Cody Gibson

Cody Gibson (born September 11, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Bantamweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Background Born in Blackwell, Oklahoma, in 1987, Gibson and his brother Keith were adopted in 1989 and moved west, settling in Visalia, California. As an adult, Gibson found out through social media that he also has a sister and met his biological parents for the first time in 2018.

Mixed martial arts career

Regional circuit While home for the summer during college, a friend of Cody's invited him to a mixed martial arts gym in Exeter, California, to give it a try. He quickly found out that he enjoyed fighting and took his first professional fight only a few weeks after beginning training. Over the next two years, Cody, still wrestling in college, would take a total of three professional fights, despite not having been trained extensively in any discipline other than wrestling. Still, he managed to begin his MMA career with a 3–0 start. After graduating from college, Cody had a lot of regrets about not meeting his potential as a college wrestler. Upon moving back to Visalia, California, he found a local gym called Elite Team Visalia under head coach, judo and jiu-jitsu black belt Tom Knox. Over the next several years, Cody fought on the local circuit while learning the arts of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, and boxing. He fought on shows such as Porterville, California's The Warriors Cage, Lemoore, California's Tachi Palace Fights, and made appearances for Nick Diaz's foray into promoting show called WAR MMA as well as for AXSTV's Titan Fighting Championship. Gibson lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Gibson faced Johnny Bedford on June 28, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 44, replacing an injured Rani Yahya. Gibson won the fight via TKO 38 seconds into the first round.

Gibson faced Manvel Gamburyan on September 27, 2014, at UFC 178. Gibson lost the fight via submission in the second round

Gibson faced Douglas Silva de Andrade on February 22, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 61. He lost the fight by unanimous decision and was subsequently released from the promotion.

Post-UFC career

On May 18, 2017, Gibson vacated his Bantamweight title and moved up a weight class to fight Adrian Diaz for the TPF Featherweight Championship. He lost the fight via third round submission and retired afterwards.

Gibson signed to participate in the Featherweight division of 2019 Professional Fighters League season. However, Gibson was sidelined with bicep and shoulder surgery and was not able to compete. Dodson unfortunately pulled out of the fight due to being involved in a car accident. Canadian prospect Louie Sanoudakis took his place. Gibson won the fight by knock out in just 44 seconds.

The bout with Dodson was rescheduled to take place at XMMA 3 on October 23, 2021. Gibson won the fight by unanimous decision.

Gibson faced Ray Borg on January 28, 2022, at Eagle FC 44: Spong vs. Kharitonov. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Gibson faced fellow UFC veteran Francisco Rivera on November 19, 2022, at Up Next Fighting 3: Rivera vs. Gibson. He won the bout via third-round submission with an arm triangle choke to become the inaugural Up Next Fighting Bantamweight Champion.

The Ultimate Fighter 31 In mid-March 2023, it was announced that Gibson would be competing in the thirty-first season of The Ultimate Fighter 31.

In the quarterfinal Gibson faced Mando Gutierrez, and won the fight via TKO in the first round.

In the semi-final, Gibson faced Rico DiSciullo, and won the fight via submission in the first round.

Gibson faced The Ultimate Fighter Season 27 winner Brad Katona in the tournament final on August 19, 2023, at UFC 292. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. The bout won the Fight of the Night award.

Return to UFC Gibson was scheduled to face Davey Grant on March 23, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 53. However, Grant withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Miles Johns. Gibson lost the bout by unanimous decision.

Gibson faced Brian Kelleher on July 20, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 60. He won the fight by an arm-triangle choke submission in the first round.

Gibson faced Chad Anheliger on November 2, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 246. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Gibson faced Da'Mon Blackshear on March 15, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 254. He lost the fight via a kimura submission in the second round.

Gibson faced Aori Qileng on October 18, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 262. He lost the fight by technical knockout 21 seconds into the first round.

Replacing Muin Gafurov on short notice, Gibson faced promotional newcomer Abdul Hussein on July 25, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 282. He lost the fight via an arm-triangle choke in round three.

On August 12, 2026, it was reported that Gibson was once again removed from the UFC roster.

Personal life Aside from fighting, Gibson was a U.S. History and economics teacher and is now a middle school physical education teacher.

He has two daughters.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighter 31 (Runner-up) Fight of the Night (One time) Tachi Palace Fights TPF Bantamweight Championship (one time) One successful title defense Up Next Fighting UNF Bantamweight Champion (one time; first)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Abdul Hussein Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Guskov

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Loss

Aori Qileng TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: de Ridder vs. Allen

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Loss

Da'Mon Blackshear Submission (kimura) UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Chad Anheliger Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Win

Brian Kelleher Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC on ESPN: Lemos vs. Jandiroba

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Miles Johns Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Ribas vs. Namajunas

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Brad Katona Decision (unanimous) UFC 292

Boston, Massachusetts, United States Win

Francisco Rivera Submission (arm-triangle choke) Up Next Fighting 3

Commerce, California, United States Loss

Ray Borg Decision (unanimous) Eagle FC 44

Miami, Florida, United States Win

John Dodson Decision (unanimous) XMMA 3

Miami, Florida, United States Win

Louie Sanoudakis KO (punches) XMMA 2

Greenville, South Carolina, United States Win

Gustavo Erak Decision (unanimous) LFA 51

Fresno, California, United States Loss

Adrian Diaz Submission (guillotine choke) Tachi Palace Fights 31

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Kyle Reyes KO (punches) Tachi Palace Fights 29

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Rolando Velasco Decision (unanimous) Tachi Palace Fights 27

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Justin Linn Decision (unanimous) The Warriors Cage 24

Porterville, California, United States Loss

Douglas Silva de Andrade Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Mir

Porto Alegre, Brazil Loss

Manvel Gamburyan Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 178

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Johnny Bedford TKO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens

San Antonio, Texas, United States Loss

Aljamain Sterling Decision (unanimous) UFC 170

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Evan Esguerra Decision (unanimous) Tachi Palace Fights 17

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Chad George Submission (guillotine choke) The Warriors Cage 18

Porterville, California, United States Win

Darin Cooley TKO (punches and knee) WAR MMA 1

Stockton, California, United States Win

Junior Villanueva Submission (rear-naked choke) The Warriors Cage 16

Porterville, California, United States Win

Andrew Whitney Decision (unanimous) Titan FC 24

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Win

Justin Santistevan Submission (guillotine choke) EFWC: The Untamed 2

Anaheim, California, United States Loss

Casey Olson Decision (unanimous) Tachi Palace Fights 12

Lemoore, California, United States Loss

Ulysses Gomez Submission (guillotine choke) Tachi Palace Fights 11

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Walel Watson TKO (punches and elbows) Tachi Palace Fights 9

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Art Becerra Decision (unanimous) The Warriors Cage 10

Porterville, California, United States Loss

David Bollea Submission (armlock) Tachi Palace Fights 5

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Ray Cervera Decision (unanimous) Tachi Palace Fights 2

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Dustin Rocha TKO (punches) Tachi Palace Fights: Best of Both Worlds

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Billy Terry TKO (punches) Gladiator Challenge 81

Porterville, California, United States Mixed martial arts exhibition record Win

Rico DiSciullo Submission (arm-triangle choke)

(airdate)

Win

Mando Gutierrez TKO (flying knee and punches) (airdate)