Cody Durden credits wife after upset victory at UFC Fight Night 274

Cody
Durden’s wife, Brittany Durden, has always been a huge support
system for him. 

Durden faced Jafel Filho
on a week’s notice at
UFC Fight Night 274 at the Apex in Las Vegas. Durden was a
massive +350 underdog going into his clash against Filho. However,
Durden earned a huge upset win via unanimous decision in a
closely-contested bout. 

Durden says that while most fans counted him out, his wife believed
in him. While Durden flew down from his training camp at American
Top Team in Florida, his wife traveled from Atlanta to join him in
Vegas. “Custom Made” says that his wife is an integral part of his
team, ready to share the wins and losses with him.

“A lot of people didn’t believe in me, 8-to-1 underdog,” Durden
said in a post-fight interview with the UFC. “But the only person
that mattered, believed in me, and that was me and my beautiful
wife. She packed her stuff up, came from Atlanta, I came from
Florida from training camp and we jumped in here and we got it done
tonight… She’s a big part of the team. The main part of the team.
There’s the fighter and then there’s people in the background that
help you. And my wife helps me every step of the way. She believes
in me and no matter what, if we fail we both fail, and when we win
we both win. That’s how we roll.”

Confident in His Skills

While Filho was the better grappler on paper, Durden was able to
hold his own on the ground against the Brazilian. Durden reveals
that he was advised not to engage with Filho on the ground.
However, Durden notes that he is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
in his own right.

“Lot of people advised me not to go to the ground with him,” Durden
said in a post-fight interview with the UFC. “‘You’re cooked, Cody
don’t go to the ground with him. He’s a way better grappler than
you.’ That’s not what I just saw in that ring… I’m a BJJ black belt
under Diego Douglas
Lima in Jucao. I have a ground game as well.” 

This was a much-needed win for Durden (18-10) that saw him rebound
from a four-fight losing streak. Meanwhile, Filho (17-5) has now
dropped two of his last three bouts.