vs
+180 -180
UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley · Jun 14, 2025 · Flyweight · Completed
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Age 35
Height 5' 7"
Reach 67.0"
Weight 125 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Age 25
Height 5' 7"
Reach 67.0"
Weight 125 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Career Averages - Cody Durden
3.34 SLpM
44.0% Str. Acc.
4.19 SApM
50.0% Str. Def.
3.89 TD Avg
46.0% TD Acc.
60.0% TD Def.
0.6 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Jose Ochoa
3.01 SLpM
37.0% Str. Acc.
2.33 SApM
60.0% Str. Def.
0.43 TD Avg
50.0% TD Acc.
59.0% TD Def.
1.3 Sub. Avg
Cody Durden
Moneyline
DraftKings +180
KO/TKO
BetRivers +1200
Submission
BetRivers +750
Decision
Caesars +420
Jose Ochoa
Moneyline
BetMGM -180
KO/TKO
FanDuel +330
Submission
BetWay +550
Decision
BetMGM +245
Cody Durden - Fight History
SCHED vs Ode' Osbourne
UFC 329 · Jul 11, 2026
WIN vs Jafel Filho
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal · Apr 25, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jafel Filho 0 23 of 63 36% 50 of 93 2 of 3 66% 0 1 3:08
Cody Durden 0 34 of 72 47% 91 of 136 5 of 5 100% 1 0 5:14
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jafel Filho 0 3 of 12 25% 9 of 18 1 of 1 100% 0 1 2:00
Cody Durden 0 11 of 23 47% 36 of 50 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:20
2 Jafel Filho 0 8 of 28 28% 17 of 39 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:44
Cody Durden 0 15 of 34 44% 21 of 41 2 of 2 100% 0 0 0:37
3 Jafel Filho 0 12 of 23 52% 24 of 36 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:24
Cody Durden 0 8 of 15 53% 34 of 45 1 of 1 100% 1 0 3:17
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jafel Filho 23 of 63 36% 10 of 44 7 of 13 6 of 6 16 of 54 7 of 9 0 of 0
Cody Durden 34 of 72 47% 21 of 54 4 of 6 9 of 12 24 of 61 3 of 4 7 of 7
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jafel Filho 3 of 12 25% 1 of 7 1 of 4 1 of 1 3 of 11 0 of 1 0 of 0
Cody Durden 11 of 23 47% 8 of 18 2 of 3 1 of 2 3 of 14 2 of 3 6 of 6
2 Jafel Filho 8 of 28 28% 2 of 19 2 of 5 4 of 4 7 of 26 1 of 2 0 of 0
Cody Durden 15 of 34 44% 6 of 24 1 of 2 8 of 8 14 of 33 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Jafel Filho 12 of 23 52% 7 of 18 4 of 4 1 of 1 6 of 17 6 of 6 0 of 0
Cody Durden 8 of 15 53% 7 of 12 1 of 1 0 of 2 7 of 14 0 of 0 1 of 1
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Cody Durden vs. Jafel Filho
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Filho (-600); Durden (+450)

Round 1
A late replacement up a weight class, Durden (17-10-1, 6-8-1 UFC) hopes that he can snap a four-fight skid and exorcise his demons against “Pastor” Filho (17-4, 3-2 UFC). The Brazilian celebrates all but one of his pro wins by stoppage, so the Georgia native will need to be on his best behavior for the next 15 minutes or less. Referee Jason Herzog will keep things official as the two men up at bantamweight throw down. They elect to bump clap hands first.
Despite their seemingly intense beginning, no one throws a strike anywhere close to their intended target for nearly 30 seconds. Filho lazily pushes out a front kick, allowing Durden to respond with an overhand right. Durden rushes forward to tackle Filho to the mat, surprising the Brazilian and forcing him to respond with submission attempts. Durden defends the setups, but in the process, he is turned around with Filho pursuing his own level change. Both men get in a 50-50 position with their arms hooked, but it is Filho who is the quicker man as he stands up and wraps his right arm around Durden’s chest like a malicious seat belt.
Filho also slips his legs around Durden’s to try to disrupt his base, and like a python slowly swallowing a goat, he inch-by-inch separates Durden from his balance to put him down. Filho tries to set something up on top, but the frantic Durden bursts out of the position to get back upright. Filho is quick to chase after him with punch combinations, his front kick at the end of one scoring well. Filho changes stances to time a check of a kick he sees coming, and Durden marches him down and slings him to the mat with a trip. When Durden sits up to drop down strikes, Filho off his back looks for a kneebar. Durden turns out of it to take Filho’s back when they stand, and the horn blares.

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

Round 2
Durden races out of his corner swinging, hurling big punches while Filho makes a funny face and slides to the side. Durden walks through a thudding calf kick to further crowd the Brazilian, and his subsequent kick is caught. Filho does not take advantage of this, instead lobbing a right left hand upstairs. Durden fires back with his own hook, and his low kick makes Filho recoil it to the side to take some of the sting out of it. Durden keeps pressuring his foe, and his inside leg kick scores a few more times. Filho tries for a step-in knee, and he gets his jaw jacked with a right hand. Durden catches him with a right hand and trips Filho up. Filho hits his back and offers up an upkick, using the moment of impact to explode back to his feet. Durden nonetheless tackles him to the ground, pulling Filho away from the cage as Filho grabs it, and he backs off to find another angle in.
Durden winds up an axe kick, smashing his heel directly into Filho’s cup. He tries to keep attacking, but Herzog remarks that he just kicked him square in the groin and that he needs to back off. After a short recovery time, Filho is good to go, and he starts to apply pressure. He dings Durden with a right hand as he crowds him to initiate in a clinch and possible body lock to throw, but Durden sees it coming and pushes him back. Filho parries a big right hand, but the second from Durden gets through. Filho plods forward, chasing after the American throwing big hands. Durden is elusive enough to evade the worst of what comes his way, only for Filho to grab hold of him and throw him down like too many bags of groceries, because who needs three trips to the car when you can bring them all in with one overloaded trip, as cans and bottles fall out of the bags while one rips, and you bang into furniture and hope you brought it all inside. Check the eggs before putting them in the fridge first. Filho attacks mightily on top, forcing Durden to turn over so he can hunt for a choke. Before he gets it, the bell rings.

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

Round 3
There is a half-hearted hug between the two athletes, and Filho is energized coming out of his corner but does not go wild. Instead, Durden methodically works his way in, using his overhand right to close the distance. Filho ducks in to tie the Georgia native up, and after he tries to manipulate the action, he slashes out with an elbow and a heavy right. Durden breaks off and hunts for a front choke, letting it go to pursue a takedown, ultimate tripping Filho but not getting him down. Both men pop back up, some damage showing under Filho’s right eye, and Durden completes a trip and throw to put the Brazilian on the mat.
Durden looks for an off-angle choke in hopes of otherwise controlling Filho, and the Brazilian’s first roll to escape fails. Filho escapes the grappling exchange but appears totally wiped, slowly trying to stand up. Durden targets a soccer kick square in the ribs, and “Pastor” topples to his back. Durden leaps down to half guard, where he changing his position to take the back. With a single hook in, Durden grabs hold of a neck crank and turns Filho’s head to the left. Filho grits it out but is stuck, with Durden screaming at him or anyone listening while he clubs Filho on the sides of the head. The odd match ends with Durden pumped up and yelling. It may all come down to the first round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Durden (29-28 Durden)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Durden (29-28 Durden)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Durden (29-28 Durden)

The Official Result
Cody Durden def. Jafel Filho via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 21, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Jafel Filho

Big Brady picks Jafel Filho over Cody Durden. He highlights Durden's struggles with grappling and submission defense, noting he has been submitted five times. He is impressed by Filho's performance against Clayton Carpenter, where he got a first-round Kimura. He predicts Filho will take Durden down and submit him in the first round.

Filho wins by first round submission
"I think Jafer Filho is going to take him down and and probably going to sub him in the very first round."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 24, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Jafel Filho

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Filho easily. He notes that Durden is on a terrible losing streak, has been finished repeatedly, and his only recent win is over a retired fighter. Connor also points out that Filho is a strong wrestler and submission artist, and that Durden's short notice makes the line even more justified.

Filho opened at -400, now -650; Durden opened at +330, now +475. Connor thinks the line is sensible.
"i gotta say too like a that feels too wide but b also up at phantom weight like i really don't durden is not yeah it's not a strong flyweight uh filio is a strong has been a strong flyweight …"
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Hesitant picked Apr 25, 2026 (fight day)
Cody Durden

The host thinks the odds are very wide and that Durden can cause Filho problems due to his scrambly wrestling and Filho's weakness off his back. However, Durden's terrible cardio is a major risk. He says it's an IQ test: impossible to bet Filho, so if you must bet, take Durden. He prefers live betting and will bet Durden +3.5 and over 1.5 rounds.

Durden +3.5 rounds; over 1.5 rounds; prefers live betting
"It's clearly dog or pass. And it's not really up for debate."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Apr 19, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Jafel Filho

James picks Filho, expecting him to exploit Durden's grappling weakness with a submission win. He notes Filho's elite jiu-jitsu and early strength, predicting a first-round submission.

submission in round one
"I'll take Jafal Filo to win via submission in this one. ... I would expect that Jafel Filo gets a submission in round one here."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 24, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Jafel Filho

Zane picks Filho confidently, noting that Durden has lost four in a row and six of his last seven, and is getting crushed in most losses. He points out that Durden's confidence is gone after being knocked out, and that Filho is a strong submission artist with good top control. Zane also mentions that Filho is moving up from flyweight, which should make him even stronger.

Filho opened at -400, now -650; Durden opened at +330, now +475. Zane thinks the line is appropriate given Durden's short notice.
"you just got to pick filio like this version of durden against a athletically competent submission artist uh-huh i ain't picking cody he's not a bad wrestler like yeah that too yeah you know it's not like filio in fact …"
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 326 · Mar 07, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Cody Durden 0 8 of 21 38% 54 of 69 3 of 8 37% 0 3 4:50
Nyamjargal Tumendemberel 0 25 of 42 59% 43 of 60 4 of 4 100% 1 2 6:52
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Cody Durden 0 4 of 8 50% 21 of 25 3 of 6 50% 0 0 1:51
Nyamjargal Tumendemberel 0 9 of 13 69% 15 of 19 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:37
2 Cody Durden 0 4 of 11 36% 8 of 15 0 of 1 0% 0 1 0:37
Nyamjargal Tumendemberel 0 12 of 22 54% 20 of 30 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:51
3 Cody Durden 0 0 of 2 0% 25 of 29 0 of 1 0% 0 2 2:22
Nyamjargal Tumendemberel 0 4 of 7 57% 8 of 11 1 of 1 100% 0 2 2:24
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Cody Durden 8 of 21 38% 5 of 18 0 of 0 3 of 3 7 of 18 1 of 1 0 of 2
Nyamjargal Tumendemberel 25 of 42 59% 20 of 34 1 of 3 4 of 5 7 of 19 1 of 1 17 of 22
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Cody Durden 4 of 8 50% 1 of 5 0 of 0 3 of 3 3 of 6 1 of 1 0 of 1
Nyamjargal Tumendemberel 9 of 13 69% 5 of 8 1 of 1 3 of 4 3 of 7 1 of 1 5 of 5
2 Cody Durden 4 of 11 36% 4 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 1
Nyamjargal Tumendemberel 12 of 22 54% 11 of 20 0 of 1 1 of 1 4 of 12 0 of 0 8 of 10
3 Cody Durden 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Nyamjargal Tumendemberel 4 of 7 57% 4 of 6 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 7
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Cody Durden vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Tumendemberel (-148), Durden (+124)

Round 1
What should be a grappler’s delight will treat fans as flyweights Durden (17-9-1, 6-7-1 UFC) and Tumendemberel (9-1, 0-1 UFC) ply their trade against one another. The former has dropped three straight, while the latter’s “Art of Knockout” nickname may be a little off-kilter as the Mongolian celebrates most of his victories via tapout. Regardless of funky, multi-syllabic, the two will meet under the auspices of referee Jason Herzog, and they race towards one another without a touch of gloves to get things started.
Durden peels back right before crashing into his opponent, and they offer low kicks at one another before Durden shoots for a double-leg entry. Tumendemberel defends by jumping guard with a guillotine choke, and both fighters are fresh and dry as a bone. Tumendemberel adjusts his grip to grab hold from a different angle, hanging the choke higher up but not locking it down entirely. Durden slithers his neck out of danger and looks to get off some ground strikes, and it takes mere seconds before Tumendemberel scrambles. Tumendemberel is able to stand, and Durden takes his back from one side and has his gloves grabbed while doing so. Herzog warns the Mongolian of the foul, and Tumendemberel leans to put Durden against the cage behind him to take the weight off his back. Tumendemberel shakes his foe off, and the two reset. Both land a single leg kick before Durden shoots, and once more Tumendemberel attacks a guillotine.
Durden twists all the way around to free his neck far easier this time, and he forces them to stand so he can take Tumendemberel down in a way he wishes. The house lights flicker on and off during the match, and Durden looks to Herzog confused while also stifling a takedown shot. Durden knees a bent-over Tumendemberel in the face, and Tumendemberel lifts him off the ground and slams him down on his back. Durden hits the ground and sets up an armbar, snatching hold of Tumendemberel’s right limb but failing to grip it fully. Tumendemberel wriggles out and retreats, and Durden pops back up. Tumendemberel swings for a big right hand, and Durden shoots for a counter takedown. Tumendemberel flips Durden to his back and elbows him in the face a few times, but Durden is still pressing for the takedown. When Durden flips his foe over, the round ends.

