down to set up an arm-triangle choke. Nickal lets it go to land a punch, and he hunts for elbows while Brundage holds onto his face. Nickal postures up and slams down some ground-and-pound, forcing Brundage to turn around and give up his back. Brundage finds himself in immediately submission danger, with Nickal latching onto a rear-naked choke grip that is not yet beneath the chin. Brundage fights off the choke, and Nickal switches arms and slithers the forearm under the chin. Brundage knows he has been outhustled here, and he surrenders before the choke puts him out. Nickal releases the grip on the tap, and he stands up and starts booing himself while putting both thumbs down. He appears not impressed with his own performance.

The Official Result
Bo Nickal def. Cody Brundage R2 3:38 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lock picked Apr 7, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Bo Nickal

Angelo is extremely confident in Bo Nickal, calling the -2400 odds correct with 96% implied probability. He notes Brundage has power and could land a lucky shot, but Nickal's wrestling is overwhelming. He advises against parlaying Nickal due to poor value and suggests under 1.5 rounds as a better bet.

Under 1.5 rounds; advises not to parlay
"the minus 2400 odds on b nickel now are honestly correct that converts ... 96% and I am 96% sure that b nickel wins this fight"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Bo Nickal

Cody is extremely confident in Bo Nickal, noting his elite wrestling and the low level of competition he's faced. He points out that Brundage has poor fight IQ, citing his pulling guard on Ralek Gracie when he was winning, and his tendency to gas out. Cody mentions Brundage has been taken down by Nick Maximov and has no dynamic striking. He expects Nickal to dominate and finish inside the distance, likely by TKO or submission, and thinks the fight won't go past the first round and a half.

Inside the distance, under 1.5 rounds
"Bo romps this guy I'm thinking under one and a half B I want to say by TKO submission is obviously on the table though so you're probably going B inside the distance."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Bo Nickal

Daniel Vreeland picks Bo Nickal, noting that even high-IQ Cody Brundage plays into Nickal's strengths. He mentions that Brundage's path to victory is narrow, possibly a knockout, but that Nickal's wrestling and jiu-jitsu are world-class. He suggests that if betting Brundage, one should take a KO prop at high odds rather than the moneyline.

Cody Brundage KO prop at plus 3000 or first round KO at plus 5500
"high IQ Cody brage is the Cody brage that plays right into B Nichols strength so even high IQ Cody brage would will not win this fight"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Apr 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Bo Nickal

Daniel Vreeland picks Bo Nickal to win, but notes he is not laying 25 units to win one. He acknowledges Nickal's wrestling advantage and expects a first-round finish, but warns that Brundage has knockout power and could pull off an upset. Vreeland is curious to see Nickal past round one but believes he will dominate.

"pure pick is Bo Nickal but no I am not laying 25 units to win one"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Bo Nickal

Jeff Fox picks Bo Nickal, agreeing with Vreeland. He notes that if he had $100 to bet and didn't want to lose it, he'd bet Nickal. He mentions that Brundage could knock Nickal out, but that's a low-probability event, and that Nickal is the safe pick.

"if I got a $100 I've got a $100 that I got a bet on this fight and I don't want to lose my1 I bet b n"
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Apr 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Lucrative James does not make a pick for this fight. He says it is what it is but it's good to see Bo Nickal continue his rise. He mentions Cody Brundage has cashed tickets for him in the past. No prediction is given.

"Bo Nickal versus Cody Brundage is what it is but it's good to see Bo Nickal and you know Cody Brundage is the man for cashing us all those tickets over the years"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 12, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Bo Nickal

Nickal will get to his takedown quickly and rain down big shots from top position for a TKO win. Brundage is the toughest opponent Nickal has faced but it won't be enough.

TKO
"I think we'll see nickel get to his takedown pretty quickly here and then from that top position rain down big shots and win this fight by TKO"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Bo Nickal

Paul sees this as a clear mismatch. He notes that Nickal hasn't faced any adversity yet, so his chin and resolve are untested, but Brundage is not the guy to test them. Paul calls Brundage 'Cody Bumd' and points out his poor performances, including getting knocked out by Alexei Kunchenko and being outgrappled by Nick Maximov. He believes Nickal will easily take Brundage down and finish him. Paul says the moneyline is too short to bet, but everyone will take Nickal inside the distance.

Inside the distance
"I mean the money line what can you do with it but I think everybody's going to take this one inside the distance."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 8, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Bo Nickal

The MMA Guru picks Bo Nickal to win by first-round finish, calling Cody Brundage a sacrificial lamb. He criticizes Brundage's recent wins as flukes and believes Nickal is superior everywhere. He notes Nickal's high-pressure experience and predicts a rear-naked choke or TKO.

first round finish
"Bo nickel gone rag go this fat boy and he's going to find the finish I reckon by rear naked choke."
Julian Marquez - Fight History
LOSS vs Cody Brundage
KO R1 4:45 · UFC Fight Night 253 · Mar 01, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Cody Brundage 1 44 of 79 55% 68 of 106 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:48
Julian Marquez 0 37 of 73 50% 53 of 96 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Cody Brundage 1 44 of 79 55% 68 of 106 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:48
Julian Marquez 0 37 of 73 50% 53 of 96 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:30
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Cody Brundage 44 of 79 55% 39 of 71 1 of 2 4 of 6 34 of 65 5 of 8 5 of 6
Julian Marquez 37 of 73 50% 31 of 64 5 of 8 1 of 1 24 of 51 13 of 22 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Cody Brundage 44 of 79 55% 39 of 71 1 of 2 4 of 6 34 of 65 5 of 8 5 of 6
Julian Marquez 37 of 73 50% 31 of 64 5 of 8 1 of 1 24 of 51 13 of 22 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Cody Brundage vs. Julian Marquez
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Marquez (-155), Brundage (+130)

Round 1
The year is 2025, and the UFC has placed Brundage (10-6, 1 NC; 4-5, 1 NC UFC) and Marquez (9-5, 3-4 UFC)—two men with UFC records below .500—in a co-main event slot. With dueling walkouts of “Fantasy” by Mariah Carey for the former and the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” for the latter, all 50 or so people visible in the Apex are having a blast. The middleweights will be joined in the cage by referee Mark Smith. They touch gloves. Marquez runs forward and stops just before getting kicked in the head, but Brundage comes at him with a knee and a massive right hand. A second bomb of a right hand hurts Marquez, who stumbles back and bounces off the fence to stay afloat. Brundage leaps at him with a flying knee, and when he misses, Marquez pushes him away and may have gotten away with an eye poke. Brundage wipes at his eye and lets loose a head kick, and he chops at the front leg with a kick. Brundage sits down on a right hand when Marquez is aiming at the body, and he beats “The Cuban Missile Crisis” to the punch with a jab and an overhand right. Brundage snaps the head back with an uppercut, and he gets pushed back from the blunt force of a clubbing punch from his opponent. Brundage leaps at his man and lands on the ground, and Marquez dives down for a possible takedown. Brundage locks up a Dave Schultz front headlock, and Marquez fights out of it, gets to his feet and drills Brundage with a left hand. Brundage shakes it off and strikes back with a right hand up top, and both men start swinging for the fences from up close. Brundage breaks up the firefight with a head kick, and he leans back as a right hook zooms past him. Brundage settles himself down and chips at the front leg, and Marquez snaps out a power jab and follows it with a monster right hand that dislodges Brundage’s mouthpiece. Brundage, in grave danger, leans over and finds himself in guillotine choke danger. Through sheer force of will, Brundage leans up and surges into action with hilariously damaging punches. Brundage knocks Marquez’ mouthpiece out as well in a scene out of an action movie, and both men blast one another with everything they have. Smith finds a moment to pause and give them both their gumshields back, and they replace them and come back out swinging.
With shades of the Toughman contests of old, both middleweights decide that it is time to slug one another in the face violently and brutally until Marquez hits the deck courtesy of a tremendous right hand. Brundage leaps on top and starts blasting with his free right hand, and Marquez desperately shoots for a takedown to try to get his wits back. Brundage does not let his man off the hook, hammering the MMA Lab fighter with thudding blows. Smith implores Marquez to fight back, but the way Brundage is positioned from behind with his left arm wrapping up Marquez, Marquez is unable to posture up or defend himself. As punches continue rapping Marquez upside the head, Smith has no choice but to say enough is enough and call an end to this ridiculous slobberknocker.
Overcome with emotions, a tear-stricken Brundage roars, and the Apex gets about as loud as it possibly can be after that gunslinger’s duel giving it up for the two men in the Octagon. Marquez removes his gloves after the terrific match but does not appear to leave them in the cage, perhaps deciding not to make a rash decision after such a fun clash.

The Official Result
Cody Brundage def. Julian Marquez R1 4:45 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 23, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Cody Brundage

Angelo picks Cody Brundage, citing his wrestling background, power, and the fact that Julian Marquez is coming off back-to-back knockout losses with a year layoff. He acknowledges Brundage's questionable fight IQ but believes he is a good fighter overall. He also notes that both fighters are exciting and expects the fight to end early.

