After going through a couple opponents ahead of UFC Vegas 79 in Aliaskhab Khizriev and Robert Bryczek, Cody Brundage was finally the one that stuck for Australia middleweight Jacob Malkoun.
Malkoun had won his last outing, over Nick Maximov, while Brundage had lost three straight and was in must-win territory on Saturday.
To begin the fight Brundage came out into the centre of the Octagon and fired out a body kick which was followed by a takedown from the Brazilian. Malkoun managed to get back to his feet though and scored a takedown of his own from the clinch position. Brundage managed to reverse the position and momentarily found himself on the back of the Australian. The dominant position didn’t last long though and soon after, Malkoun was in the exact same position Brundage was in.
Malkoun was the far more active fighter with the positional advantage as he continuously reigned down ground-and-pound. Every time Brundage looked close to getting up, Malkoun would just once again improve his position and continue with the shots from the top. However, after a flurry of more ground-and-pound, Mark Smith called a halt to the action as he noticed a strike to the back of the head of the 29-year-old. Brundage stayed on the ground, holding the back of his head, looking like there was no way he’d get up and continue.
Herb Dean came into the Octagon as the referee in charge, Mark Smith, went out to review the footage on the cageside monitor. Smith walked back into the cage and asked Brundage if he wanted to continue, from there, Brundage took into consideration the damage he’d already took and shook his head.
Official Result: Cody Brundage def. Jacob Malkoun by Disqualification (illegal blow), Round 1, 4:15