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

Round 2
Herzog issues Tumendemberel a stern warning to not strike Durden in the back of the head between rounds, and Tumendemberel acknowledges this. They start off the second round with Tumendemberel whipping low kicks, and his long punches keep Durden from recklessly shooting…for a time. Durden does go after a takedown, and he gets tossed to his back and attacks a leglock. Tumendemberel sits down to take the danger out of the ankle/heel lock, and he drills Durden in the side of the head until he legs it go. Tumendemberel grabs hold of Durden’s back and assumes a body triangle, and Durden still looks to turn and break out of it. Durden manages to put Tumendemberel on his back despite a brief body lock, and the Mongolian is once more warned for hooking his fingers inside of Durden’s gloves. The ensuing scramble results in Tumendemberel flipping Durden over, where he holds on with a guillotine choke from his back.
This allows a potential Von Preux submission, but Durden smiles when it is applied and his smiles disappears when he gets belted in the face by Tumendemberel’s free right hand. Herzog is on top of these two as there are possible fence grabs, illegal upkicks and other malfeasance going on, and the moment Durden gets up, Tumendemberel hits a clean tackling double to put the American back down. Tumendemberel smothers while in top control grinding his elbow on his foe’s face while Durden motions to Herzog for some intervention. Tumendemberel drills Durden hard in the back of the head, and Herzog calls for him to aim for the ear. Durden gets to his knees and stands, where he rushes after Tumendemberel and nails him with a one-two. When Durden keeps throwing, time expires, and Tumendemberel punches him clearly after the bell. What are rules?

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

Round 3
Durden opens up with a huge right hand, and Tumendemberel counters him by tackling him to the floor. Durden turns the corner to take the back of the Mongolian, who manages to shimmy and slowly buck Durden off of him. Tumendemberel thumps Durden on the chin with a few more elbows, and Durden returns to a knee in hopes of standing. When Durden stands back up, Tumendemberel mat returns him and takes his back to lock up a body triangle. Tumendemberel starts fishing for a rear-naked choke before getting position, and he nails Durden in the back of the head again. Durden slumps over and finds himself in RNC danger, with Tumendemberel’s arm across his face. Durden hand-fights to defend the submission, and he breaks the grip around his face and abdomen to reverse “Art of Knockout.”
Durden drops down a single right hand and positions himself to attack an arm-triangle choke, and he is in half guard with Tumendemberel answering the proverbial telephone to defend the submission. Durden lays flat on top before jumping to the other side, and Tumendemberel rolls to his knees to break out of it. Durden clings to his man from the back, and Tumendemberel bumps and shakes but Durden has his toes hooked in the cage to prevent him from getting rolled off. Durden hangs on for dear life, but he is inch-by-inch sliding off. Tumendemberel finds the moment to free himself and he lashes out with a hard right hand, all while planting Durden flat on his back. Tumendemberel leans his shoulder down to pressure for a possible arm-triangle, and he stands up and finds himself in Hail Mary heel hook danger. Tumendemberel yanks his limb free and the bell sounds, but he decides he is not done fighting and tries to boot Durden in the face with a soccer kick after the bell. Herzog shoulder-checks the Mongolian to his back, but nothing else happens.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tumendemberel (30-27 Tumendemberel)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Tumendemberel (29-27 Tumendemberel)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Tumendemberel (29-27 Tumendemberel)

The Official Result
Nyamjargal Tumendemberel def. Cody Durden via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 8, 2026 (27 days before fight)
Nyamjargal Tumendemberel

Angelo says Cody Durden used to be a dog but is now a shell of himself, while Nyamjargal is a powerful striker who can be hit but is durable. He notes that Carlos Hernandez took down Nyamjargal four times but got dropped, and Carlos is more durable than Cody. He picks Nyamjargal to win.

"Unfortunately I'm picking Nam."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 1, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Nyamjargal Tumendemberel

Big Brady picks Nyamjargal Tumendemberel over Cody Durden. He acknowledges Durden is likely more skilled but worries about his durability after taking massive damage in recent fights. Durden has been finished five times by submission and two by KO, and his chin appears to be fading. Tumendemberel has good front chokes and opportunistic submissions. Brady predicts Durden will look good early, get hurt, shoot for a takedown, and get submitted in the second round.

Tumendemberel by second round submission
"Give me Nam Jarle two in a barrel to win this fight. I'll take him to win this fight by second round submission."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Nyamjargal Tumendemberel

Cody picks Tumendemberel, citing Durden's cardio issues and hittability. He notes that Tumendemberel only needs to land one shot. He expects a late knockout.

"I'll take the Mongolian fire to get the win."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Cody Durden

Connor picks Durden because he believes Durden's relentless aggression will overwhelm Tumendemberel, who lacks a clean answer for pressure. He notes that Tumendemberel is a dangerous puncher but has been taken down easily in the past. Durden's jab and combination punching should allow him to initiate exchanges effectively.

"I think this is a fight where Durden can press his aggression and two, two and several can, we'll never have a clean answer for it."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Mar 3, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Cody Durden

Daniel Vreeland picks his friend Cody Durden, acknowledging bias but providing reasoning. He believes Durden's experience against higher-level competition will be key, and that Durden will avoid getting caught early. Vreeland notes that Durden's career is on the line and expects him to give a veteran lesson.

"I'm super biased. Duran is my friend, so of course I'm picking Deran. I think he's going to come out here and give this guy a tour of the octagon."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Mar 1, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Cody Durden

James picks Cody Durden as an underdog, believing the fight is close to 50/50 and Durden is the value side. He notes Durden's superior competition and skills, but acknowledges his poor chin and tendency to get hurt. James thinks Durden can dominate if he avoids getting knocked out, but admits it's a tough call due to Durden's durability issues.

"I'm going to pick Cody Durham because he's the underdog here. And if you have an underdog, but you're saying the fight's 50/50, automatically that's the value side."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 3, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Nyamjargal Tumendemberel

Tumendemberel has shown improved defensive grappling and durability. He can stop Durden's wrestling and threaten with submissions or power shots. Durden's recent losses show his ceiling. The under 2.5 rounds is appealing as both have finishing ability.

under 2.5 rounds
"The spot that I like most in this matchup is the under two and a half."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Mar 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Nyamjargal Tumendemberel

Paul picks Tumendemberel, citing Durden's tendency to fade after the first round. He notes Tumendemberel's durability and power. He expects to bet live after Durden wins the first round.

"Two in Denver all wins late. Uh, is my official pick."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 5, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Cody Durden

The MMA Guru picks Cody Durden, despite a personal beef. He believes Durden's grappling and pressure will be too much for Tumendemberel, who lacks experience. He expects Durden to win by decision, noting his toughness and volume.

decision
"I'm going to go with Cody Deren by decision. 2928."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Cody Durden

Zane agrees with Durden, though he expresses disdain for Durden's personality. He notes that Tumendemberel's ideas stop at one punch and that Durden can deal with that. He acknowledges the possibility of Tumendemberel landing a big shot or a submission, but thinks Durden's pressure will be too much.

"Yeah, I agree. Durden is the pick."
Submission R2 3:13 · UFC Fight Night: Garcia vs. Onama · Nov 01, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Allan Nascimento 0 52 of 115 45% 52 of 115 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:21
Cody Durden 0 57 of 128 44% 57 of 128 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:05
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Allan Nascimento 0 26 of 58 44% 26 of 58 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Cody Durden 0 36 of 73 49% 36 of 73 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:03
2 Allan Nascimento 0 26 of 57 45% 26 of 57 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:21
Cody Durden 0 21 of 55 38% 21 of 55 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Allan Nascimento 52 of 115 45% 19 of 69 7 of 17 26 of 29 51 of 114 1 of 1 0 of 0
Cody Durden 57 of 128 44% 47 of 112 5 of 9 5 of 7 57 of 128 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Allan Nascimento 26 of 58 44% 7 of 31 3 of 9 16 of 18 25 of 57 1 of 1 0 of 0
Cody Durden 36 of 73 49% 28 of 61 5 of 8 3 of 4 36 of 73 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Allan Nascimento 26 of 57 45% 12 of 38 4 of 8 10 of 11 26 of 57 0 of 0 0 of 0
Cody Durden 21 of 55 38% 19 of 51 0 of 1 2 of 3 21 of 55 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Cody Durden vs. Allan Nascimento
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Nascimento (-260); Durden (+210)

Round 1
Due to Durden (17-8-1, 6-6-1 UFC) stepping in to replace Rafael Estevam on short notice, he has agreed to face “Puro Osso” Nascimento (21-6, 3-1 UFC) at a catchweight of 130 pounds. This wrestler vs. grappler affair will be officiated by referee Mark Smith, who claps the athletes in as they touch gloves to signal their relief in being able to fight and get paid this weekend.
Durden bounces up and down on his heels, possibly presenting looks for takedowns, but then springs forward and drills the Brazilian with an overhand right. Durden pops Nascimento with a jab, and he smacks the front leg with his shin. Durden evades a kick and hurls an overhand right, and he pushes out a front kick that is caught and forces him to the mat. Durden lets him back up and puts a jab right in the Brazilian’s face. Nascimento hammers the lead calf with a kick, and a second puts Durden on notice. Durden races ahead throwing punches, and Nascimento slips to the side and beats him with another thudding kick. He scores one more when Durden comes his direction, and Durden still crashes the pocket and checks Nascimento’s chin with a left hand on the cheek. The jabs from Durden are marking up Nascimento’s cheek, and he is not far from splitting it open with sheer volume.
Nascimento keeps his back to the cage and tosses out kicks, and he sharply counters Durden with a right hand and plants one more calf kick for good measure. Durden punches through the guar to reach the taller Brazilian, and he catches him with a right hook and makes Nascimento double over. Nascimento reels and backs away, and Durden knocks him back to the wall with an overhand right. Nascimento goes back after his leg kick, and Durden punches him in the guts to back him away again. Nascimento checks a kick and lets his hands go, and his head kick does reach the top of the head. Durden kicks and shoots for a takedown, and Nascimento stands him up and skirts away from the offense he anticipates. Durden still marches him down, his leg lump and welted from the kicks, so that he can put his hands on Nascimento’s jaw. They trash one another with heavy leg kicks, and Nascimento stings Durden and forces him to shoot on him. Nascimento stands back to let it fly by him, and the horn sounds to end what became a close round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Durden

Round 2
Durden starts out the round as aggressive as ever, and he scores on the Brazilian early. Nascimento slows him down with a steady diet of calf kicks, and his right hands continue to find their home while Durden rushes after him. They clash shins when kicking at the same time, and then bang their heads together when coming towards one another. Nascimento backs off, with Smith telling them to be careful, and he rushes in behind a knee. Durden shakes it off and responds with a plethora of punches, only slowing when Nascimento tries to introduce his shin to the Georgia native’s chin. Nascimento whiffs on a looping left hand, and he has a leg kick checked. Nascimento stands Durden up with a right hand, and he gets his head snapped back in the counter. Nascimento pounds on the front leg, and he eats three punches down the middle like they are nothing. Durden gets clipped with a left hand, constantly pressing forward even when under fire. Nascimento rattles him with a long one-two, wrapping his hand around the back of the neck but not using it for a takedown.
Both met let their hands go, and Nascimento puts Durden down with a counter right hand.
Durden ducks to shoot, and he finds himself immediate ensnared in an anaconda choke. Nascimento has the submission virtually completed the moment Durden hits his knees, in what may be the worst choice that “Custom Made” could have made. Durden turns to his back, but there is no way out, so he has to give up.
Durden taps until Smith intervenes, and Nascimento has now recorded 15 submissions in his 22 pro wins. He asks for a ranked opponent, specifically calling out Steve Erceg for his next outing.

The Official Result
Allan Nascimento def. Cody Durden R2 3:13 via Submission (Anaconda Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Oct 31, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Allan Nascimento

Angelo picks Allan Nascimento, but is hesitant. He notes Nascimento's jiu-jitsu is excellent but his takedowns are poor, so he relies on being taken down to sweep. He thinks Cody Durden's wrestling and cardio have declined, and he gets tired. However, he worries that if Durden doesn't wrestle, Nascimento won't finish on the feet, leading to a low-scoring fight. He may avoid it in DFS.

"I think Alan wins this fight. I think Alan could potentially finish this new version of Cody Durden, but I'm... probably going to avoid it."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Allan Nascimento

Big Brady picks Allan Nascimento, noting Cody Durden is on short notice, 34 years old, and has taken a ton of damage in recent fights. He highlights Nascimento's size, length, and excellent grappling. He believes once the fight hits the ground, Nascimento will have a huge advantage and predicts a second-round submission.

second round submission, minus 300 favorite
"I like Nasnto here. I'll take him to win this fight by second round submission."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Oct 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Allan Nascimento

Connor also picks Nascimento, noting that Durden is super vulnerable on defense and aggressive to a fault. He thinks Nascimento's submission game is dangerous enough to catch Durden, but he wouldn't be surprised if Durden rides out a win on top. He mentions Durden's bigger signature wins but still leans Nascimento.

"I think I'll take Nascimento and one thing I do know about him is that he's durable."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Allan Nascimento

Nascimento's BJJ will get Durden into bad spots and he will eventually pull off a submission. The host's favorite spot is the under 2.5 rounds at even money.

under 2.5 rounds at even money
"His BJJ should help him get Duran into some bad spots and from there I expect Nasameto to eventually pull off a submission. Although my favorite spot in this fight would probably be the under two and a half at …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Allan Nascimento

The MMA Guru picks Allan Nascimento, noting his size advantage at catchweight and superior grappling. He compares Nascimento's dominant grappling against Jafel Filho to Cody Durden's struggles against Jake Hadley. He worries about Durden taking the fight on short notice and predicts Nascimento wins by decision or submission in the second or third round.

submission in the second or third round
"I'm going to say that Allan Nascimento gets this one done. Another thing to mention here as well, Allan Nascimento out-grappled Jafel Filho round after round."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Oct 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Allan Nascimento

Zane picks Nascimento to catch a submission, noting that Durden sells out so hard on offense that he makes himself vulnerable to submissions. He acknowledges that if Nascimento doesn't submit him, Durden could grind out a win. He mentions Nascimento's durability and solid submission game.

submission
"I'm thinking to take Nascimento to catch sub but like you know if he doesn't this could be a very scrappy hard fought fight."
LOSS vs Jose Ochoa
KO R2 0:11 · UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley · Jun 14, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Cody Durden 0 9 of 41 21% 12 of 47 2 of 4 50% 0 0 1:42
Jose Ochoa 1 30 of 79 37% 52 of 107 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:13
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Cody Durden 0 9 of 39 23% 12 of 45 2 of 4 50% 0 0 1:42
Jose Ochoa 0 25 of 73 34% 47 of 101 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
2 Cody Durden 0 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jose Ochoa 1 5 of 6 83% 5 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Cody Durden 9 of 41 21% 6 of 34 1 of 4 2 of 3 8 of 37 0 of 1 1 of 3
Jose Ochoa 30 of 79 37% 18 of 42 7 of 28 5 of 9 24 of 71 3 of 5 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Cody Durden 9 of 39 23% 6 of 32 1 of 4 2 of 3 8 of 35 0 of 1 1 of 3
Jose Ochoa 25 of 73 34% 13 of 36 7 of 28 5 of 9 22 of 68 3 of 5 0 of 0
2 Cody Durden 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jose Ochoa 5 of 6 83% 5 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 3 0 of 0 3 of 3
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Cody Durden vs. Jose Ochoa
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ochoa (-180), Durden (+150)

Round 1
Trying to break out of a bit of a rough patch, having lost three of four, Durden (17-7-1, 6-5-1 UFC) needs a win bad and wants it even more because this match takes place at home. A product of American Top Team Atlanta, he will welcome wild-swinging Ochoa (7-1, 1 NC; 0-1 UFC) to the ATL. When the dust settles between these two flyweights, one will return to the win column—barring something unexpected. Referee Kevin MacDonald will be on top of the action. The two combatants bump fists, and Ochoa comes out erratically with bouncing, jittery movement and kicks. Ochoa stabs the body with his toes extended, and he does this two more times before Durden comes back at him with a left hand. Ochoa continues working the body with the same move, and he spins with an elbow on the counter try from Durden. Durden shakes it off and is ready to trade, but it is Ochoa who lands in bunches. Ochoa’s movement allows him to avoid the worst that Durden tosses at him, while keeping a solid range with his legs outstretched constantly. Durden latches onto Ochoa’s right leg in pursuit of a single, wrangling the younger man to the mat and lacing his hooks around them for a moment. Durden slithers to the side in an attempt to take the back, but Ochoa knows this is coming and turns himself around while standing up. Durden knees his way out of the clinch, and Ochoa thanks him for this by kicking him in the fast-reddening lead leg. Ochoa slips a punch to connect with three, with Durden’s chin holding up but taking damage early. Ochoa tags the Georgian with a fast combination, and he grabs hold of a guillotine when Durden shoots and knees him to break up the shot. Ochoa goes to the body with a left, and he spams two head kick from the same leg and chains punches and another kick behind it. Durden tries to bully him back, only to absorbs an elbow and a mean left hand. Ochoa is a meat grinder, marching Durden down and putting him through his paces. Durden takes several more blows on the chin, and in response he unloads a right hand from the depths that stuns Ochoa to his core. This allows Durden to easily change levels and take Ochoa down, but Ochoa hits his back and starts firing off upkicks aplenty. Durden lowers himself down through the flailing legs, dropping down a few standing-and-ground punches. As soon as Ochoa locks up a triangle choke, the round ends.

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

Round 2
The second round kicks off with Durden grinning like a banshee. As he moves to the center of the cage, Ochoa meets him there. Durden reaches out with a right hand to initiate an exchange, and the younger fighter dips back and clubs him with an uppercut that shakes the Covington, Georgia, native up badly. As Durden wobbles back to put the fence behind him, Ochoa just misses with a flying switch kick aimed at his mug.
The moment he plants his feet, Ochoa dodges a left hook and unloads a blistering short left hand that jacks Durden in the jaw and sends him careening to the floor. While MacDonald is sprinting to the fighters to wave things off, Ochoa hammers the local with two or three more fierce right hands.
MacDonald gets in to stop the fight, and Durden’s eyes are wide and rolling around in his noggin. Ochoa walks off and celebrates, while Durden looks around confusedly and briefly protests but needs to be helped back to his feet, further justifying the stoppage. Ochoa earns his first UFC victory in big way, putting down a gritty grappler like Durden in the latter’s home territory.

The Official Result
Jose Ochoa def. Cody Durden R2 0:11 via KO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jun 8, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Cody Durden

Angelo leans Cody Durden because he is battle-tested and relentless with takedowns. He notes that Jose has good takedown defense but hasn't faced a wrestler as determined as Cody. He acknowledges Cody's suspect chin but believes his pressure will be key.

"I'm probably going to lean Cody here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Big Brady picks Jose Ochoa by second-round submission. He likes Ochoa's striking and sneaky submission game, and notes that Cody Durden has been taking damage and has four submission losses. He believes Ochoa is dangerous everywhere and will either knock out Durden or snatch a submission.

second round submission
"I'm going to say OOA wins this fight by second round submission."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 12, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Ochoa's superior striking and aggressive BJJ will overwhelm Durden. He will eventually secure a submission and force the tap.

submission
"Look for him to utilize his superior striking... it's a very good and active aggressive BJJ shoulder look to get this fight to the ground... slaps on a submission and forces the tap."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 13, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Jose Ochoa

The Guru picks Jose Ochoa, impressed by his performance against Lone'er Kavanagh where he showed finishing ability and hurt him to the body. He notes Ochoa is a 'nasty finisher' with submission skills, and expects a finish in the first two rounds, possibly by body shot or submission after hurting Durden.

Jose Ochoa by finish in the first two rounds
"Joseé Ooa is really good and I'm going to take him to win and it's [ __ ] am I going to take him to like dude he looked really good against Lona Kavanaaugh and he should not have looked …"
LOSS vs Joshua Van
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–26, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura · Dec 07, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Joshua Van 0 70 of 217 32% 74 of 223 2 of 8 25% 0 0 3:14
Cody Durden 0 165 of 304 54% 184 of 323 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:20
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Joshua Van 0 14 of 33 42% 18 of 38 2 of 3 66% 0 0 3:14
Cody Durden 0 30 of 49 61% 46 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Joshua Van 0 27 of 99 27% 27 of 100 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
Cody Durden 0 72 of 136 52% 73 of 137 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
3 Joshua Van 0 29 of 85 34% 29 of 85 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Cody Durden 0 63 of 119 52% 65 of 121 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Joshua Van 70 of 217 32% 60 of 203 6 of 8 4 of 6 70 of 217 0 of 0 0 of 0
Cody Durden 165 of 304 54% 131 of 262 22 of 27 12 of 15 144 of 279 19 of 22 2 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Joshua Van 14 of 33 42% 13 of 30 1 of 2 0 of 1 14 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
Cody Durden 30 of 49 61% 24 of 39 2 of 4 4 of 6 15 of 32 13 of 15 2 of 2
2 Joshua Van 27 of 99 27% 22 of 93 4 of 5 1 of 1 27 of 99 0 of 0 0 of 0
Cody Durden 72 of 136 52% 57 of 119 14 of 15 1 of 2 71 of 134 1 of 2 0 of 0
3 Joshua Van 29 of 85 34% 25 of 80 1 of 1 3 of 4 29 of 85 0 of 0 0 of 0
Cody Durden 63 of 119 52% 50 of 104 6 of 8 7 of 7 58 of 113 5 of 5 0 of 1
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Cody Durden vs. Joshua Van
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Van (-155), Durden (+130)

Round 1
Speed is the name of the game in this flyweight affair, as skilled grappler Durden (17-6-1, 6-4-1 UFC) will try to ply his trade against offense-first Houstonian by way of Myanmar Van (11-2, 4-1 UFC). The two 125ers looking to climb the ranks share similar stoppage rates of 71% and 73%, respectively, which is rare at this division and something referee Chris Tognoni should keep in mind when officiating this contest. Fists are bumped, and they come into close range to trade. Durden lands a low kick and comes up short on a one-two. Van connects with a hard low kick, and Durden fires back with a surprisingly effective high kick and a punch salvo. Durden punches his way into a double-leg takedown, and he gets elbows in the side of the head when trying. Durden drops all the way down to fish for Van’s ankle, and he lifts “The Fearless” up and deposits him to his seat. Van methodically works his way back to his feet with Durden pressuring and leaning on him, and he hacks with a few elbows before Durden drags him back down to the floor. Van strikes with elbows to the side of the dome, and Durden takes a moment to cover as he does not like absorbing them. Van muscles his way up to his feet, but Durden is on him like a cheap suit. Van rips the body with a right hand to break away, and he rushes forward behind his jab. Durden fires off a left hand, and the two trade blows in the pocket. Van pierces the guard with a few jabs and works the body in subsequent strikes, and he snaps the head back with a sharp uppercut. Van gets Durden’s attention, slipping an uppercut to get Durden’s attention. Van slams his shin on the front leg of his foe, and he walks square into an uppercut that Durden is spamming. As Van meanders forward, Durden stops him with a double-leg entry. Van defends with elbows until Durden switches to a single-leg takedown attempt, and Van is able to set his leg down while keeping himself upright. Durden tries to lift Van up in the air, but he settles for grinding out the remainder of the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Van
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Durden