Under on total rounds (fight likely ends early)
"Cody Brun wins this fight I don't know if it's going to be as clear as the Power Bomb win over Zack ree but I do think Cody brunish can win this fight but like every other Cody Brundage or …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Feb 24, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Big Brady hesitantly picks Julian Marquez, citing his durability and heart, as well as a slick submission game. He notes Cody Brundage is more skilled but has a bad nail and may quit if hurt. He predicts Marquez will win by first-round submission after Brundage gets hurt and shoots for a takedown.

Marquez by submission round 1; 'club and sub'
"I'll pick Marquez to win this fight by submission club and sub... give me Julian Marquez first round club and sub"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Connor picks Marquez, noting that Brundage has a single idea that quickly exhausts, while Marquez is a willing scrapper who can fight through adversity. He mentions that Marquez has been getting knocked out lately but still has the toughness to outlast Brundage. Connor also jokes about Marquez's personality but sticks with him as the pick.

Same odds commentary as Zane.
"I'm still picking marquez. But this is a stupid ass fight."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Feb 26, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

The host expects a chaotic matchup and suggests the under 1.5 rounds is the best bet. He leans with Marquez, believing his power striking and slick submissions can catch Brundage, who has been hurt repeatedly. However, he notes Brundage could also catch Marquez, who has lost three straight by knockout. He predicts a club-and-sub within the first round and a half.

under 1.5 rounds minus 150, club and sub within first round and a half
"I'm going to have to lean with Marquez as I believe his power striking approach and Slick submissions could eventually catch Brundage in some trouble we've seen Brundage get hurt over and over again and I think Marquez is able …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Cody Brundage

The Guru picks Cody Brundage over Julian Marquez. He notes Marquez is on a three-fight losing streak, older, and possibly struggling with drinking. Brundage is younger, hungrier, and has finishing potential. He predicts a finish for Brundage.

"I'm going with Cody Brundage... I'm going to say that Cody brandage gets this one done maybe by finish himself."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Zane picks Marquez despite his recent knockout losses, citing Marquez's willingness to scrap and fight through adversity. He notes that Brundage has a one-plan approach that falls apart after 30 seconds, and while Brundage might have a good idea early, Marquez's brawling will eventually overwhelm him. Zane acknowledges the fight is low-level but favors Marquez's toughness.

Marquez opened -147, now -137; Brundage opened +113, now +124. Zane says the line should be dead even.
"So, yeah, i'm i'm still picking marquez. But this is a stupid ass fight."
LOSS vs Zachary Reese
TKO (body kick and punches) R1 0:20 · UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Imavov · Jun 08, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Zachary Reese 0 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Julian Marquez 1 6 of 9 66% 6 of 9 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Zachary Reese 0 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Julian Marquez 1 6 of 9 66% 6 of 9 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Zachary Reese 1 of 1 100% 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Julian Marquez 6 of 9 66% 5 of 8 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 4 0 of 0 4 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Zachary Reese 1 of 1 100% 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Julian Marquez 6 of 9 66% 5 of 8 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 4 0 of 0 4 of 5
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jun 7, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Zachary Reese

Angelo leans Zachary Reese, but with low confidence. He notes that Reese is massive for the weight class and has power, but he looked stiff in his last fight and was power bombed. Julian Marquez is tough and dangerous everywhere, but he has been knocked out in his last two fights and has a year layoff. Angelo thinks Reese can weather the early storm and beat a fading Marquez.

"I still believe in zachar I think he can avoid some chaos early weather a storm and I think he can beat a fledging Julian Marquez low confidence here"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Jun 5, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Big Brady picks Julian Marquez to win by first-round knockout. He is not sold on Zachary Reese's UFC caliber, noting his poor competition and tendency to end up on bottom. He thinks Marquez is the much better striker and will smoke Reese if his suspicions are correct.

knockout round 1
"give me Julian Marquez to win this fight I'll say it's first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jun 5, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Zachary Reese

Cody picks Reese as a slight underdog, noting that Marquez has significant health issues and has not looked good in recent fights. Reese is a big, athletic fighter with first-round finishing ability, but his cardio is untested. Cody believes if Reese can survive the first round, Marquez's poor cardio and durability issues will allow Reese to take over. He acknowledges it's a shot in the dark but leans towards Reese.

"this program we've gotus 130 plus 110 so Reese is the dog that's the side I'm that's the side I'm regardless that was yeah regardless that was the side I was going to end up taking but it's a shot …"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 5, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Daniel picks Marquez based on experience, noting that Reese has never faced real competition and was fraud-checked by Cody Brundage. He acknowledges Marquez has looked terrible since returning from injury but believes his durability and veteran tactics can overcome Reese's size and reach. He calls it a dart throw but leans Marquez.

