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Cody Brundage didn’t blink when he was requested about dealing with Bo Nickal at UFC 300 however he additionally understood the narrative that might turn into plain within the days and weeks resulting in the battle.
He has no probability to win.
A 3-time NCAA champion wrestler from Penn State, Nickal arrived within the UFC after solely three skilled fights, two of which passed off on Dana White’s Contender Sequence. In 5 complete fights in his profession, Nickal has spent lower than six minutes within the cage whereas scoring two knockouts and three submissions alongside the best way.
By the point they really conflict on Saturday, Brundage possible goes down as the largest underdog in UFC historical past with Nickal at present sitting as a 25-to-1 favourite to win. None of that will get misplaced on Brundage, who knew precisely what he was signing up for when he accepted the battle.
“One of the simplest ways to explain my profession to this point has been inconsistent,” Brundage advised MMA Combating. “So that they don’t actually know which model they’re going to get of me. Relying on the model they’re like ‘properly Bo Nickal might run by means of him.’ Clearly, we’re making an attempt to have the great model of Cody present up, one of the best model.
“I don’t even know if the UFC sees it as a aggressive battle, which is sort of loopy. As a result of even in my losses, I don’t really feel I’ve ever been run by means of. More often than not, I’m successful up till I lose.”
By means of eight fights in his UFC profession, Brundage sits at 4-4 together with a pair of knockouts and a submission amongst his victories. In his losses, Brundage dropped a pair of selections and he’s been knocked out and submitted as soon as in these 4 defeats.
Even Brundage admits that he’s struggled to construct any actual momentum within the UFC and that fault lies squarely on his shoulders. However Brundage guarantees with no shadow of a doubt on his finest evening, he may give anyone issues — together with Nickal.
“All people he’s fought to this point, I’ve extra finishes within the UFC than his previous opponents have mixed wins within the UFC,” Brundage mentioned. “When you find yourself combating folks you’re not anxious if they’ll damage you, it’s completely different. If Bo’s watched my movie, and he comes from a superb gymnasium so I’m positive he has, he is aware of I can damage him. That alone makes you battle completely different. When there’s a risk of actual hazard, actual injury and I’m not petrified of wrestling and I’m not there to get run over.”
Brundage confesses that a lot of the struggles he’s confronted within the UFC have been self-inflicted.
Working with head coach Marc Montoya out of Manufacturing unit X in Denver, Brundage continues to repair these points and he actually desires to place his finest foot ahead come Saturday.
“I feel one in every of my largest issues was an absence of endurance,” Brundage mentioned. “I might get in there and I’m like I wish to get out of right here. That was my thought. Typically it will work out. I had a few first spherical finishes after which different occasions, it will chew me within the ass. Leaping guillotine in opposition to Rodolfo Vieira, not a fantastic sport plan. That wasn’t the neatest resolution however my thoughts was ‘I wish to get out of this battle, I’m going to complete him so I’m going to complete him.’ There was by no means a considered properly what if I don’t get him?
“I feel quite a lot of that’s expertise. Lots of that’s being extra comfy and extra mature and it takes time. It takes wins, it takes losses, it takes ups and downs. I nonetheless really feel like I haven’t actually proven my full potential but it surely one thing that I’ve been determining.”
Brundage definitely respects Nickal as an opponent and he positively understands the hype surrounding him. That mentioned, the 29-year-old middleweight is aware of that by means of 5 fights, Nickal has by no means actually been examined but in his profession.
In 4 fights beneath the UFC banner (together with his two appearances on The Contender Sequence), Nickal absorbed a complete of three strikes. He’s definitely by no means been knocked down and he’s by no means been taken down.
These unknowns are what Brundage desires to check come Saturday evening.
“We don’t know the way good his cardio is as a result of he’s by no means gone greater than three minutes,” Brundage mentioned. “We don’t know the way good his chin is as a result of he’s by no means been cracked. We don’t know the way a lot he actually desires to interact in a battle. It’s simple once you’re the hammer. It’s simple once you’re operating these dudes over. It’s enjoyable. But it surely’s not enjoyable once you’re getting your ass beat.
“Sadly or luckily, nevertheless you wish to have a look at it, I’ve acquired my ass beat fairly a bit however I do know that is one thing I wish to do. One factor I hold seeing him say is ‘I can’t wish to compete, I can’t anticipate this competitors.’ After I first began combating, that was me. I can’t wait to compete. Now, it’s a battle. It’s probably not a contest. That’s why our sport is in contrast to another sport.”
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