Round 2
The flyweights race out of their corners to re-engage, and engage they do. Both men load up on wild strikes, and Van rocks his opponent with a flurry. Durden fires back, and he keeps Van honest but is not taking him out of the equation. Van shrugs off a head kick to do some damage with punch combos, and he sprawls to stop a takedown and clips Durden with an uppercut. Van chains his punches together, and Durden’s balance is starting to betray him as his knees wobble. Van knocks his man back with an accurate series of punches, and he drills the midsection and is ready to stop a takedown. Durden flops to his back, and Van tells him to get up. Tognoni has him stand up, and they start up throwing fire again. Durden lands, and all Van does is smile and swing back with a vengeance. Durden’s power is starting to slip due to fatigue, while Van is accurate and putting high volume that marks Durden’s face up on the nose and eyebrow. Durden overswings, and he eats a crisp overhand right for his effort. “The Fearless” fearlessly engages in a slugfest, landing first and last in exchanges. Van is not loading up, instead allowing Durden to do that so he can capitalize on the wild, lumbering swings and retaliate sharply. Van stops a takedown in its tracks so he can drive home an uppercut, and he wades away from a spinning back fist and slides in to connect with a right hand. Durden’s inaccurate left hook leads to three punches busting him in the chops. Durden keeps swinging hard, and the telegraphed strikes are either missing entirely or sliding off the target and getting rolled with. Van puts a one-two on the chin, and Durden responds with a left and a big right. Van strings together five punches in rapid succession, leaning back to dodge “Custom Made” and forward to connect cleanly. When Van eats the power strikes, he does not budge, while every other blow seems to draw a reaction out of the slowing Durden. The round ends with the two trading leather.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Van
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Van
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Van

Round 3
A glove touch commences the final frame, and Van is immediately in striking range as he flusters Durden with movement and footwork. Durden fights behind his jab, and he puts some mustard behind a follow-up right hand. Van no-sells the strike and nails Durden with two powerful low kicks, and Durden swipes back at him with left hooks. Van goes high and then to the body and low calf, mixing things up to keep Durden guessing. Durden tries a Superman punch from up close, only fur Van to block it and knock him back a step. One-twos from both sides land on the guard, and Van clubs his foe on the temple and drops Durden to a knee. Durden signals that it was not a big deal, drawing Van into a brawl. Yan’s offense is gradually breaking Durden down, and he connects with a particularly rough left hand that makes Durden fall to his back. Durden is forced to stand back up, and he keeps his right hand covering the eye socket that might have been hurt. Van strings three punches into a knee to the liver, and Durden shells up and launches a huge right hand that goes wide. Van stifles a takedown and misses with a haymaker, only to drift back when Durden spins with a back fist. Van slips and counters his foe, and Durden wobbles but stays on his feet. A jab from Van makes Durden frown, but it does not slow him down as he hurls huge hooks anywhere he can aim them. Van walks him down and connects cleanly, knocking Durden’s mouthpiece out. Tognoni calls time during a moment to break to replace Durden’s gumshield, and the two resume their torrid brawl. Durden may be leading with his chin, but he is swinging with everything he has. Van hurts him with a few hooks, a knee and a head kick, and Durden is hanging on tight but just taking damage. Durden swings it out until the final bell, putting an end to an exciting striking affair.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Van (30-27 Van)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Van (29-28 Van)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Van (29-28 Van)

The Official Result
Joshua Van def. Cody Durden via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-26, 30-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 30, 2024 (7 days before fight)
Cody Durden

Angelo picks Cody Durden as a dog, citing Durden's relentless pressure wrestling and cardio as key factors. He believes Durden's takedowns will frustrate Joshua Van and deplete his confidence. Angelo notes both fighters are chinny but expects Durden to focus on winning rather than brawling. He is monitoring the line movement and may bet if the odds widen further.

Plus 138 as a dog, might bet plus 3.5 spread if odds widen
"Cody Duran is going to be the pick"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Dec 4, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Joshua Van

Cody picks Van but expects a tough first round. He notes Durden's wrestling and fast starts, but thinks Van's cardio and volume will take over in later rounds. He suggests live betting Van after the first round.

"Van for me, but I expect round one to be difficult."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Dec 6, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Cody Durden

Connor picks Durden, though he hates to do it. He notes that Durden starts fast and pressures aggressively, which could overwhelm Van, who tends to start slow and build into fights. Connor points out that Van has been taking too much damage recently and is fighting too frequently, which raises concerns about his durability. He also mentions that Durden's pace and wrestling could be a problem for Van, who has shown vulnerability early in fights.

"I think i'm gonna pick durden here. They hate to do it."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Cody Durden

Daniel admits bias as Durden's friend but provides analysis: he believes Durden's well-rounded attack and ability to exploit Van's uncomfortable ranges will lead to a win. He expects Durden to mix takedowns and striking effectively.

"I think that Cody Duran with a more well-rounded attack."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 6, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Joshua Van

Van successfully bounced back from his knockout loss to Charles Johnson by defeating Edgar Chairez. He will take that momentum, showcase improved takedown defense, keep the fight standing, and eventually catch Durden slipping to get a knockout victory.

knockout victory
"I believe you'll be able to take that momentum showcase his improved takedown defense keep this fight in The Standing Room and eventually catch dirt and slipping leading to a knockout victory for Joshua van"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Dec 4, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Cody Durden

Paul picks Durden as an underdog, citing his wrestling and fast starts. He notes Van's high fight frequency and potential wear. He thinks Durden can win the first two rounds and hold on, but acknowledges the risk.

"I actually think I will take Durden and hope he wins the first and wins the second."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Cody Durden

The MMA Guru picks Cody Durden, citing Van's tendency to get rocked on the feet and Durden's improved hands and grappling. He thinks Durden's size and takedowns will be too much for Van, and that once Durden gets a lead he is hard to catch. He predicts a 29-28 decision based on the first two rounds.

"I'm going to go Cody Duran I'm going to go of Cody Duran over Joshua van"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Dec 6, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Cody Durden

Zane also picks Durden, expressing concern for Van's health and development. He notes that Van is inexperienced and makes bad decisions under duress, and that Durden's early pressure and wrestling could exploit that. Zane points out that Van has been in wars recently and is fighting too often, which could lead to him getting knocked out or losing a decision. He believes Durden is a tough out and that Van's ceiling is higher but not yet realized.

"I think i'll pick durden too. I do not like it."
WIN vs Matt Schnell
Submission (ninja choke) R2 0:29 · UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady · Sep 07, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Cody Durden 0 40 of 83 48% 40 of 83 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Matt Schnell 0 34 of 78 43% 37 of 81 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:10
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Cody Durden 0 40 of 80 50% 40 of 80 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Matt Schnell 0 33 of 77 42% 36 of 80 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Cody Durden 0 0 of 3 0% 0 of 3 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Matt Schnell 0 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:10
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Cody Durden 40 of 83 48% 32 of 73 3 of 3 5 of 7 38 of 81 2 of 2 0 of 0
Matt Schnell 34 of 78 43% 31 of 73 3 of 5 0 of 0 34 of 78 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Cody Durden 40 of 80 50% 32 of 71 3 of 3 5 of 6 38 of 78 2 of 2 0 of 0
Matt Schnell 33 of 77 42% 30 of 72 3 of 5 0 of 0 33 of 77 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Cody Durden 0 of 3 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Matt Schnell 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Cody Durden vs. Matt Schnell
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Durden (-335), Schnell (+220)

Round 1
Due to the late nature of this flyweight pairing coming together—Durden (16-6-1, 5-4-1 UFC) will serve as a replacement to Alessandro Costa—the two men next will be fighting up in weight at bantamweight. Both short-notice Durden and Schnell (16-8, 1 NC; 6-6, 1 NC UFC) are hovering around the .500 mark in the promotion, so a win may go a long way while a loss could spell disaster. Referee Chris Tognoni will serve as the Octagon ranger for this contest, and gloves are touched to get things going. Durden moves to the center of the cage and is caught with an early uppercut. Durden backs off and finds another way in, and Schnell clips him twice more in a speedy exchange. Schnell points at him but does not capitalize on hurting and reddening Durden, instead allowing Durden to walk him down. Durden elects to fight to his disadvantage, brawling wildly and backing Schnell up a big. Durden lands several body shots until Schnell fires back, and Schnell’s attacks are more powerful and result in Durden thinking twice. Durden lands a right and eats two rights back. Durden unleashes a fury of punches, and Schnell shakes him up with furious counters that are heavier and faster. Durden wipes his hands and blinks it out, and he backs away as Schnell kicks him in the ribs. Durden wings a few punches that come up short, and Schnell times an outside leg kick that buckles the knee. Durden catches his man on the end of a left hand, and Schnell fires back with a right. Durden clubs him with a hard right, and Schnell skirts to the side and prepares an uppercut that lands on the nose. Schnell clacks the front leg again, and he allows Durden to overswing so he can counter effectively. Durden still manages to get off his right hand a few times, and Schnell’s head movement and footwork keeps him from absorbing any flush. Schnell snipes his man a few times until Durden pushes out a front kick to slow him down. Schnell ducks a head kick that skims his hair, and the two throw caution to the wind and brawl again. Schnell gets tagged with a left hand on the nose, and he winds up and retorts with a flurry of fists. Durden connects at the end of a right hand that cuts Schnell’s eyebrow, and Schnell bites down on his gumshield and blasts Durden in the face with an overhand right. Durden spins with a wheel kick that brushes past his opponent, and Schnell gathers his thoughts and punches his way into a short combo. They trade left hands, and Schnell lands three while Durden gets off two. The two trade right to the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Schnell
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Durden

Round 2
The fighters are ready to pick up right where they left off, and after a few low kicks, Schnell lands a big left hand. After connecting, Schnell shoots in with a telegraphed takedown, and Durden’s eyes go wide and he grins as he snatches hold of a guillotine choke. Schnell twists around, and Durden chains his submission into a ninja choke. When “Danger” keeps turning, he finds himself in even graver danger, as Durden locks the choke down and turns Schnell to his back. As soon as Schnell is on his back, he taps with both hands in a panic as the submission was likely to put his lights out. Durden releases the choke when Tognoni gets between them and goes over to the cage to shout at someone in the audience. His team manages to calm him down, and he celebrates his handiwork with his wife and corner. While Durden gives his post-fight interview, Schnell removes his gloves and places them in the center of the cage to signal his retirement. Instead of looking for a moment on the mic, Schnell departs the cage, overcome with emotion.

The Official Result
Cody Durden def. Matt Schnell R2 0:29 via Submission (Ninja Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 1, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Cody Durden

Angelo picks Cody Durden (referred to as Alexandre Costa) because he is a solid striker with real power, good takedown defense, and durability, while Matt Schnell has been in too many wars and his chin is failing. He believes Costa will blast Schnell's legs and crack him in the head, leading to a knockout. He notes that Schnell is not dangerous enough to put Costa away.

"Alexandre Costa should win here he should dominate here"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 5, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Cody Durden

Big Brady picks Cody Durden to win by knockout. He notes Durden is stepping in on short notice but looked career-best in his last fight before getting caught. Brady believes Durden's striking will be the difference and that he just needs to land one clean shot. He warns about Schnell's dangerous grappling but thinks Durden will avoid the ground and finish the fight inside the distance.

fight finishes inside the distance
"give me Duran Duran by knockout and it should be a fight that that finishes inside the distance"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Sep 4, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Matt Schnell

Cody picks Schnell, arguing that Durden's short notice, weight cut issues, and lack of corner are major red flags. He notes Schnell's superior experience and cardio, but admits Durden's power and aggression could end it early. He sees value at +250 but is not highly confident.

"I will take match nil"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Sep 5, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Cody Durden

Daniel is biased as a friend of Durden, but he believes Durden's power and Schnell's weak chin will be the deciding factor. He acknowledges Schnell is well-rounded and technical, but thinks Durden will eventually land a knockout. He notes that Schnell has been knocked out in recent fights and that Durden is aware of Schnell's chin. Despite the short notice, Daniel is confident Durden will get the win.