"I just have to go with Julian Marquez based off the experience he's been there done that"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Jun 7, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Julian Marquez

Jacob picks Julian Marquez, noting that Reese eats right hands and was slammed by Cody Brundage. He thinks Marquez will come forward and land bombs, and Reese's chin is suspect. He also warns that going to the ground with Reese is dangerous due to his length, but Marquez's power should be enough. Jacob is confident Marquez gets the win.

"Julian Marquez throws right hands and this dude seems to eat right hands I'm going Julian Marquez"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Marquez is a veteran power puncher with a sneaky submission game, while Reese is reckless and was knocked out by a slam in his last fight. This should be a barn burner with both throwing heavy shots. Marquez should finish Reese quickly, making under 1.5 rounds a strong play at -155.

under 1.5 rounds at -155
"I'm leaning more so the under one and a half more than anything I'm currently seeing it around minus 155 which I think is a tremendous line"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 5, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Zachary Reese

Paul picks Reese, citing Marquez's health issues and inactivity. He notes that Reese is younger, longer, and has more pop in his hands. Paul thinks this will be a sloppy fight and favors the younger fighter with less wear and tear. He expects Reese to have a chance if he can avoid Marquez's early power.

"this is going to be a slot Fest Cody um and in a slop Fest I am more like likely to go with the guy who's a little bit younger a little bit less wear and tear"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 5, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Zachary Reese

The Guru picks Reese because he questions Marquez's motivation, saying Marquez seems more focused on being a personality than fighting. He notes Marquez has taken a lot of damage in his last two fights (losses to Mark-Andre Barriault and Gregory Rodrigues). Reese is younger and hungrier, and the Guru thinks Reese will catch Marquez in the first round. He acknowledges Reese lost to Cody Brundage by slam KO but was going for a submission.

First-round finish prediction
"I'm going to go Zachary Reese first round finish"
TKO (punches) R2 4:12 · UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane · Mar 04, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marc-André Barriault 0 82 of 171 47% 83 of 172 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Julian Marquez 0 109 of 222 49% 127 of 246 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:29
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marc-André Barriault 0 48 of 107 44% 48 of 107 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Julian Marquez 0 32 of 80 40% 32 of 80 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Marc-André Barriault 0 34 of 64 53% 35 of 65 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Julian Marquez 0 77 of 142 54% 95 of 166 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:29
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marc-André Barriault 82 of 171 47% 63 of 142 10 of 18 9 of 11 63 of 141 19 of 30 0 of 0
Julian Marquez 109 of 222 49% 91 of 202 18 of 20 0 of 0 60 of 133 49 of 89 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marc-André Barriault 48 of 107 44% 36 of 88 8 of 13 4 of 6 41 of 98 7 of 9 0 of 0
Julian Marquez 32 of 80 40% 25 of 72 7 of 8 0 of 0 31 of 77 1 of 3 0 of 0
2 Marc-André Barriault 34 of 64 53% 27 of 54 2 of 5 5 of 5 22 of 43 12 of 21 0 of 0
Julian Marquez 77 of 142 54% 66 of 130 11 of 12 0 of 0 29 of 56 48 of 86 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 1, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Angelo picks Julian Marquez, citing his toughness, power, and ability to snatch submissions in scrambles. He notes that Marquez hits harder and has proven MMA jiu-jitsu. Angelo believes Marquez will come forward and not quit, while Barriault can fold under pressure.

"I like Julia Marquez here outside of getting knocked out in that last fight that dude will come forward he will bomb away he's not going to quit"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

Big Brady picks Barriault, citing his volume, cardio, and pressure on the feet, as well as the ability to wrestle if needed. He notes Marquez has power and submissions but is less defensively sound. He predicts a decision win for Barriault, acknowledging Marquez's danger.

"the pick for me is going to be Mark Andre Barrio and it's gonna be Mark Andre Barrio by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 1, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

Cody picks Barriault, believing his volume and clinch work will overwhelm Marquez. He notes Marquez has declined in durability and explosiveness after injuries. He thinks Barriault wins by decision or late finish.

Fight goes to decision (+225)
"I end up taking Mark Andre Barrio"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Mar 2, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Connor picks Julian Marquez, despite concerns about his recent stylistic changes. He believes Marquez's natural dynamism and ability to fight through chaos will overcome Barriault's more methodical but less dynamic game. Connor notes that Barriault has improved but still lacks the finishing threat and creativity that Marquez possesses, and that Marquez's submission grappling could be a factor.

"I'll side with you and take Marquez, but I'm I'm not really all that confident in it."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Mar 1, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Jacob is very confident in Julian Marquez, stating that Barriault does not belong in the UFC. He notes Marquez's power, pressure, and no-quit attitude. Jacob believes Marquez will unload on Barriault against the fence and finish him. He also mentions that Marquez may use grappling more in this fight.

