What’s next for Cody Durden after his intense week inside and outside the cage?

Cody Durden is a UFC flyweight fighter who has also become quite popular for his fighting techniques and his controversies. It’s been a week full of action, both inside the cage and out, and Durden has become a name on everyone’s lips in the MMA community.

While he has continued to prove himself as a fierce competitor in the flyweight division, his most recent fight, coupled with personal challenges and public scrutiny, has left fans and analysts wondering: what’s next for Cody Durden? In this article we discuss Durden’s last fight, the scandals he faced, and what is ahead for him in the UFC.

Cody Durden: A Fighter with a Divisive Public Image

Cody Durden is one of the most inspiring MMA fighters who has worked hard to get to the top. Durden was born in Georgia and he has always been inspired to wrestle and using this foundation he was able to create his own market in wrestling. His wrestling-oriented style has indeed been his main staple, which carried him through the local and regional shows to the UFC.

Since his entry into UFC, Durden has been one of those fighters who have been polarizing at best. On one hand, his grinding style, which involves constant pressure and a slow pace, has endeared him to the fans due to his hard working nature. On the other hand, he is not afraid to speak his mind and has been caught in some controversies several times. Whether people love him or hate him, one thing is clear: Cody Durden understands how to stay relevant in a conversation.

The Fight: Durden’s Latest UFC Performance

Durden’s last fight was at the most appropriate time in his career as he was rising to the big leagues. Durden was coming into the octagon with a 4-2-1 record in the UFC and had just won his last fight to try to gain momentum and get into the top tier of the flyweight division. In his way was a tough and skilled fighter who excelled in both striking and grappling and thus the fight was going to be a real challenge for Durden.

The fight was a quintessential Durden fight. As soon as the bell went, Durden went for takedowns, trying to assert his dominance on the wrestling aspect of the fight. His opponent was ready for this, parrying the first attempts and responding with clean counters, probing Durden’s jaw. The first round therefore was characterized by both fighters exchanging positions and blows but this was an advantage to Durden as he continued to apply pressure as the fight went on.

In the second and third round the pressure that Durden put to his opponent increase significantly. His conditioning, characteristic of his style, enabled him to transition to looking for takedowns while maintaining top control. Although he could not manage to get the finish, Durden had control of the fight for large spans, earning him the unanimous decision win. It was an ugly fight, but that is the type of win that establishes him as a contender in the flyweight division.

Still, doubts remain as to whether Durden’s one-dimensional approach to the fight will be enough to propel him up the ladder of the division. His wrestling is top notch but in the ever growing field of MMA, one has to be versatile in order to challenge for titles. Durden’s striking still has potential for growth and if he wants to have a title shot, he needs to round out his skill set.

The Controversy: Controversial Statements and Reactions

This week was rather dramatic not only in the cage but also in Cody Durden’s life outside the cage. Before the fight, Durden found himself in one controversy after another that only intensified the already growing hatred towards him. The UFC has always had fighters that like to court controversy and Durden is no exception.

The first hint at trouble was when Durden spoke to a television camera during a pre-fight interview. In attacking his opponent, he said things that were seen by many as insulting to his opponent’s ethnic background and ancestry. The MMA community that has grown to be more sensitive to social issues within the recent past was quick to react, with fans and fighters alike taking Durden to the cleaners over his choice of words. Twitter, a platform that hosts such kinds of disagreements, erupted with anger, and Durden was in the middle of controversy.

Durden responded to the criticism in typical fashion: unapologetic and defiant. Later in the subsequent interviews, he said that his words were twisted and that he did not mean to disrespect anybody. However, instead of trying to correct his statements, Durden went further in his conviction that the world of MMA should not restrict the fighters’ freedom of speech and they should be free to express their opinions without getting banned for it.

After the fight Durden was quoted as saying, “I am not here to be a people’s champion.” “I’m here to fight. If people don’t like what I have to say that is on them, but I am going to continue being myself.

While some of the fans enjoyed his provocative attitude and some of the things that he has said, others found that Durden has gone too far, pointing out that the UFC and MMA in general should be fighting for equality and mutual respect among fighters from different ethnic backgrounds.

The Weigh-Ins: Drama and Intensity

The issue did not end with the words Durden said before the fight. There is no better example of this than in the ceremonial weigh-ins when Durden was as boiling mad at his opponent. Before the two fighters could pose for the photographers, the exchange of words came to near fisticuffs. The UFC security had to calm the two fighters and ensure that they do not exchange blows, which only served to escalate the event even further.

It is not strange to find fights at weigh-ins especially in the UFC but the heated confrontation between Durden and his opponent was evident. The confrontation could only add fuel to the fire as fans wanted to see how the animosity would translate when the cage door was shut.

Cody Durden’s Strengths and Weaknesses: A Fighter’s Analysis

With this fight now in the bag for Durden, we must now assess his strengths as a fighter and what aspects of his game still require some work. Durden is a perfect example of a fighter who is very strong in one aspect of fighting but is still growing in other aspects.

Strengths

Wrestling Dominance: Durden’s wrestling is his greatest strength. He just grinds his opponents out with takedowns, top control, and striking from the top position. Durden is also a very well rounded fighter and few fighters in the flyweight division can match his wrestling skills which makes him very dangerous for anyone who does not have strong takedown defense.

