Cody Gibson


Cody Gibson is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Background

Born in Blackwell, Oklahoma, in 1987, Gibson and his brother Keith were adopted in 1989 and moved west, settling in Visalia, California. As an adult, Gibson found out through social media that he also has a sister and met his biological parents for the first time in 2018.

Mixed martial arts career

Regional circuit

While home for the summer during college, a friend of Cody's invited him to a mixed martial arts gym in Exeter, California, to give it a try. He quickly found out that he enjoyed fighting and took his first professional fight only a few weeks after beginning training. Over the next two years, Cody, still wrestling in college, would take a total of three professional fights, despite not having been trained extensively in any discipline other than wrestling. Still, he managed to begin his MMA career with a 3–0 start. After graduating from college, Cody had a lot of regrets about not meeting his potential as a college wrestler. Upon moving back to Visalia, California, he found a local gym called Elite Team Visalia under head coach, judo and jiu-jitsu black belt Tom Knox. Over the next several years, Cody fought on the local circuit while learning the arts of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, and boxing. He fought on shows such as Porterville, California's The Warriors Cage, Lemoore, California's Tachi Palace Fights, and made appearances for Nick Diaz's foray into promoting show called WAR MMA as well as for AXSTV's Titan Fighting Championship.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In February 2014, riding a six-fight win streak, Gibson was signed by the UFC as a short-notice replacement to fight fellow newcomer Aljamain Sterling on February 22, 2014, at UFC 170. Gibson lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Gibson faced Johnny Bedford on June 28, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 44, replacing an injured Rani Yahya. Gibson won the fight via TKO 38 seconds into the first round.
Gibson faced Manvel Gamburyan on September 27, 2014, at UFC 178. Gibson lost the fight via submission in the second round
Gibson faced Douglas Silva de Andrade on February 22, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 61. He lost the fight by unanimous decision and was subsequently released from the promotion.

Post-UFC career

On May 18, 2017, Gibson vacated his Bantamweight title and moved up a weight class to fight Adrian Diaz for the TPF Featherweight Championship. He lost the fight via third round submission and retired afterwards.
Gibson signed to participate in the Featherweight division of 2019 [Professional Fighters League season]. However, Gibson was sidelined with bicep and shoulder surgery and was not able to compete.

XMMA

Gibson was scheduled to face John Dodson on July 30, 2021, at XMMA 2. Dodson unfortunately pulled out of the fight due to being involved in a car accident. Canadian prospect Louie Sanoudakis took his place. Gibson won the fight by knock out in just 44 seconds.
The bout with Dodson was rescheduled to take place at XMMA 3 on October 23, 2021. Gibson won the fight by unanimous decision.
Gibson faced Ray Borg on January 28, 2022, at Eagle FC 44: Spong vs. Kharitonov. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.
Gibson faced fellow UFC veteran Francisco Rivera on November 19, 2022, at Up Next Fighting 3: Rivera vs. Gibson. He won the bout via third-round submission with an arm triangle choke to become the inaugural Up Next Fighting Bantamweight Champion.

The Ultimate Fighter 31

In mid-March 2023, it was announced that Gibson would be competing in the thirty-first season of The Ultimate Fighter 31.
In the quarterfinal Gibson faced Mando Gutierrez, and won the fight via TKO in the first round.
In the semi-final, Gibson faced Rico DiSciullo, and won the fight via submission in the first round.
Gibson faced The Ultimate Fighter Season 27 winner Brad Katona in the tournament final on August 19, 2023, at UFC 292. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. The bout won the Fight of the Night award.

Return to UFC

Gibson was scheduled to face Davey Grant on March 23, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 53. However, Grant withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Miles Johns. Gibson lost the bout by unanimous decision.
Gibson faced Brian Kelleher on July 20, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 60. He won the fight by an arm-triangle choke submission in the first round.
Gibson faced Chad Anheliger on November 2, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 246. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Gibson faced Da'Mon Blackshear on March 15, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 254. He lost the fight via a kimura submission in the second round.
Gibson faced Aori Qileng on October 18, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 262. He lost the fight by technical knockout 21 seconds into the first round.

Personal life

Aside from fighting, Gibson was a U.S. History and economics teacher and is now a middle school physical education teacher.
He has two daughters.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts