Cody McKenzie - Official UFC® Fighter Profile

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Cody McKenzie

TRAINING: My typical day of training is just like every other athlete’s training day – well, if you take out all the hard stuff like lifting and all the athletic stuff like jumping high. But I do spar a lot, work on catch wrestling and Muay Thai, and I swim, but I hate it in the pool though - I like lakes and rivers. Spear fishing for practice is the way to go but it’s winter now, so the pool it is. I like to spar mostly, and I try to fight as hard as possible without injuries or too many hits to the head. A lot of fighters mix in lots of athletic training, but I prefer to just always be working on my art. To me, MMA is an art and every day I try to better myself at this art, the art of stopping another person in a cage.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I’ve always been into fighting since I can remember. I watched my first MMA event my sophomore year of high school and that’s when I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

What ranks and titles have you held? I am a blue belt in BJJ and an orange belt in judo. I won some amateur titles in fighting, but all that doesn’t matter; all that matters is that I will be the 155 pound champ of the UFC. I don’t care if they have a darker belt or more trophies and medals, I am going to be the one at the top beating everyone up.

Do you have any heroes? My Family and my Friends are my heroes. Also, people who try and better this world and help those around them. There are too many greedy people in this world; that’s what I feel is ruining our economy

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It means there are going to be a lot of people watching my fight live and on TV and I have to put on a damn good show for all of them. To me, it’s really just a big fight. I have had a few big fights now and I never feel like they are my only chance, because I’m still young and I’m not going anywhere. I will be fighting until I’m too old to fight because fighting is what I love to do.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I went to Fight University, the school of Hard Knocks and got a degree in kicking ass. I never made it to college – I thought it was a waste of money; way too much for an education I can learn for free.

What was your job before you started fighting? Commercial fishing is what I have done most of my life but I have had a million jobs in my life. My parents taught me very young that if I want something I have to work for it.

Favorite grappling technique: Armbar - just kidding – it’s the McKenzietine

Favorite Striking technique: High kick