"I think Mark Andre sucks I mean there's they're one of these guys does not belong in the UFC"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

Barriault is a solid pressure fighter with good cardio and clinch work. Marquez has finishing power but his only path to victory is a KO, and he has been controlled in the clinch before. Barriault will use forward pressure and volume to win a decision, possibly with late finishing opportunities.

"I get why Barrio is the favorite here... if the durability issue of Barrio is not as great as I believe it is in my head Barrio should be able to have complete success in this fight"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 1, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

Paul picks Barriault and has a bet on Barriault by decision at +225. He thinks Marquez's wrestling won't be enough and Barriault's volume will carry him to a decision win.

Marc-André Barriault by decision (+225)
"I took a fight ghost a decision plus 225"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

The MMA Guru picks Marc-André Barriault, noting Marquez is wild and coming off a KO loss. He believes Barriault's technical style and ability to grind out decisions against wild opponents will lead to a 29-28 win.

"I'm gonna go with Marc Andre Barrio... being able to grind out a decision win here 29-28."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Mar 2, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Zane also picks Marquez, though he is not confident. He thinks Barriault's pressure and clinch work will force Marquez to abandon his new kickboxing approach and revert to brawling, which favors Marquez. Zane notes that Marquez is a dangerous submission grappler and has a knack for winning chaotic fights, but he worries about Marquez's recent overcorrection in style.

"I'll take Julian Marquez as well, but I think it's gonna have to basically be shaken out of his yeah."
KO (punches) R1 3:18 · UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Emmett · Jun 18, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Gregory Rodrigues 0 13 of 42 30% 13 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Julian Marquez 3 49 of 72 68% 50 of 74 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:52
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Gregory Rodrigues 0 13 of 42 30% 13 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Julian Marquez 3 49 of 72 68% 50 of 74 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:52
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Gregory Rodrigues 13 of 42 30% 8 of 36 0 of 1 5 of 5 13 of 36 0 of 6 0 of 0
Julian Marquez 49 of 72 68% 46 of 67 3 of 5 0 of 0 33 of 49 3 of 6 13 of 17
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Gregory Rodrigues 13 of 42 30% 8 of 36 0 of 1 5 of 5 13 of 36 0 of 6 0 of 0
Julian Marquez 49 of 72 68% 46 of 67 3 of 5 0 of 0 33 of 49 3 of 6 13 of 17
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 12, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

Angelo picks Gregory Rodrigues, noting his well-rounded skills, BJJ black belt, and takedown defense. He acknowledges Julian Marquez's sneaky submissions and toughness but believes Rodrigues will be the better wrestler and grappler. He warns that the fight could look like Rodrigues' loss to Armen Petrosyan if he gets outstruck.

"gregory rodriguez is the pick but clear path for julian marquez"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 15, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

Big Brady picks Gregory Rodrigues to win by decision. He believes Rodrigues has a clear path to victory by taking Marquez down, as Marquez has been controlled by wrestlers before. He notes Rodrigues is a legit BJJ black belt and should mix in takedowns, though he questions if Rodrigues will actually do it. He thinks Rodrigues can also win on the feet but prefers the grappling route.

decision
"I like rodriguez here i think he has a clear path to victory whether he chooses to use it or not we'll see"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Jun 15, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

Cody picks Rodrigues but is hesitant due to short notice and Rodrigues' cardio issues. He thinks Rodrigues is dangerous everywhere and Marquez has health problems and long layoffs. He plans to keep Rodrigues low on his card.

"rodriguez is a decent enough price tag it's the short notice of it"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 16, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

Daniel Levi picks Gregory Rodrigues, stating he is better than Julian Marquez everywhere—cleaner hands, harder punches, black belt jiu-jitsu. However, he worries about Rodrigues' decision-making, chin, and gas tank, noting Marquez has a history of coming back from adversity to finish fights. Levi thinks Rodrigues should dominate but is concerned he might find a way to lose, making the -180 price unappealing. He picks Rodrigues but with low confidence.

Rodrigues -180 is too high; Marquez +158 has comeback value
"robocop's better than this guy everywhere julian marcus it's like how is he gonna [ __ ] this up"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 15, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

Paul agrees with Cody, noting Rodrigues should dominate on the feet and Marquez's best work is in grappling. He's concerned about Rodrigues' short notice and cardio but thinks Marquez's health issues make Rodrigues the pick.