"I do think eventually at some point Cody Duran's gonna get his second UFC knockout so uh let's let's [ __ ] go Cody Duran... I will never pick against Cody Duran."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Sep 4, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Matt Schnell

Paul is intrigued by Schnell at +250, noting Durden is taking the fight on a week's notice, moving up to 135 lbs, and may not have a coach. He acknowledges Schnell's chin issues but believes his experience and cardio advantage could pay off if he survives early. He calls it a 'dog or pass' situation and leans Schnell.

"maybe matchell is the PRP pick Underdog some series plus money that actually could come through but you can't be ton confident on confident on it"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 3, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Matt Schnell

The MMA Guru picks Matt Schnell over Cody Durden. He calls Schnell the 'chiniest fighter in UFC history' but believes Alexandro Costa is explosive and powerful. He notes Schnell got wobbled by Sumudaerji and predicts Costa will put him away brutally in round one.

round one finish
"alesandro Costa is going to put him away in round one brutally"
LOSS vs Bruno Silva
TKO (punches) R2 2:58 · UFC on ESPN: Lemos vs. Jandiroba · Jul 20, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Bruno Silva 0 28 of 63 44% 31 of 68 1 of 1 100% 3 0 2:35
Cody Durden 1 42 of 73 57% 45 of 77 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:23
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Bruno Silva 0 24 of 57 42% 25 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Cody Durden 0 22 of 47 46% 23 of 48 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:12
2 Bruno Silva 0 4 of 6 66% 6 of 10 1 of 1 100% 3 0 2:23
Cody Durden 1 20 of 26 76% 22 of 29 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:11
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Bruno Silva 28 of 63 44% 20 of 52 5 of 7 3 of 4 27 of 62 1 of 1 0 of 0
Cody Durden 42 of 73 57% 31 of 57 6 of 10 5 of 6 24 of 51 1 of 1 17 of 21
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Bruno Silva 24 of 57 42% 16 of 46 5 of 7 3 of 4 24 of 57 0 of 0 0 of 0
Cody Durden 22 of 47 46% 13 of 33 5 of 9 4 of 5 21 of 46 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Bruno Silva 4 of 6 66% 4 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 5 1 of 1 0 of 0
Cody Durden 20 of 26 76% 18 of 24 1 of 1 1 of 1 3 of 5 0 of 0 17 of 21
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Cody Durden vs. Bruno Silva
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Durden (-122), Silva (+102)

Round 1
In the only other fight on the billing beyond the main event with UFC-ranked fighter, top-15 Durden (16-5-1, 5-3-1 UFC) would like nothing more than to put a rough face crank submission loss in December behind him. He will meet fellow grappler Silva (13-5-2, 1 NC; 3-2, 1 NC UFC) in the center of the cage, in what could be an interesting clash of styles on the mat. Referee Chris Tognoni is ready whether it lasts three minutes or all three rounds, and he commences the match as the 125ers bump fists. Durden is quick to lash out with a body kick, and he walks Silva down and marks Silva’s left eye up early with punches. Durden changes levels, and the two bonk heads as Tognoni tells them to be careful. Durden keeps chasing after his opponent, and Silva pushes him away and lands a sweeping leg kick. Silva races forward to tie the American up, and he lands a knee to the guts while Durden looks to trip Silva up. Durden scores a right at the break, and chases to land another long right hand before Silva can zip away. Silva pushes off with the ball of his foot, and he jabs the body and avoids a front kick. Durden clips his opponent with three punches, and he ducks when Silva tries to spin with a back fist to counter. Durden sits down on a chopping kick, and he evades a scooping uppercut and stops a takedown effort in its tracks from the Brazilian. Durden surges forward, fighting behind his jab, and he swipes with a left hook on his way in. Durden attacks with a leg kick, and he is countered with an overhand right. Durden connects with two hooks, and he meanders forward pawing with hooks until committing to one up top and another to the body. Silva misses with another big uppercut, but his front kick does land cleanly. Durden winds up with a huge right hand that busts into Silva’s nose, reddening his cheek and nose, and he wears it well. Durden parries a body shot, swipes out with a left hand and drills Silva with a right hand. Silva cries foul, and Tognoni pauses the action and calls for a replay to confirm that Durden’s fingers grazed the eyeball. The Brazilian needs a doctor to come in and wipe away his eye, and Tognoni goes to calmly warn Durden for the accidental foul. Silva informs Tognoni that he can continue, but needs a little more time to recover—he has four more minutes, and no booing crowd to urge him to return to combat sooner than he should. Silva tells Tognoni his eye is spasming, but he can keep going, and they get back to it after two minutes of recovery. Both men rush at one hellbent for leather, and the proceed to throw it hard. Both men tag the other, and Durden is warned for outstretched fingers. Silva kicks low as blood trickles out of his nostril, and Durden turns with a back kick that plants square in the solar plexus. Durden points to his success, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Durden

Round 2
The flyweights clock in for the second round, and Silva is smiling and ready to return to action. He strikes first in the form of a leg kick, and Durden answers him with a twitchy right hand. Durden finds success with it and beans the Brazilian with two more, putting “Bulldog” on skates. Silva backs off and shoots for a takedown, and Durden catches a brabo choke. Silva turns the proper direction, and he fights off a subsequent anaconda choke. Durden tries a third time to land a similar submission, and Silva survives all three and lowers himself to his back. Silva tries to tug off the fence links to find a better angle, and Durden lays flat on top of him. Silva wall-walks to his knees, and Durden is on him and drags him back down when Silva pops up. Durden stays glued to his man, but Silva explodes back to his feet and walks Durden down.
“Bulldog” walks through a jab and drills Durden in the jaw with a ferocious uppercut, knocking his mouthpiece clean out and sending the American crashing to the canvas. Silva pounces and unloads with relentless right hands, pouring it on and drawing blood that sprays the mat as he beats Durden down. Silva continues landing as Tognoni asks for Durden to fight back, and when Durden’s arms go limp, he intervenes.
This is a crazy comeback for Silva, who turns the tables with just one punch and may have performed some unauthorized dental work on the soon-to-be-unranked contender. This sport never fails to surprise, and no fighter is ever totally safe while the cage door is locked and both competitors are still in the fight.

The Official Result
Bruno Silva def. Cody Durden R2 2:58 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 14, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Cody Durden

Angelo picks Cody Durden because his aggressive wrestling pace will be too much for Bruno Silva, leading to a close decision. He notes that Silva has power and could land a knockout, but Durden's chin is a concern. He does not mention a bet, but is confident in the pick.

"I think the wrestling pace is going to be too much I think Cody squeezes out a close decision here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

Cody picks Bruno Silva, highlighting his striking advantage and the fact that he accepted the fight before Durden, indicating confidence from training together. He notes Silva's defensive wrestling is solid and that Durden will struggle to take him down. He also mentions Silva's submission win over Tyson Nam as impressive.

"I got Bruno Silva man so that's that's the pick for me on this one."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Cody Durden

Daniel Vreeland picks his friend Cody Durden, citing Durden's superior wrestling, volume, and training with Pantoja. He acknowledges Bruno's explosive power and opportunistic submissions but believes Durden will outwork him everywhere. Vreeland warns against underestimating Durden's standup and submission defense.

"I think Cody outworks this guy um and everywhere too like on the feet I think he's gonna out volume him and when he decides to mix in his takedowns as long as you know he doesn't get caught in …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jul 17, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

Silva is a +100 underdog. He has a slick boxing approach and BJJ black belt, and his takedown defense and ability to work back to his feet should frustrate Durden. Durden will put himself in danger with his wrestling, and Silva can capitalize with a submission or TKO. Silva's inactivity (16 months) is a concern, but his skills should be enough to get the win.

submission
"I'm going to call Bruno Silva Club in sub as I think that deran will put himself into too much danger and I think Silva is dangerous enough to eventually find that big shot and put Duran away"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

Paul also picks Bruno Silva, agreeing with Cody's points about Silva's striking and the familiarity from training. He thinks Silva has an advantage on the feet and that Durden will be in trouble if he tries to grapple. He also notes the submission prop as a possibility.

"Bruno Silva is also the pick for me."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Cody Durden

The MMA Guru picks Cody Durden, trusting in his activity. He notes Bruno Silva has been inactive, fighting only once since 2021, while Durden has been consistently fighting. He highlights Durden's wins over Jake Hadley and Charles Johnson, and believes Durden is more disciplined and focused. He also mentions Durden is bigger for the division.

"I'm going to trust in the activity as I said Bruno Silva's been a little bit out of the game recently"
Jose Ochoa - Fight History
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 328 · May 09, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Clayton Carpenter 0 68 of 153 44% 70 of 155 1 of 7 14% 0 0 1:07
Jose Ochoa 1 153 of 269 56% 180 of 296 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:09
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Clayton Carpenter 0 23 of 49 46% 25 of 51 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:07
Jose Ochoa 1 54 of 98 55% 60 of 104 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:44
2 Clayton Carpenter 0 25 of 54 46% 25 of 54 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Jose Ochoa 0 51 of 94 54% 51 of 94 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:25
3 Clayton Carpenter 0 20 of 50 40% 20 of 50 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:00
Jose Ochoa 0 48 of 77 62% 69 of 98 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Clayton Carpenter 68 of 153 44% 24 of 82 25 of 49 19 of 22 61 of 143 6 of 8 1 of 2
Jose Ochoa 153 of 269 56% 79 of 174 45 of 64 29 of 31 140 of 248 8 of 11 5 of 10
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Clayton Carpenter 23 of 49 46% 8 of 27 10 of 17 5 of 5 19 of 44 4 of 5 0 of 0
Jose Ochoa 54 of 98 55% 28 of 67 14 of 18 12 of 13 49 of 88 1 of 1 4 of 9
2 Clayton Carpenter 25 of 54 46% 12 of 33 4 of 12 9 of 9 25 of 53 0 of 1 0 of 0
Jose Ochoa 51 of 94 54% 23 of 56 19 of 29 9 of 9 44 of 84 6 of 9 1 of 1
3 Clayton Carpenter 20 of 50 40% 4 of 22 11 of 20 5 of 8 17 of 46 2 of 2 1 of 2
Jose Ochoa 48 of 77 62% 28 of 51 12 of 17 8 of 9 47 of 76 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Clayton Carpenter vs. Jose Ochoa
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ochoa (-180), Carpenter (+150)

Round 1
Fans and media alike have lamented UFC shows as of late, and for good reason. This is not one of those cards. Based on the metrics seen so far, UFC 328 tonight is slated to be a big one. A rousing 12 or 13 fights (we shall see) will drive excitement to a fever pitch inside of the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. We start things off with a fun one at flyweight between two athletes with nearly identical records. Carpenter (8-2, 2-2 UFC) and Ochoa (8-2, 1 NC; 1-2 UFC) will be aiming to make tonight their launch point, and referee Giovanna Scano will join them in the Octagon to get going. Without interest in touching gloves, the two race towards one another, and away we go.
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Ochoa is a man on a mission right out of the gate, as he walks the American down and busts him in the chops with a heavy flurry. He catches a high kick and slings Carpenter to the mat, and Carpenter springs back up and backs off. Ochoa pressures him, leading with his jab to set up power strikes. Ochoa rips a body shot and gets Carpenter’s attention, and Carpenter responds with a surging takedown attempt that crashes into a Peruvian wall. Carpenter bails on the attempt and keeps his guard up to defend the expected attack that comes at him, but he still gets tagged in the ribs a few times. Carpenter hurls back big offense, but Ochoa is elusive and does not just stand in the pocket to bang it out. Ochoa digs a left to the liver, and he sets up a few more and doubles Carpenter over. Carpenter tries to respond with a takedown, but he gets shut down before it comes close. Ochoa parries a front kick as he continues plodding forward, and he scores a low kick right before Carpenter is about to check it.
Carpenter tries to slow down the Peruvian with low kicks, but Ochoa’s volume, pace and power are all giving him fits early. Ochoa’s offense results in a clinch between the two, where he is met with a stern knee to the midsection. Carpenter lines up a few more knees on the inside before separating, and they bang heads into one another. Ochoa appears no worse for wear and keeps racing forward, slugging his fists into Carpenter’s face and stomach. Carpenter crumbles to the mat, and he hits his back and fishes for a low-percentage leglock. Ochoa drops down several elbows including a few 12-to-6 to the calf to break up the submission, and he turns and nails Carpenter with heavy ground-and-pound that has completely busted Carpenter’s nose open. Ochoa gets out of the danger, and Carpenter jumps back to his feet. Carpenter plods forward face-first into a jab, and he takes a front kick on the jaw as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa

Round 2
Carpenter’s nose is a bit crooked coming out of his corner, but the bleeding has largely been slowed for now. It takes no time at all for Ochoa to bust it open again, as he drives forward with punches and front kicks. The variety of offense from “Kalzifer” is shutting down Carpenter, as are his body shots. Ochoa backs Carpenter to the wall and unloads a steady stream of fists to the face and sides, and Carpenter reels and tries to counter but is not able to land nearly as solidly. Ochoa picks his targets effectively, railing the sternum with several jabs and dancing away from counters. Ochoa leaves a body kick out too long, and Carpenter sprints around manages to circle around to take the back standing. Ochoa shimmies him off, so Carpenter slides off and fishes for a leglock. Ochoa wrenches his leg out, and the crowd roars. Ochoa walks Carpenter down to land cleanly, and he gets stood up by one single overhand right.
Ochoa slips and rips with his boxing, leaning back as Carpenter’s swings find nothing but air. Ochoa probes out with his jab, and he leaves himself open to get caught with a left hand upstairs. Carpenter lets go with a low kick and has his head snapped back with a power jab. The jabs from Ochoa have transformed Carpenter into practically a different person, and he sets up a kick that smacks the Arizona native square in the face. Carpenter shoots for a takedown, and he gets nowhere close to even changing levels before he is shut down. Ochoa mixes up head shots with those to the body, constantly giving Carpenter a puzzle to solve. Carpenter rushes out behind a few combinations, and Ochoa ducks one and beans Carpenter with a spinning elbow. Carpenter is tough as the third house from the “Three Little Pigs,” as no amount of heaving or blowing or swinging will put him down. They trade it out to the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa

Round 3
Ochoa the aggressor rushes forward to attack, giving Carpenter little room to breathe early. Carpenter stands his ground and hurls fists back, keeping Ochoa from trampling him. Carpenter attacks the body with his shin, and he takes two low kicks that force him to change stances. Ochoa goes to the body and head, head and body, body body head or head head body—it all differs. As Ochoa is plodding forward with fast hands, Carpenter tackles him to the mat and plants the Peruvian flat on his back. Blood splatters from Carpenter’s nose as he frantically looks to advance position and get off some strikes from above. Ochoa turns to his side to give his back up, and he slides Carpenter off of him. Ochoa stands, and Carpenter follows and takes a left hand square to the face. Carpenter swings back and drops down in pursuit of a single-leg takedown, and Ochoa hops to put his back to the fence to defend it.
Ochoa stands Carpenter up and knees him in the solar plexus, and he strikes the face a few more times with blood painted on the face of the MMA Lab athlete. They trade low kicks, with Carpenter still in the fight even if he might be quite down on the scorecards. Carpenter tries to time a step-in knee, but Ochoa is away in time. Ochoa prods and probes with his jab, and he is met with a pair of head kicks. Ochoa keeps his guard low when not expecting the high kicks, preparing to defend a possible level change as he keeps lighting Carpenter up on the feet. Ochoa goes to the body, slips back to dodge a counter, rips an uppercut and fires off a left to the ribs. Carpenter tosses out a body kick, and Ochoa catches it and returns fire with one of his own. Ochoa jabs the body several more times, pushing a head kick and body kick aside so he can put hands on the American. Carpenter advances with kicks, and he just misses getting caught with a back elbow. Ochoa raises his hands, and Carpenter attacks with seconds to spare. This nearly draws Carpenter into a jump knee, but he dodges it right as the bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa (30-27 Ochoa)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa (30-27 Ochoa)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa (30-27 Ochoa)

The Official Result
Jose Ochoa def. Clayton Carpenter via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 3, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Angelo picks Clayton Carpenter, citing his slick grappling, fast pace, and submission hunting. He notes Carpenter's takedowns and scrambling ability. He thinks Carpenter can grind out a win by constantly taking Ochoa down. He dismisses MMA math and says Carpenter has a great chin and cardio. He likes Carpenter if he is a dog.

Angelo says if you get Carpenter at dog money, it's not the worst pick on the card.
"Clayton Carpenter is going to be the pick. If you get him at dog money, cuz I don't know how long he'll be a dog for. If you get him at dog money, then I don't think that's the worst …"
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked May 6, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Angelo picks Clayton Carpenter as a dog, citing that Jose Ochoa can be taken down and that Carpenter's aggressive grappling and submission hunting will be effective. He notes that Carpenter is eager to find submissions but sometimes loses position, expecting a back-and-forth fight similar to Ochoa's last fight. He is not confident enough to bet actual money on Carpenter due to concerns about jiu-jitsu control.

DraftKings $7,400
"I'm picking Clayton Carpenter in this matchup as a dog here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked May 6, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Big Brady leans Jose Ochoa despite Clayton Carpenter's wrestling advantage. He notes Ochoa's 'shoot to box' style and dangerous striking, expecting him to land bigger shots and do more damage. However, he acknowledges Carpenter could win a decision if he gets multiple takedowns. Brady predicts Ochoa wins by decision, citing his damage output and bigger moments.

"I'm leaning Ochoa here. I'm going to take him to win this fight by decision just by doing more, landing more damage, and having the bigger moments."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked May 6, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Cody picks Carpenter as an underdog, citing his wrestling and grappling skills. He notes Ochoa's takedown defense issues and thinks Carpenter can control the fight on the ground. Cody is not fully confident but likes the plus money.

"Carpenter is the one that I still, you know, could change. I'm not fully sold on it, but uh, it's a 13 fight card. I need at least three underdogs, and Carpenter just happened to fill the void for me."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked May 8, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Connor also picks Ochoa, agreeing that Carpenter's wild style plays into Ochoa's hands. He notes that Ochoa has a real singular skill in striking and has shown maturity in fights, like against Azu Amabayev. Connor thinks Ochoa's problems are about decision-making, which can improve, while Carpenter needs to learn whole new skill sets.

Ochoa opened at -185, now -175; Carpenter opened at +160, now +150.
"Ochoa may honestly be a little better equipped if having the same problem."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked May 8, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Daniel picks Ochoa, noting that Ochoa is fighting for his contract and has always stood out more than Carpenter. He agrees with Cody that Ochoa's power and striking will be too much for Carpenter's ground game.

"Oo is fighting for his contract and he's always stood out to me more than Carpenter. No disrespect cuz I think Carpenter is very talented, but I'm going Jose OA as well."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Confident picked May 8, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Ochoa has advantages everywhere: better striking, better grappling, better submission defense, and durability. Carpenter is flat-footed defensively and not a technical striker; Ochoa's takedown defense is solid (defended 9 of 16 against Almev, 2 of 4 against Duran). Ochoa fights at a high pace and is tough to hold down. Carpenter is a jack of all trades, master of none, and was held down easily by Ulanbekov. Ochoa should outstrike Carpenter and control him on the ground if needed.

Bet 3 units at 1.55 odds. No other props mentioned.
"I've already locked in a bet on Jose AOA. Odds are around 1.55 and a pretty decent size bet as well. Three units. I'm pretty damn confident going to win this."
FI
FightingPost AI Expert Lean picked May 9, 2026 (fight day)
Jose Ochoa

Predicted method: KO/TKO Round 2. Ochoa has shown KO power (recent win over Cody Durden) and solid striking defense (60%), while Carpenter has lost two straight and has poor takedown defense (37%). Carpenter's best chance is to grapple, but Ochoa's 59% takedown defense should keep the fight standing. Ochoa's southpaw stance and reach advantage (67" vs 66") could trouble Carpenter. Expect Ochoa to land a knockout or win a competitive decision.

Ochoa by KO/TKO +320
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked May 6, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Jacob compares Clayton Carpenter to a 'Temu Cody Steel' and thinks Carpenter is way behind in striking. He believes Ochoa is much better on the feet and that Carpenter's takedowns will stop working as he gets hit. Jacob is confident that Ochoa's striking and takedown defense will lead to a win, possibly similar to the Cody Duran fight.

"I actually like the takedown offense of Jose. When he wants to sprawl, when he wants to defend, he can do it."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked May 3, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Lucrative James picks Jose Ochoa because he believes Ochoa's striking is too dynamic and powerful for Clayton Carpenter to handle on the feet. He notes that Carpenter's fight IQ is questionable and he may not grapple enough. He predicts Ochoa wins by knockout, as he expects Carpenter to get taken down but Ochoa to get back up and land big shots.

"I got Jose a Choa to win this fight via knockout."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 5, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

The host believes Carpenter's wrestling and ability to get to dominant positions will be the difference. He notes that Carpenter has a solid wrestling base and is aggressive in getting takedowns, unlike Ochoa's previous opponent Almeida who was more passive. He expects Carpenter to grind out a decision win, despite Ochoa's submission threats off his back. The host acknowledges Carpenter is on a two-fight losing streak but sees value at plus money.

"I believe we start this card off with an upset win for Clayton Carpenter."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked May 6, 2026 (3 days before fight)

Paul does not make a clear pick, saying he is not sure about this fight. He does not express a strong opinion.

"I don't really have much to add there."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 7, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Jose Ochoa

The MMA Guru picks Jose Ochoa, citing his superior finishing potential and 'savage rating'. He notes Ochoa's impressive win over Cody Yuden and competitive performance against Lona Kavana. He believes Carpenter's grappling won't be enough to control Ochoa, who has good submissions and elbows off his back. On the feet, Ochoa has a massive striking advantage. He predicts a round two or three TKO for Ochoa.

round two or three TKO
"I'm going with Jose Acho here. He's a slight favorite. I understand why. I think he's got a much better finishing potential and savage rating than Clayton Carpenter."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked May 8, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Zane picks Ochoa, noting that Carpenter is a one-dimensional pressure fighter who relies on athleticism. Ochoa is the more technical striker and has shown some wrestling instincts. Zane believes Ochoa's decision-making issues are more solvable than Carpenter's lack of skills, and Ochoa's ability to fight off takedowns and counter could earn him a decision.

Ochoa opened at -185, now -175; Carpenter opened at +160, now +150.
"I think I'm gonna pick Ochoa just because Carpenter is not a capable control fighter."
LOSS vs Asu Almabayev
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder · Jul 26, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Asu Almabayev 0 22 of 42 52% 55 of 90 7 of 16 43% 2 0 9:26
Jose Ochoa 0 26 of 45 57% 118 of 151 1 of 1 100% 2 0 0:56
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Asu Almabayev 0 5 of 10 50% 10 of 18 3 of 6 50% 2 0 3:16
Jose Ochoa 0 10 of 18 55% 36 of 49 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:43
2 Asu Almabayev 0 11 of 20 55% 32 of 45 2 of 5 40% 0 0 3:47
Jose Ochoa 0 5 of 9 55% 46 of 56 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:09
3 Asu Almabayev 0 6 of 12 50% 13 of 27 2 of 5 40% 0 0 2:23
Jose Ochoa 0 11 of 18 61% 36 of 46 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Asu Almabayev 22 of 42 52% 12 of 26 5 of 11 5 of 5 13 of 20 3 of 6 6 of 16
Jose Ochoa 26 of 45 57% 8 of 19 13 of 18 5 of 8 17 of 33 9 of 12 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Asu Almabayev 5 of 10 50% 3 of 6 1 of 3 1 of 1 5 of 8 0 of 2 0 of 0
Jose Ochoa 10 of 18 55% 1 of 6 5 of 6 4 of 6 8 of 15 2 of 3 0 of 0
2 Asu Almabayev 11 of 20 55% 5 of 12 3 of 5 3 of 3 5 of 6 2 of 3 4 of 11
Jose Ochoa 5 of 9 55% 2 of 3 3 of 6 0 of 0 4 of 7 1 of 2 0 of 0
3 Asu Almabayev 6 of 12 50% 4 of 8 1 of 3 1 of 1 3 of 6 1 of 1 2 of 5
Jose Ochoa 11 of 18 61% 5 of 10 5 of 6 1 of 2 5 of 11 6 of 7 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Asu Almabayev vs. Jose Ochoa
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Almabayev (-110); Ochoa (-110)

