Cody Brundage explains switch on mindset for birthday UFC victory

Despite being on a precarious stage in his career, Cody
Brundage felt no pressure fighting on his 32nd
birthday. 

Brundage (12-9) took on Andre
Petroski (13-6) in a middleweight tilt at
UFC Fight Night 276. Brundage dropped Petroski with a left hook
early in the second round and unleashed vicious ground-and-pound to
secure a stoppage win. 

The win over Petroski marked the end of a four-fight winless streak
for Brundage. Brundage admits that this could have marked the end
of his
UFC career if he hadn’t gotten his hand raised. However, the
32-year-old claims he didn’t feel any pressure going into his clash
against Petroski. Going into his 16th UFC fight, Brundage didn’t
want to look back regretting not having enjoyed his time inside the
Octagon. Instead of trying to live up to expectations, Brundage
fought for himself.

Gratitude Over Fear

“No pressure this time,” Brundage said in a post-fight interview
with the UFC. “I was at peace with whatever the result was… I
compete better when I don’t feel that pressure. I’m very realistic
with myself. I knew this was potentially my last one if I don’t go
in there and get the job done. It would be a real shame to look
back and be like, ‘Man, you didn’t enjoy anything you were doing.
You didn’t do it for yourself at all.’ I don’t want to live in that
reality. So just make a switch. I was just enjoying. Gratitude and
fear can’t coexist at the same time.”