"i think gregory rodriguez is actually a pretty decent price in this spot"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 13, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

The MMA Guru picks Gregory Rodrigues, noting his good recent performances and power. He worries about Julian Marquez's tendency to make fights close and his long layoff (since April 2021). He believes Rodrigues has a reach advantage and will catch Marquez in a war, finishing him in the late second round. He calls Marquez a 'not bad underdog' but trusts the favorite.

late second round finish
"i think i'm gonna side with gregory rodriguez here over julian marquez... i'm gonna trust in gregory rodriguez to get this one done a little bit more powerful"
WIN vs Sam Alvey
Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 2:07 · UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland · Apr 10, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Julian Marquez 0 29 of 78 37% 29 of 78 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Sam Alvey 1 61 of 100 61% 62 of 101 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:16
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Julian Marquez 0 24 of 54 44% 24 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sam Alvey 0 27 of 52 51% 28 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Julian Marquez 0 5 of 24 20% 5 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Sam Alvey 1 34 of 48 70% 34 of 48 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:16
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Julian Marquez 29 of 78 37% 21 of 64 4 of 8 4 of 6 28 of 77 1 of 1 0 of 0
Sam Alvey 61 of 100 61% 46 of 78 15 of 22 0 of 0 41 of 75 1 of 1 19 of 24
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Julian Marquez 24 of 54 44% 16 of 44 4 of 5 4 of 5 23 of 53 1 of 1 0 of 0
Sam Alvey 27 of 52 51% 19 of 38 8 of 14 0 of 0 26 of 51 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Julian Marquez 5 of 24 20% 5 of 20 0 of 3 0 of 1 5 of 24 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sam Alvey 34 of 48 70% 27 of 40 7 of 8 0 of 0 15 of 24 0 of 0 19 of 24
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Big Brady picks Marquez to win by decision, despite Marquez having a 100% finish rate. He thinks Marquez will pressure and outpoint Alvey, who has not won in a long time and takes a lot of damage. Brady is not confident in the pick and is passing on betting, as he finds the fight potentially boring and the line not appealing. He notes both fighters are durable and the fight likely goes to decision.

"i'm going to take marquez to win by decision which is weird because he has a 100 finish rate"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Cody picks Marquez, citing his recovery from ring rust, James Krause's coaching, and Alvey's difficult weight cut to 185. He notes Alvey's low output and lack of offensive wrestling, while Marquez has better timing and power. He expects Marquez to edge it.

Over 2.5 rounds at +100 is favorite play
"i'm hitting this over two and a half at plus one hundred"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked Apr 9, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Sam Alvey

Daniel Levi picks Sam Alvey, despite acknowledging that Alvey is a long-term fade and the blueprint to beat him is well-known. He is not sold on Julian Marquez, viewing him as an opportunistic finisher who looked horrendous against Maki Pitolo. Levi thinks the fight could be an ugly middleweight scrap that could go either way, so he goes with Alvey for the first time in years.

"I'm going to actually take alvey for the first time in years"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Sam Alvey

The host leans Alvey for the value, noting that Marquez's win over Pitolo was a sloppy fight and that Alvey has decent takedown defense and power. However, he acknowledges that Alvey fights on the back foot and hasn't won in five fights. He picks Alvey by decision, but calls the fight a 'slop fest' and advises against betting it.

"i lean alvey in terms of the value here"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Sam Alvey

Paul leans Alvey, noting his durability and ability to lull opponents into slow fights. He wants to see weigh-ins but thinks Alvey's counter-punching and experience could be factors. He is not confident due to Alvey's losing streak and weight cut.

"it would be dogger pass i would take smile and sam"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 4, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

The MMA Guru picks Julian Marquez by first-round KO, despite calling Marquez 'so bad' and 'sloppy'. He notes Marquez has big power and a great chin, while Sam Alvey is moving down to middleweight after being knocked out previously. He thinks Marquez will lose some grappling exchanges early but then land a big right hand to finish Alvey. He expects Alvey to be 'frowning' after the loss.