Round 1
The momentum of a 17-fight win streak for Almabayev (21-3, 4-1 UFC) came to a screeching halt not just because of his loss to Manel Kape, but
how
Ochoa is ready for combat, attacking repeatedly with low kicks and a hard left hand. Almabayev ties him up after taking a clean land, and he absorbs a knee and a left hand on the way to trying to take the fight down. Ochoa keeps his balance with the wall behind him, and he quickly pops up when Almabayev drags him to his knees. Almabayev uses a body lock to hurl “Kalzifer” to the floor, landing in side control, but once more Ochoa bursts back to his feet even with his fellow flyweight holding onto him. Almabayev looks to jump and take the back standing, but he falls off the back. On a second effort, Almabayev is able to take the back upright, but he has to hook his toes in the fence to stay balanced. He releases the grip and separates.
As Ochoa bears down on his opponent, Almabayev tags him with a punch and a high kick. Ochoa keeps pressing forward, and Almabayev slickly ducks under and drags him to the mat, where he gets on his back and starts crushing Ochoa’s nose with a face crank. Almabayev climbs onto his foe’s back while Ochoa is on his feet, and Ochoa leans against the fence to take some of the weight off of him. Almabayev hunts for a choke but is in the wrong position as he is nearly wriggled off, and he tries for a desperation leglock to stay there. He lets it go, and Ochoa rushes after him laying into him with his fists. Almabayev tries a takedown, and he narrowly avoids a knee on the way back up after it fails. Almabayev spins for a back kick, and Ochoa pushes through and takes his back with 30 seconds to go, setting up the body triangle as soon as he lands. Both men decided against submissions and start punching each other from that specific position until the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Almabayev
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Almabayev
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Almabayev

Round 2
The fighters tap hands together twice to get going, and Ochoa is the aggressor although he walks through two low kicks and a takedown shot. Almabayev gets hold of the single and wrangles Ochoa to a knee but no further, as Ochoa springs back up. Ochoa goes after the Kazakhstan native, digging a body shot and firing off a knee up top. Almabayev ducks into a head kick but still manages to complete the takedown he was seeking. Ochoa scrambles as Almabayev is looking to pass, and he stands up and grabs hold of the neck of his opponent to threaten. Almabayev shakes out of it and knees his foe in the stomach. They trade some strikes on the inside and separate. Ochoa shrugs off a punch up top to nail Almabayev with a left hand and a knee, and Almabayev crashes through his hips to complete a takedown.
Almabayev lands in the guard, where he remains comfortably and gets off the occasional strike. Ochoa makes Almabayev think twice about smothering his foe freely thanks to a number of hammerfists off his back that have some surprising pop on them. Almabayev attempts to pass to the side, looking to work through the knee shield from the Peruvian. Ochoa throws up an armbar off his back from out of nowhere, and he is warned for grabbing Almabayev’s gloves to set it up. Ochoa loses the grip as Almabayev yanks out of the posture, but he immediately sets up a triangle choke to further threaten. Ochoa hooks his foot under his knee, holding onto the maneuver as the horn blows.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Almabayev
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Almabayev
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Almabayev

Round 3
The flyweights meet in the middle, and Almabayev lands first with a low kick. He tries to follow his success with a looping right hand, and he wings an overhand right to the stomach that allows him to shoot in on Ochoa’s hips. Ochoa attempts a knee to catch Almabayev coming at him, and he is dragged to his seat when it does not hit the wrestler flush. Almabayev grabs the fence, and Herzog calls him on it and breaks them apart. Almabayev apologizes, but he goes right after Ochoa for another takedown, this time in the open cage. Ochoa jumps guard for a guillotine choke, and it is tight until it is not as Almabayev calmly wriggles his neck out. Ochoa sets up a triangle choke from his high guard off his back, but Almabayev is able to easily break out of it.
Almabayev frames off with elbows to hammer down on the Peruvian, and Ochoa fights back every movement with hammerfists or some sort of scramble. Ochoa manages to turn to his knees and get upright with 90 second to spare, and Almabayev thanks him for this with a body kick and a takedown shot. Ochoa stuffs this attempt and is pushed to the wall, where they knee one another in the guts. Ochoa knocks Almabayev back with an elbow, and Almabayev points down at the floor to suggest that he wants to brawl for the final minute. Ochoa does not oblige him, so Almabayev surges into action with a left hand and a double. Ochoa puts his back to the wall and elbows the Kazakh in the side of the melon, until he gets free with a few seconds left. Ochoa overswings a right hand, and Almabayev ducks beneath him and takes his back standing. The fight ends with Almabayev holding on from behind.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Almabayev (30-27 Almabayev)
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Almabayev (30-27 Almabayev)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Almabayev (30-27 Almabayev)

The Official Result
Asu Almabayev def. Jose Ochoa via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Asu Almabayev

Angelo picks Asu Almabayev despite the line swinging to make him an underdog. He notes Asu's flashy striking, dominant grappling, and ability to control range, while Jose Ochoa is on short notice. Angelo believes Asu's pace and pressure will be decisive, though he expects a close fight that may rely on judges. He placed a bet on Asu at -105.

Bet on Asu at -105; surprised Jose is favorite
"I actually placed a bet on ASU. I think ASU wins here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 22, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Big Brady picks Jose Ochoa, citing his striking advantage and power. He believes Ochoa will stuff takedowns and get back up if taken down, then dominate on the feet. He notes Almabayev has low volume and no power, while Ochoa is a dangerous striker with finishing ability. He predicts a second-round knockout.

second round knockout
"I like Ooa here. ... I'll pick him to knock out Austin, and I'll take him to win by second round knockout."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Connor sees Ochoa as a determined pressure fighter with fast hands who will punish Almabayev's rote responses. He notes that Almabayev struggled against Mennel Kopp's pressure and Ochoa is even more aggressive. He acknowledges the risk of Almabayev's clinch control but believes Ochoa's damage output will be decisive.

Odds moved from +330 to -105; Connor says 'I would think it very sensible to throw a little bit on him.'
"I have to pick Ochoa."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 23, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Asu Almabayev

Almabayev is a much better grappler than Ochoa's previous opponent Duran. He should chain wrestle well, outscramble Ochoa, keep him in bad spots, and have striking success to win on the scorecards.

decision
"Almabay is a much better grappler than Deran and I think he'll be able to chain wrestle well enough out scramble ooa keep him in some bad spots and even have some striking success I like how to win this …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Jose Ochoa

The MMA Guru picks Jose Ochoa, noting his near-win over Lona Cavanaught on short notice and his good grappling defense. He believes Almabayev's competition has been weak and that Ochoa's length and finishing potential will be key. He predicts a first or second-round finish for Ochoa.

Finish, round 1 or 2
"I'm going to go with A Choa. ... I'm going to say A Choa gets this one done by finish in the first or second round over Alabv."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Zane picks Ochoa as well, calling it a 'hope pick' because he loves Ochoa's game. He worries about Almabayev's clinch control but notes Ochoa's takedown defense and ability to get back up. He believes Ochoa's striking creativity and power will be the difference.

"Yeah, me too."
WIN vs Cody Durden
KO R2 0:11 · UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley · Jun 14, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Cody Durden 0 9 of 41 21% 12 of 47 2 of 4 50% 0 0 1:42
Jose Ochoa 1 30 of 79 37% 52 of 107 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:13
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Cody Durden 0 9 of 39 23% 12 of 45 2 of 4 50% 0 0 1:42
Jose Ochoa 0 25 of 73 34% 47 of 101 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
2 Cody Durden 0 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jose Ochoa 1 5 of 6 83% 5 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Cody Durden 9 of 41 21% 6 of 34 1 of 4 2 of 3 8 of 37 0 of 1 1 of 3
Jose Ochoa 30 of 79 37% 18 of 42 7 of 28 5 of 9 24 of 71 3 of 5 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Cody Durden 9 of 39 23% 6 of 32 1 of 4 2 of 3 8 of 35 0 of 1 1 of 3
Jose Ochoa 25 of 73 34% 13 of 36 7 of 28 5 of 9 22 of 68 3 of 5 0 of 0
2 Cody Durden 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jose Ochoa 5 of 6 83% 5 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 3 0 of 0 3 of 3
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Cody Durden vs. Jose Ochoa
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ochoa (-180), Durden (+150)

Round 1
Trying to break out of a bit of a rough patch, having lost three of four, Durden (17-7-1, 6-5-1 UFC) needs a win bad and wants it even more because this match takes place at home. A product of American Top Team Atlanta, he will welcome wild-swinging Ochoa (7-1, 1 NC; 0-1 UFC) to the ATL. When the dust settles between these two flyweights, one will return to the win column—barring something unexpected. Referee Kevin MacDonald will be on top of the action. The two combatants bump fists, and Ochoa comes out erratically with bouncing, jittery movement and kicks. Ochoa stabs the body with his toes extended, and he does this two more times before Durden comes back at him with a left hand. Ochoa continues working the body with the same move, and he spins with an elbow on the counter try from Durden. Durden shakes it off and is ready to trade, but it is Ochoa who lands in bunches. Ochoa’s movement allows him to avoid the worst that Durden tosses at him, while keeping a solid range with his legs outstretched constantly. Durden latches onto Ochoa’s right leg in pursuit of a single, wrangling the younger man to the mat and lacing his hooks around them for a moment. Durden slithers to the side in an attempt to take the back, but Ochoa knows this is coming and turns himself around while standing up. Durden knees his way out of the clinch, and Ochoa thanks him for this by kicking him in the fast-reddening lead leg. Ochoa slips a punch to connect with three, with Durden’s chin holding up but taking damage early. Ochoa tags the Georgian with a fast combination, and he grabs hold of a guillotine when Durden shoots and knees him to break up the shot. Ochoa goes to the body with a left, and he spams two head kick from the same leg and chains punches and another kick behind it. Durden tries to bully him back, only to absorbs an elbow and a mean left hand. Ochoa is a meat grinder, marching Durden down and putting him through his paces. Durden takes several more blows on the chin, and in response he unloads a right hand from the depths that stuns Ochoa to his core. This allows Durden to easily change levels and take Ochoa down, but Ochoa hits his back and starts firing off upkicks aplenty. Durden lowers himself down through the flailing legs, dropping down a few standing-and-ground punches. As soon as Ochoa locks up a triangle choke, the round ends.

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

Round 2
The second round kicks off with Durden grinning like a banshee. As he moves to the center of the cage, Ochoa meets him there. Durden reaches out with a right hand to initiate an exchange, and the younger fighter dips back and clubs him with an uppercut that shakes the Covington, Georgia, native up badly. As Durden wobbles back to put the fence behind him, Ochoa just misses with a flying switch kick aimed at his mug.
The moment he plants his feet, Ochoa dodges a left hook and unloads a blistering short left hand that jacks Durden in the jaw and sends him careening to the floor. While MacDonald is sprinting to the fighters to wave things off, Ochoa hammers the local with two or three more fierce right hands.
MacDonald gets in to stop the fight, and Durden’s eyes are wide and rolling around in his noggin. Ochoa walks off and celebrates, while Durden looks around confusedly and briefly protests but needs to be helped back to his feet, further justifying the stoppage. Ochoa earns his first UFC victory in big way, putting down a gritty grappler like Durden in the latter’s home territory.

The Official Result
Jose Ochoa def. Cody Durden R2 0:11 via KO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jun 8, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Cody Durden

Angelo leans Cody Durden because he is battle-tested and relentless with takedowns. He notes that Jose has good takedown defense but hasn't faced a wrestler as determined as Cody. He acknowledges Cody's suspect chin but believes his pressure will be key.

"I'm probably going to lean Cody here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Big Brady picks Jose Ochoa by second-round submission. He likes Ochoa's striking and sneaky submission game, and notes that Cody Durden has been taking damage and has four submission losses. He believes Ochoa is dangerous everywhere and will either knock out Durden or snatch a submission.

second round submission
"I'm going to say OOA wins this fight by second round submission."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 12, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Ochoa's superior striking and aggressive BJJ will overwhelm Durden. He will eventually secure a submission and force the tap.

submission
"Look for him to utilize his superior striking... it's a very good and active aggressive BJJ shoulder look to get this fight to the ground... slaps on a submission and forces the tap."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 13, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Jose Ochoa

The Guru picks Jose Ochoa, impressed by his performance against Lone'er Kavanagh where he showed finishing ability and hurt him to the body. He notes Ochoa is a 'nasty finisher' with submission skills, and expects a finish in the first two rounds, possibly by body shot or submission after hurting Durden.

