Looking to snap a two-fight losing skid and build momentum in the middleweight division, Cody Brundage returns to the Octagon at UFC 326 for a matchup against Donte Johnson on Saturday night.
Brundage (11-8-1) has always been willing to take a fight, but it often feels like something has stood in the way of his best performances. The middleweight admitted it’s something he has spent time reflecting on.
“It would be great to be like ‘I don’t dwell on it’, but I do. I think that’s some of the issues maybe I’ve had in my career. There’s a lot of ups and downs, a lot of weird things that a lot of times are out of my control,” Brundage told reporters including Cageside Press.
“It would be great to sit here and talk to you guys and be like, ‘Oh I don’t let it bother me. It plays no effect in my mental’, but that would be a lie. It definitely does.”
Brundage said the challenge has often been less about skill and more about putting everything together when the cage door closes. He believes the key to unlocking his full potential lies in overcoming the mental barriers that can affect even the most talented fighters.
“You just hope that you can kind of overcome those things. I feel like for me it’s never really been a physical issue. I think in all my fights there’s glimpses of, ok this kid’s talented, but yeah it’s just overcoming some of the mental hurdles and that’s 90% of the game. If you can’t do that it’s going to be hard to stick around. Hopefully this one we figure some sh*t out,” he said.
At UFC 326 he faces Donte Johnson who made his way into the UFC through DWCS. While Brundage respects the prospect he isn’t about to let him raise his profile off his name.
“He’s super talented, very explosive, dangerous fighter. Super well-spoken. Seems like a good dude,” he said.
“I don’t know a ton about him. I’ve been that kid. I’ve been the 26-year-old undefeated, finished everybody, and then I got to the UFC. It’s my job to not let somebody build a name off me, but for sure all the credit in the world to him.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Cody Brundage above. He faces Donte Johnson at UFC 326 on Saturday night.