first round knockout
"i see a first round ko for julian marquez"
WIN vs Maki Pitolo
Submission (anaconda choke) R3 4:17 · UFC 258: Usman vs. Burns · Feb 13, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Julian Marquez 0 32 of 65 49% 70 of 110 5 of 11 45% 1 1 9:07
Maki Pitolo 0 41 of 100 41% 61 of 129 0 of 1 0% 4 1 1:54
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Julian Marquez 0 10 of 16 62% 18 of 29 1 of 3 33% 0 0 4:24
Maki Pitolo 0 4 of 8 50% 8 of 13 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:11
2 Julian Marquez 0 11 of 23 47% 41 of 54 3 of 4 75% 0 1 3:02
Maki Pitolo 0 11 of 40 27% 17 of 49 0 of 0 --- 2 0 0:57
3 Julian Marquez 0 11 of 26 42% 11 of 27 1 of 4 25% 1 0 1:41
Maki Pitolo 0 26 of 52 50% 36 of 67 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:46
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Julian Marquez 32 of 65 49% 16 of 46 12 of 14 4 of 5 22 of 52 7 of 8 3 of 5
Maki Pitolo 41 of 100 41% 37 of 94 3 of 4 1 of 2 18 of 72 15 of 16 8 of 12
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Julian Marquez 10 of 16 62% 5 of 11 4 of 4 1 of 1 3 of 7 5 of 6 2 of 3
Maki Pitolo 4 of 8 50% 4 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 5 3 of 3 0 of 0
2 Julian Marquez 11 of 23 47% 7 of 17 3 of 5 1 of 1 8 of 19 2 of 2 1 of 2
Maki Pitolo 11 of 40 27% 11 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 1 4 of 29 0 of 0 7 of 11
3 Julian Marquez 11 of 26 42% 4 of 18 5 of 5 2 of 3 11 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
Maki Pitolo 26 of 52 50% 22 of 47 3 of 4 1 of 1 13 of 38 12 of 13 1 of 1
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 9, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Big Brady picks Julian Marquez to win by finish, likely knockout in the second round. He thinks Marquez is the better fighter and that Pitolo has looked poor in the UFC, slowing down and being finished multiple times. He notes Marquez has a 100% finish rate and a sneaky ground game. He is concerned about Marquez's long layoff but thinks he will be prepared.

Marquez by finish; under 1.5 rounds; would bet Marquez if line drops to -120 or -110
"I like marcus here i like marcus here i know it's a risk with the long layoff"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Feb 12, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Julian Marquez

Daniel Levi leans toward Julian Marquez but calls it a 'dog or pass' situation. He notes Marquez's size and power, and that he can wear on Pitolo. However, he worries about Marquez's layoff and cardio, and thinks Pitolo could have improved training with Brad Tavares. He believes if Marquez doesn't finish early, Pitolo's volume and hands could take over. He ultimately says the lean is Marquez but it might be a pass.

Marquez by finish if early; Pitolo could win if fight extends; mentions Marquez's layoff and Pitolo's training partners
"the lean is marcus but i think it might be dog or pass actually"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Feb 9, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Maki Pitolo

The host leans toward Pitolo as an underdog, citing his better technical striking and hand speed. He notes that Marquez has been out for three years and relies on forward pressure and big shots, which Pitolo can counter with movement. He expects Pitolo to outpoint Marquez over three rounds, though he admits some hesitation.

"i feel like the technical aspects of mackie pitolo's game will cause julian marquez some issues"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Maki Pitolo

The Guru picks Maki Pitolo as an underdog, citing Julian Marquez's long layoff and sloppy technique. He believes Pitolo's cardio and chin will allow him to survive Marquez's early power, then wear him down with body shots in the clinch and secure a third-round TKO. He notes that Marquez has never looked impressive and that Pitolo is more technical.

