UFC 326: Donte Johnson vs Cody Brundage Preview & Prediction
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UFC veteran, Cody Brundage, steps in for Dusko Todorovic to face Contender Series standout, Donte Johnson, at middleweight.
Donte Johnson vs Cody Brundage facts
What time are Donte Johnson and Cody Brundage expected to walk out?
Where is UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2? T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 326
What TV channel is UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2 on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Not televised
Where can I stream UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2 main card
Max Holloway vs Charles Oliveira (Lightweight)
Caio Borralho vs Reinier de Ridder (Middleweight)
Rob Font vs Raul Rosas Jr. (Bantamweight)
Drew Dober vs Michael Johnson (Lightweight)
Gregory Rodrigues vs Brunno Ferreira (Middleweight)
UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2 prelims
Cody Garbrandt vs Xiao Long (Bantamweight)
Donte Johnson vs Cody Brundage (Middleweight)
Ricky Turcios vs Alberto Montes (Featherweight)
Cody Durden vs Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (Flyweight)
Su Mudaerji vs Jesus Santos Aguilar (Flyweight)
Rafael Tobias vs Diyar Nurgozhay (Light Heavyweight)
Lee Jeong-yeong vs Gaston Bolanos (Featherweight)
Luke Fernandez vs Rodolfo Bellato (Light Heavyweight)
Donte Johnson: "Lockjaw" looks to maintain his 100% finish rate and earn a second consecutive POTN bonus
Boasting an undefeated record with a 100% finish rate, Donte Johnson (7-0) looks to be one of the most exciting Contender Series exports in recent memory. Despite earning a contract with a KO in a bout contested at heavyweight, the 27 year old prospect would proceed to drop two weight classes to make his promotional debut at 185 pounds. While Sedriques Dumas became the first fighter to take “Lock Jaw” to a second round in his professional career, Johnson would still turn in an impressive performance, throttling “The Reaper” into submission with a POTN winning, second round guillotine choke.
Cody Brundage: Can the American continue to justify his place on the roster if he loses three straight?
It’s hard to see how the UFC justifies cutting the likes of Javid Basharat (15-2, 1 NC), Muhammad Mokaev (15-0, 1 NC), or Rinat Fakhretdinov (24-1-1), but they’re willing to keep fighters like Cody Brundage (11-8-1, 1 NC). Posting a promotional record of 5-7-1, 1 NC since joining the promotion in 2022, Brundage hasn’t won a fight since pasting the since departed Julian Marquez by TKO just over a year ago. Brundage has found most of his success by capitalizing on careless defense from sub-par fighters to score a KO out of nowhere, but those occasions are few and far between. He was last seen getting smushed by a Cam Rowston TKO at UFC 326, with the relatively short turnaround raising questions as to whether he will have fully recovered.
Donte Johnson vs Cody Brundage prediction
Despite standing just 5'8 tall, Johnson looks to be a promising prospect in the upper weight classes. With that being said, he does come with a Cody Garbrandt-esque asterisk next to his name; much like “No Love,” Johnson has been flatlined in brutal fashion during his amateur career, getting poleaxed by a head kick as recently as 2023. As such, while it’s easy to get excited about his potential, it’s important to remember that he’s not invulnerable.
Fortunately, that does not figure to be much of a problem against his latest opponent. Brundage typically tries to land a few punches or score a takedown when his fights begin, but if he doesn't have success in those early moments, he'll check out mentally and start looking for a way out in short order. The American frequently shows flashes of decent wrestling and boxing, only for terrible cardio and dismal fight IQ to let him down time and time again. He's also less than months removed from a brutal TKO defeat in his last victory, a concerning omen when faced with a puncher of Johnson's power.
There's an argument to be made that Brundage could rely on his size advantage to outmuscle Johnson here, but considering that "Lock Jaw" has fought multiple times at heavyweight and is fresh off a KO win at 265 pounds just two fights ago, I wouldn't bet on it. If Johnson can fend off the first few takedowns, it's hard to escape the feeling that he wins in whatever fashion he wants - unless he somehow lands shots to the back of the head in pursuit of the finish.
Prediction: Donte Johnson to win by stoppage
