Flyweights Cody Durden and Joshua Van were both coming off single victories as they faced off on the preliminary card of UFC 310 on Saturday.
Durden had seen his hand raised over the retiring Matt Schnell last time out, while Van had come out ahead against Edgar Cháirez.
When the action got underway it was Durden who struck first with an aggressive punch/leg kick combo. The height difference was evident immediately as Durden landed and caused Van to flail his arms. Sensing his opponent was off balance, Durden shot in on a takedown. After a little resistance from Van, Durden elevated and sat his opponent on his butt against the cage. Van worked up to his feet but was effortlessly returned to the mat.
Midway through the round, now moving with his mouth open, Van looked determined and returned to his feet. But Durden was partially on his back. Van got free and began to go to work on the feet. Multiple jabs landed for Van as Durden’s face began to redden. Cody landed with a few jabs of his own and an upper cut that got Van’s attention. But Van was landing, and the momentum began to shift. With less than a minute to go, Cody snagged a single leg to slow the pace. The two engaged in the clinch against the cage as the first round expired without Cody securing a takedown.
The second round began with the two exchanging jabs before Durden swung wide, missing. Van came back ferociously landing with wide hooks before stunning his opponent in a following exchange with a well-timed head kick. The flurries drew a shot out of Durden which Van stuffed. Cody began to look frantic as Joshua turned up the heat. For every strike Cody missed Van was coming back with two crisp punches. The hook to the body by Van was an especially effective technique. Durden continued to stumble around as Van showed patience looking for openings. Partway through the frame, Cody’s face was swollen and bloody as he somehow kept up the relentless output. Van stopped another shot with a deep sprawl. Joshua looked relaxed picking shots to the body and sliding out of range of looping counters. To Cody’s credit, he kept throwing and landing some overhand counters that kept the respect of his 23-year-old opponent.
The final round began with Durden throwing out some jabs followed by a hard right hand. Van went to the calf kick wobbling Durden before going to the head and body with boxing combinations. Joshua followed up the combo with more leg kicks which looked to severely compromise the base of Durden. Cody began to wobble with every shot that connected. The left hand of Van drew and especially exaggerated reaction out of Durden. Cody shot and was denied. When he elected to pull guard, he was greeted by the boos and jeers of the crowd. The ref stood them back up immediately. Cody looked hurt as he backed away with Van inching forward popping out that jab.
With 90 seconds left in the round Van kept poking out shots. Joshua landed clean and knocked Durden’s mouthpiece out triggering a pause in the action a moment later. Van landed a huge right hand that wobbled Durden and landed multiple knees to the body. The Georgia product thru looping overhands and engaged in the pocked till the very end.
When the numbers came back, Joshua had peppered Durden’s head with 140 significant strikes saying in his post-fight press conference, “I wish I could have got the knockout but he’s a tough man.” After expressing his desire to be allowed to walk out with his country’s flag by the UFC Van made it known what he wants next: “I want to face a top 10 or a top 5. I’m fearless. I’ll fight whoever is in front of me. ”
Official Result: Joshau Van def. Cody Durden by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-26, 20-27)