Pitolo by third round TKO
"i'm going to pick mackie patolo as an underdog here... i think he goes out there and just eventually wears on julian marquez and i will actually call a third round tko for mackie patolo"
Decision (split) (27–30, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated Finale · Jul 06, 2018
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Alessio Di Chirico 0 50 of 116 43% 55 of 122 4 of 6 66% 0 0 3:59
Julian Marquez 0 47 of 147 31% 49 of 149 0 of 1 0% 2 0 0:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Alessio Di Chirico 0 19 of 45 42% 19 of 45 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:17
Julian Marquez 0 11 of 48 22% 11 of 48 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Alessio Di Chirico 0 9 of 28 32% 13 of 33 2 of 3 66% 0 0 2:36
Julian Marquez 0 17 of 39 43% 18 of 40 0 of 0 --- 2 0 0:00
3 Alessio Di Chirico 0 22 of 43 51% 23 of 44 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:06
Julian Marquez 0 19 of 60 31% 20 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Alessio Di Chirico 50 of 116 43% 30 of 90 14 of 19 6 of 7 48 of 107 1 of 2 1 of 7
Julian Marquez 47 of 147 31% 28 of 120 16 of 21 3 of 6 42 of 141 5 of 6 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Alessio Di Chirico 19 of 45 42% 10 of 34 6 of 8 3 of 3 19 of 45 0 of 0 0 of 0
Julian Marquez 11 of 48 22% 7 of 44 3 of 3 1 of 1 11 of 47 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Alessio Di Chirico 9 of 28 32% 6 of 23 3 of 4 0 of 1 7 of 19 1 of 2 1 of 7
Julian Marquez 17 of 39 43% 10 of 27 6 of 9 1 of 3 14 of 36 3 of 3 0 of 0
3 Alessio Di Chirico 22 of 43 51% 14 of 33 5 of 7 3 of 3 22 of 43 0 of 0 0 of 0
Julian Marquez 19 of 60 31% 11 of 49 7 of 9 1 of 2 17 of 58 2 of 2 0 of 0
Submission (guillotine choke) R2 2:42 · UFC on Fox: Lawler vs. dos Anjos · Dec 16, 2017
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Julian Marquez 0 32 of 64 50% 37 of 69 0 of 3 0% 3 0 0:54
Darren Stewart 0 33 of 58 56% 37 of 66 4 of 6 66% 0 0 3:25
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Julian Marquez 0 21 of 40 52% 26 of 45 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:20
Darren Stewart 0 19 of 36 52% 23 of 44 4 of 5 80% 0 0 3:22
2 Julian Marquez 0 11 of 24 45% 11 of 24 0 of 2 0% 2 0 0:34
Darren Stewart 0 14 of 22 63% 14 of 22 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Julian Marquez 32 of 64 50% 29 of 60 3 of 4 0 of 0 8 of 30 17 of 24 7 of 10
Darren Stewart 33 of 58 56% 28 of 53 3 of 3 2 of 2 16 of 34 17 of 23 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Julian Marquez 21 of 40 52% 19 of 37 2 of 3 0 of 0 3 of 14 11 of 16 7 of 10
Darren Stewart 19 of 36 52% 16 of 33 2 of 2 1 of 1 10 of 24 9 of 11 0 of 1
2 Julian Marquez 11 of 24 45% 10 of 23 1 of 1 0 of 0 5 of 16 6 of 8 0 of 0
Darren Stewart 14 of 22 63% 12 of 20 1 of 1 1 of 1 6 of 10 8 of 12 0 of 0
Expert Picks (6)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 23, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Cody Brundage

Angelo picks Cody Brundage, citing his wrestling background, power, and the fact that Julian Marquez is coming off back-to-back knockout losses with a year layoff. He acknowledges Brundage's questionable fight IQ but believes he is a good fighter overall. He also notes that both fighters are exciting and expects the fight to end early.

Under on total rounds (fight likely ends early)
"Cody Brun wins this fight I don't know if it's going to be as clear as the Power Bomb win over Zack ree but I do think Cody brunish can win this fight but like every other Cody Brundage or Julian Marquez fight I bet your life on the under"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Feb 24, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Big Brady hesitantly picks Julian Marquez, citing his durability and heart, as well as a slick submission game. He notes Cody Brundage is more skilled but has a bad nail and may quit if hurt. He predicts Marquez will win by first-round submission after Brundage gets hurt and shoots for a takedown.

Marquez by submission round 1; 'club and sub'
"I'll pick Marquez to win this fight by submission club and sub... give me Julian Marquez first round club and sub"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Connor picks Marquez, noting that Brundage has a single idea that quickly exhausts, while Marquez is a willing scrapper who can fight through adversity. He mentions that Marquez has been getting knocked out lately but still has the toughness to outlast Brundage. Connor also jokes about Marquez's personality but sticks with him as the pick.

Same odds commentary as Zane.
"I'm still picking marquez. But this is a stupid ass fight."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Feb 26, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

The host expects a chaotic matchup and suggests the under 1.5 rounds is the best bet. He leans with Marquez, believing his power striking and slick submissions can catch Brundage, who has been hurt repeatedly. However, he notes Brundage could also catch Marquez, who has lost three straight by knockout. He predicts a club-and-sub within the first round and a half.

under 1.5 rounds minus 150, club and sub within first round and a half
"I'm going to have to lean with Marquez as I believe his power striking approach and Slick submissions could eventually catch Brundage in some trouble we've seen Brundage get hurt over and over again and I think Marquez is able to do that here although on the flip side Brundage …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Cody Brundage

The Guru picks Cody Brundage over Julian Marquez. He notes Marquez is on a three-fight losing streak, older, and possibly struggling with drinking. Brundage is younger, hungrier, and has finishing potential. He predicts a finish for Brundage.

"I'm going with Cody Brundage... I'm going to say that Cody brandage gets this one done maybe by finish himself."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Julian Marquez

Zane picks Marquez despite his recent knockout losses, citing Marquez's willingness to scrap and fight through adversity. He notes that Brundage has a one-plan approach that falls apart after 30 seconds, and while Brundage might have a good idea early, Marquez's brawling will eventually overwhelm him. Zane acknowledges the fight is low-level but favors Marquez's toughness.

Marquez opened -147, now -137; Brundage opened +113, now +124. Zane says the line should be dead even.
"So, yeah, i'm i'm still picking marquez. But this is a stupid ass fight."