Cardio: Durden’s pace is relentless. In his last bout, he was active from bell to bell, which is something not all flyweight competitors can manage. His fitness level to maintain the pressure for three rounds is a great strategy for beating any opponent who cannot stand a slow and steady grind.

Durability: Durden has proved over and over that he is a very durable fighter and he will not stop attacking his opponent. He has been on the receiving end of many hard punches during his previous fights and has always come out of the storm as a true champion.

Weaknesses

Striking: There is no doubt that Durden is a highly skilled wrestler, but his stand-up game is still developing. When facing higher level strikers, Durden has been unable to capitalize on the position on the feet. If he is to stand a chance against the best in the division, he will have to improve on his stand up game to a more lethal level.

Submission Threat: Although Durden is a wrestler, he has not demonstrated himself as a constant submission menace. Although he frequently achieves top position on the ground he has not been able to finish off his opponents with submission holds. This is an area where Durden could expand to make a more complete player out of himself.

Adaptability: It can be said that one of the most important issues that can be discussed regarding Durden is the ability to change the game if necessary. His wrestling is his bread and butter, however against top level competition, he might have to incorporate more stand up and submission to keep his opponents off guard.

The UFC Flyweight Landscape: Who’s Next for Cody Durden?

Durden has won his last fight and is now ranked in the UFC flyweight division, however, he is not yet close to the title challenge. Flyweight division is one of the most entertaining divisions in the UFC featuring the likes of Brandon Moreno, Alexandre Pantoja, and Deiveson Figueiredo. Should Durden aspire for this belt in the future, he will have to go through a lot of tough opponents.

Potential Matchups for Durden

Tim Elliott: Tim Elliott, a flyweight fighter, would be an interesting fight. As a fighter who was famous for his rough, low-skill and ground game, Elliott could really challenge Durden. A victory over a fighter like Elliott would be a big leap forward for Durden, proving he is ready to compete with the best in the division.

Matt Schnell: There is another fighter Matt Schnell who could pose a lot of problems to Durden. Schnell’s striking is good and he has a good submission game going for him. Schnell will be a good challenge to Durden because he is a mixed martial artist who will be able to challenge Durden on the stand up and ground game.

David Dvořák: Dvořák is a prospect in the flyweight division, he is a technical striker, and has good takedown defense. It could be a fight of styles, where Durden will be trying to wrestle while Dvořák will be looking to keep the fight on the feet. A victory over Dvořák would help Durden climb the rankings in the division even higher.

Brandon Royval: To go a step further, Durden can face one of the top contenders in the division in the form of Brandon Royval. Royval is characterized by his aggressive, crazy attitude towards battles, which has resulted in many of the most captivating fights on the flyweight list. A fight with Royval would be much more challenging for Durden but, in return, it would bring much greater benefits in terms of the ranking.

Title Aspirations: Can Durden Make a Run for Gold?

Cody Durden has said his intention is to fight for the UFC flyweight title and while he is not there yet, the way is now a little more illuminated after his latest victory. The only thing that will help Durden in the future will be consistency. Although, he has demonstrated the potential of being a champion, his stint in the UFC has been a roller coaster ride. If he can string together wins over other ranked opponents, he may be in striking distance of a title shot.

But, Durden will have to keep on changing as a fighter, to be able to stand his ground. The best fighters in the flyweight division are complete fighters, and they are dangerous in every aspect of the sport. If Durden has aspirations of fighting for the title against the likes of Brandon Moreno or Alexandre Pantoja he will have to work on his striking and submission skills while maintaining the wrestling aspect of his game.

Navigating Controversy: Can Durden’s Public Image Become an Obstacle?

While UFC observers will be able to predict Cody Durden’s further fighting career based on his fighting skills, it is also crucial to take into account his extra-cage persona. In today’s MMA, fighters are as notorious for what comes out of their mouths as they are for what comes out of their fists. What is clear is that Durden’s propensity to voice his opinion regardless of the consequences means that he is loved by some and hated by others, which is not great for business.

The UFC has always had a history of signing fighters who create interest and the more interest the better, but there is a difference between a fighter being a draw and a fighter becoming too much of a nuisance for the UFC to deal with. Should Durden keep on making such comments, it may either work in his favour and increase his popularity or get him into trouble with UFC management.

Conclusion: Cody Durden’s Future

Cody Durden’s week of hard-hitting action inside and outside the cage has made him a fighter to watch and a polarizing one at that. His latest win puts him right back on course in the UFC flyweight division but the questions about his ceiling and personal disposition continue.

However, if Durden can build on the improvements made throughout his career and put together more wins in a row, a shot at the flyweight championship is certainly within reach. However, his path to achieving this lies beyond the octagon fights implying that more than his fights in the octagon. Durden will have to learn how to deal with the pressures that come with being a public figure in MMA and how he does it will be as crucial as the number of fights he wins.

To say the prospects of the fighting future belong to Cody Durden is to say that it holds many possibilities, which is also true for its many dangers and unknowns. Will it be possible for him to remain indifferent to the scandals and return to the cage as one of the best flyweight fighters in the UFC? And will this power to split people in two hinder him from turning into the sort of man he could be? Cody Durden still has many more chapters left in him and all the fans are waiting for the next part.