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COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – It was an up and down 2024 for Cody Durden.
The flyweight kept busy with three fights, though they were losses on the bookend sides. Sandwiched in the middle, though, was a pretty noteworthy fight he took up a weight class on a week's notice against Matt Schnell. He choked him out in the second round for a $50,000 bonus.
Still, with three setbacks in his past four fights, Durden could use a bounce-back and some fresh momentum at 125 pounds, and he's hopeful it'll come when he finally gets a chance to fight in the UFC in front of his home fans.
Durden (17-7-1 MMA, 6-5-1 UFC) takes on Jose Ochoa (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) when the UFC returns to his home city of Atlanta on June 14. And while Durden doesn't know his placement on the card yet, he knows he'll have a support system.
"I've got so many friends, family that haven't been able to see me fight yet in the UFC, and now it's coming to fruition," Durden told MMA Junkie from his American Top Team training base, where he's been working the past three weeks. "I'm excited. I am pumped, and I'm bringing a fight."
Durden, 34, said the first UFC event he attended was in Atlanta – UFC 201 in 2016. That planted the seed.
"My first ever UFC event was in 2016, Robbie Lawler vs. Tyron Woodley," Durden said. "I sat in a suite and I watched the fights, and that was the night I was really inspired. I told myself I'm going to fight in State Farm Arena one day. I'm going to fight here one day. I manifested it. Now it's happening. Now I've just got to stay healthy, and so far, so good."
Check out Durden's full interview with MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn above.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Cody Durden wants to deliver after manifesting UFC Atlanta spot
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