Jose Ochoa by finish in the first two rounds
"Joseé Ooa is really good and I'm going to take him to win and it's [ __ ] am I going to take him to like dude he looked really good against Lona Kavanaaugh and he should not have looked …"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Figueiredo · Nov 23, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Lone'er Kavanagh 0 51 of 126 40% 51 of 126 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Jose Ochoa 0 50 of 158 31% 59 of 168 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:36
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Lone'er Kavanagh 0 21 of 45 46% 21 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jose Ochoa 0 19 of 44 43% 19 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Lone'er Kavanagh 0 18 of 46 39% 18 of 46 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Jose Ochoa 0 20 of 60 33% 29 of 70 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:33
3 Lone'er Kavanagh 0 12 of 35 34% 12 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jose Ochoa 0 11 of 54 20% 11 of 54 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Lone'er Kavanagh 51 of 126 40% 24 of 74 12 of 28 15 of 24 50 of 124 1 of 2 0 of 0
Jose Ochoa 50 of 158 31% 13 of 78 13 of 40 24 of 40 49 of 156 1 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Lone'er Kavanagh 21 of 45 46% 6 of 21 4 of 10 11 of 14 21 of 45 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jose Ochoa 19 of 44 43% 3 of 19 2 of 6 14 of 19 19 of 44 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Lone'er Kavanagh 18 of 46 39% 9 of 28 7 of 11 2 of 7 17 of 45 1 of 1 0 of 0
Jose Ochoa 20 of 60 33% 7 of 29 6 of 20 7 of 11 19 of 58 1 of 2 0 of 0
3 Lone'er Kavanagh 12 of 35 34% 9 of 25 1 of 7 2 of 3 12 of 34 0 of 1 0 of 0
Jose Ochoa 11 of 54 20% 3 of 30 5 of 14 3 of 10 11 of 54 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Lone'er Kavanagh vs. Jose Ochoa

Round 1
A pair of unbeaten newcomers with seven wins apiece meet in hopes of keeping their spotless records intact. The prospects of Kavanagh (7-0, 0-0 UFC) are high, with many calling for him to get a call up to the big leagues after wiping out Davide Scarano with a spinning back kick in 2023. It took a bit longer than he expected, but he made it, and he meets Ochoa (7-0, 1 NC; 0-0 UFC). While the Brit has heard the final bell in the past, Ochoa has never even fought into the third round. Referee Mark Craig will have his hands full with these flyweights for as long as it goes. They share a sporting glove touch to get started, and Kavanagh strikes first with a low kick. Kavanagh parries the jabs Ochoa is setting up, ignoring a stomping kick to his knees so he can work his way in. Kavanagh has to hop back to block a head kick, and he presses forward with a push kick. Ochoa chops at the lead leg with a kick, and Kavanagh responds in kind. A head kick buzzes past Ochoa’s face in the blink of an eye, with the Peruvian looking at it with bemusement. Kavanagh chips at the front leg, and Ochoa does the same as they do not set up much else. Kavanagh nails the lead leg with a kick that makes Ochoa recoil it, and he dodges a counter right over the top when loosing a body kick. Kavanagh blocks a front kick and whiffs with a head kick, and he sees Ochoa come barreling towards him and blonks him on the head with a right hook. The Peruvian wears it well and lets fly a head kick that is blocked, with the two going tit-for-tat against one another. Ochoa connects with two leg kicks, and the crowd starts wooing as it is not entertained. Both fighters come up short on power strikes, with Kavanagh eventually reaching with a leg kick and then one to the ribs. Kavanagh closes in when Ochoa attempts a spinning back fist, and he chews up the inside and outside of Ochoa’s right leg with kicks. Ochoa goes wide with a haymaker, and Kavanagh slips the strikes and responds with a left hook that cuts Ochoa’s right eye. In a flurry of strikes, a Kavanagh kick does not find the right area and instead blasts Ochoa square in the family jewels. Ochoa walks off in pain, and Kavanagh knows what he did and apologizes. Craig calls time and tells Ochoa he has plenty of time to recover, and Ochoa is not having a good time right now. It takes over a minute for Ochoa to stand up, and he asks for a chance to wipe his bloodied eye that is cut on the lid. After 90 seconds, Ochoa is good to go, and they share a glove touch to restart. Kavanagh reintroduces himself with two more accurate leg kicks, and he allows Ochoa to kick him so he can plant a capoeira kick on his ribs. An Ochoa kick appears to go low, but Kavanagh waves it off and they trade front kicks. A clean Ochoa front kick drives Kavanagh back, and Kavanagh rushes at him swinging two hooks and a kick before the horn sounds. 10-9 Kavanagh.

Round 2
The fighters share a glove touch to get going in Round 2, with Kavanagh twirling about when not committing entirely to a leg kick. He instead aims one to the side, and he leans back when Ochoa’s feet fly past his face. Ochoa scores a Mortal Kombat-inspired sweep kick to the low leg, and Kavanagh no-sells it and responds with a head kick. Kavanagh chambers and fires a slapping leg kick, hoping to set up a high kick but Ochoa is wise to the latter. Ochoa keeps his hands dangerously low as he prods out with front kicks, and he sways back when Kavanagh kicks at him. Kavanagh scores a right hand, has a kick roll off his shoulder and prepares to fire off a counter. The right hand that comes from the Brit puts Ochoa on his seat, and Ochoa, grinning the whole time, climbs back to his feet. Ochoa attacks the front leg repeatedly, landing three or four until Kavanagh lets fly a booming body kick. Ochoa’s kicks keep his man at safe range until Kavanagh gets sick of waiting and lunges to blaze him with a right and then a huge left hook. Ochoa wants to engage, smiling all the while, and he absorbs a powerful left hand that makes him smile and bleed. Kavanagh’s poker face never changes as he unleashes kicks to the body and front leg, and Ochoa splits the distance and delivers a clean body shot. Ochoa chains and fires a few flashy strikes together that all miss, and he tries a capoeira kick that comes up short. Kavanagh stays composed and dings him with a left hook to draw more blood, and his leg kick keeps battering the front leg. Ochoa splits the guard with a front kick, and this makes Kavanagh bite down on his mouthpiece to engage. Ochoa appears to get the better of the exchange, hurting the former Cage Warriors fighter with a long series of punches. Ochoa changes the strikes to body shots, lowering Kavanagh to the floor until Kavanagh shoots desperately. The Peruvian jumps around to take the back, and he hunts for a rear-naked choke while on his foe’s back. Kavanagh leans against the fence to survive the submission, with the horn ending the round. 10-9 Ochoa.

Round 3
The fighters reach the final frame and clap hands, and it could be all tied up or Kavanagh could be ahead. No matter the score, the competitors get to business before long. Legs fly from both sides, with Ochoa picking and poking with kicks high and low, and his body kick draws a reaction out of his man. With Ochoa selling out for kicks, Kavanagh times a left hand that drops Ochoa. Kavanagh does not go wild for long, letting Ochoa have it but paying attention to when the jump knee inevitably comes at him. Ochoa gathers himself and beats on the body with kicks, and Kavanagh returns fire with two that leave mean looking welts on Ochoa’s waist. Kavanagh lunges with a left hook, and he nails the front leg with a kick. Ochoa digs a left to head and right to the body, and Kavanagh pays him back with a short but fierce combination. Ochoa tries to sweep the leg dramatically, and this time it is way short and the crowd boos him. The two crash together with offense, as Ochoa tries a head kick while too close. Kavanagh slips a huge punch to escape from harm, hand-fighting and letting loose with a head kick. Ochoa shrugs at him and belts him with a low kick. Ochoa chases Kavanagh down, walking into a jump knee as he spins with a back fist that bangs into the chest. Kavanagh strafes to the side, avoiding a hook kick and a head kick with active movement. Ochoa’s kicks miss again and again, resulting in Ochoa shrugging at him. Kavanagh wraps a head kick around the guard, and they both land with their fists. Ochoa steps in with a knee, and he gets countered with a left over the top and has a head kick graze his chin. Ochoa walks Kavanagh down without fear, kicking his way into a single-leg takedown attempt that fails. Kavanagh intercepts a kick to blast Ochoa in the face with a right hand, and he spins with a wheel kick that connects cleanly. The two fighters hug it out, and Kavanagh hits a back flip just because he can. 10-9 Kavanagh (29-28 Kavanagh).

The Official Result
Lone'er Kavanagh def. Jose Ochoa via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 17, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

Angelo picks Lone'er Kavanagh, emphasizing his incredible speed and raw power. He believes Kavanagh's high-level training and speed will be the difference, as Ochoa will struggle to see shots coming. He notes both are finishers and suggests an under on round lines could be a play.

under on round lines could be a sneaky good play
"his speed is the difference his High Level Training will be the difference"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 20, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

Big Brady picks Kavanagh to win by decision. He acknowledges the hype on Kavanagh from his contender series knockout but notes Jose Ochoa is dangerous with power. He believes Kavanagh has more ways to win with better tools on the feet and ground, and can mix in takedowns. He expects a back-and-forth war that goes the distance with Kavanagh getting his hand raised.

"I'll take Kavanaugh to win this fight I think it's going to be one of those back and forth Wars where it somehow ends up going the distance and I think it's Kavanagh that gets his hand raised"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 20, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

Cody picks Kavanagh confidently, calling him a top prospect with dynamic striking and grappling. He notes that Ochoa is a tough Peruvian brawler but lacks the technical skills to hang with Kavanagh. He expects Kavanagh to win by knockout, possibly early, and sees him as a top ticket play.

"I got Kavanaugh kav's probably on my top ticket for being real I think he I think he smokes him"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Nov 21, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

Daniel Vreeland praises both fighters as studs but gives the edge to Kavanagh due to being more seasoned and having fought higher-level competition. He notes that Ochoa is impressive and could be a top prospect soon, but Kavanagh's experience and maturity make him the pick. However, he mentions he would bet on Ochoa as an underdog due to the value.

"pure pick I'll take Lan Kavanagh because of the experience the maturity all that but if I'm gonna bet this fight I'm Gonna Roll the Dice on this kid Ooa at plus 290 plus 300"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 20, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

Paul agrees, noting Kavanagh's footwork and power are on another level. He acknowledges Ochoa's toughness but thinks Kavanagh's technique will be too much. He expects a dominant performance and is comfortable laying the chalk.

"I'm glad it's early because if I'm going to lose my shirt it may be rebuild"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 21, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Lone'er Kavanagh

The MMA Guru is high on Lone'er Kavanagh, describing him as a savage with nasty combos and highlight-reel finishes. He notes Kavanagh has faced tougher competition, with his last three opponents having a combined record of 16-0. He believes Kavanagh's power at flyweight and good takedown defense will be key, and predicts a TKO win in round one or two. He thinks it would take a gritty veteran to beat Kavanagh.

TKO early, round one or two
"I'm going Lo Lona kavar getting this one done by TKO early in the fight I'll say round one or two"
Expert Picks (4)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jun 8, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Cody Durden

Angelo leans Cody Durden because he is battle-tested and relentless with takedowns. He notes that Jose has good takedown defense but hasn't faced a wrestler as determined as Cody. He acknowledges Cody's suspect chin but believes his pressure will be key.

"I'm probably going to lean Cody here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Big Brady picks Jose Ochoa by second-round submission. He likes Ochoa's striking and sneaky submission game, and notes that Cody Durden has been taking damage and has four submission losses. He believes Ochoa is dangerous everywhere and will either knock out Durden or snatch a submission.

second round submission
"I'm going to say OOA wins this fight by second round submission."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 12, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Ochoa's superior striking and aggressive BJJ will overwhelm Durden. He will eventually secure a submission and force the tap.

submission
"Look for him to utilize his superior striking... it's a very good and active aggressive BJJ shoulder look to get this fight to the ground... slaps on a submission and forces the tap."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 13, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Jose Ochoa

The Guru picks Jose Ochoa, impressed by his performance against Lone'er Kavanagh where he showed finishing ability and hurt him to the body. He notes Ochoa is a 'nasty finisher' with submission skills, and expects a finish in the first two rounds, possibly by body shot or submission after hurting Durden.

Jose Ochoa by finish in the first two rounds
"Joseé Ooa is really good and I'm going to take him to win and it's [ __ ] am I going to take him to like dude he looked really good against Lona Kavanaaugh and he should not have looked that good against him."