Cody Brundage


Cody Brundage is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Background

Brundage was an accomplished high school wrestler at Chapin High School in Chapin, South Carolina. He held a 56–3 record as a senior, finishing as a SCHSL state-runner up and held a career record of 128–22. Brundage also played football and was on the swim team.
He continued wrestling at Newberry College. At Newberry, Brundage had 96 wins and was a two-time NCAA Division II national qualifier, and was a team captain.
Brundage's interest in MMA started in his wrestling days, running fight clubs out of the wrestling rooms. After completing college and wrestling on the Newberry College team, he started training in fighting.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Brundage made his amateur debut in 2017, compiling a record of 4–2 before turning professional in 2019. Brundage went 5–0 on the local Midwest scene, capturing the Lights Out Championship Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Championships, defeating Erick Lozano for both at LOC 6 in December 2019, and at LOC 7 in February 2020. Brundage got a chance at a UFC contract at Dana White's Contender Series 31 against William Knight. However, he lost the bout via TKO in the first round.
Brundage faced Joseph Kropschot at LFA 99 on February 12, 2021. He won the bout via third round arm-triangle submission.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Brundage made his UFC debut as a replacement for Karl Roberson against Nick Maximov on September 25, 2021, at UFC 266. Brundage lost his debut via unanimous decision.
Brundage faced Dalcha Lungiambula on March 12, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Ankalaev. He won the fight via guillotine choke in round one. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Brundage, as a replacement for Josh Fremd, faced Tresean Gore on July 9, 2022, at UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Fiziev. He won the fight via knockout in round one.
Brundage was scheduled to face Rodolfo Vieira on November 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 215. However, Vieira pull out from the event due to undisclosed reason and the bout was scrapped.
Brundage, as a replacement for Albert Duraev, faced Michał Oleksiejczuk on December 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 216. Brundage lost the fight via knockout in round one.
Brundage faced Rodolfo Vieira at UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simón on April 29, 2023. He lost the fight via submission in round two.
Brundage, as a replacement for Punahele Soriano, faced Sedriques Dumas on June 24, 2023 at UFC on ABC: Emmett vs. Topuria. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.
Brundage faced Jacob Malkoun in a short-notice fight on September 23, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 228. Brundage won the fight via disqualification, after being rendered unable to continue due to an illegal elbow to the back of the head.
Brundage faced Zachary Reese on December 2, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 52. He won the fight by first round knockout due to a slam and punches. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Brundage faced Bo Nickal on April 13, 2024 at UFC 300. He lost the fight by rear-naked choke submission in the second round.
Brundage faced Abdul Razak Alhassan on July 13, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 59. The bout ended in a no-contest early in the first round as a result of elbows to the back of the head of Brundage rendering him unable to continue.
Brundage was scheduled to face The Ultimate Fighter: Team Grasso vs. Team Shevchenko middleweight tournament winner Ryan Loder on March 1, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 253. However, Loder withdrew from the fight for unknown reasons and was replaced by Julian Marquez. Brundage defeated Marquez by technical knockout at the end of the first round.
Brundage faced Mansur Abdul-Malik on June 14, 2025 at UFC on ESPN 69. Initially, the bout was ruled as a loss for Brundage via technical decision after an accidental headbutt rendered Brundage from continuing in the third round. On July 23, 2025, following Brundage’s appeal, the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission reversed the original ruling and declared the bout a majority draw, citing their policy that incomplete rounds cannot be scored; the judges' scores for the two completed rounds were 19–19, 19–19, and 18–20.
Brundage faced Eric McConico in a light heavyweight bout on August 9, 2025 at UFC on ESPN 72. He lost the fight by split decision. 6 out of 9 media outlets scored the bout for Brundage.
Brundage faced Cameron Rowston on February 1, 2026, at UFC 325. He lost the fight by technical knockout in the second round.

Personal life

Brundage comes from an athletic family; his mother was on the U.S. Olympic team for biathlon, and his father was Special Forces. Brundage's youngest brother played lacrosse, and his sister plays soccer on the D-1 level.
He is married to former UFC fighter, Amanda Brundage, who retired to get her nursing license.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

  • Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • *Performance of the Night
  • *UFC Honors Awards
  • ** 2025: Fan's Choice Comeback of the Year Nominee
  • Lights Out Championship
  • *LOC Light Heavyweight Championship
  • *LOC Middleweight Championship

    Amateur wrestling

  • National Collegiate Athletic Association
  • *NCAA Division II National Qualifier Wrestler out of Newberry College
  • South Carolina High School League
  • *South Carolina 3A 145 lb 4th place
  • *South Carolina 3A 182 lb State Runner-Up

    Mixed martial arts record