Cody Donovan

Cody Scott Donovan (born February 20, 1981) is an American practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is also a retired mixed martial artist, who is perhaps best known for his four-fight stint in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional MMA competitor since 2008, Donovan has also competed for Bellator.

Background Donovan was born in Waterloo, Iowa and is of Irish descent. He began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 17 and also worked as a security guard of a psychiatric ward of a hospital in Denver, Colorado before meeting Nate Marquardt, who introduced Donovan to mixed martial arts. Donovan attended the Art Institute of Colorado and graduated with a degree in media arts.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Donovan held an amateur record of 4-1 and compiled a 7-2 record before signing a four-fight deal with the UFC. He won the fight via TKO in the first round, earning Fight of the Night honors in the process.

Donovan faced Ovince St. Preux on August 17, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 26. He lost the fight via first-round KO.

Donovan was expected to face promotional newcomer Robert Drysdale on November 16, 2013 at UFC 167. However, Drysdale was refused a fighting license by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) and was replaced by Gian Villante. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Donovan faced Nikita Krylov on July 19, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 46. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.

After three consecutive KO/TKO stoppage losses, Donovan announced his retirement from MMA competition.

Personal life Donovan is married.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Titles

High Altitude Martial Arts HAMA Light Heavyweight Championship (one time)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Nikita Krylov TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Brandao

Dublin, Ireland Loss

Gian Villante TKO (punches) UFC 167

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Ovince Saint Preux KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen

Boston, Massachusetts, United States Win

Nick Penner KO (punches) UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson

Gold Coast, Australia Win

Peter Nolan Submission (rear-naked choke) Instinct Fighting 4

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Win

Brian Albin Decision (unanimous) Bellator 38

Tunica, Mississippi, United States Win

Xavier Saccomanno Submission (rear-naked choke) Full Force Fighting 1

Denver, Colorado, United States Loss

Cortez Coleman TKO (corner stoppage) C3 Fights: Slammin Jammin Weekend 5

Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States Win

Isaac Villanueva Submission (rear-naked choke) Ascend Combat: The Beginning

Shreveport, Louisiana, United States Loss

Eric Smith TKO (punches) ROF 36: Demolition

Denver, Colorado, United States Win

Joe Stripling TKO (punches) Shogun Fights 1

Baltimore, Maryland, United States Win

John Doyle TKO (punches and elbows) UWC 5: Man O' War

Fairfax, Virginia, United States Win

Wade Drake TKO (punches) UWC 4: Confrontation

Fairfax, Virginia, United States