BY RYAN BEVINS, ON TWITTER @BEVOIS
There is no secret that baseball is the great American pastime. Over 100 years of this great American game has produced legendary names and quotes we now see used in every sport. “Champions are made when no one is watching”, “The more I sweat in practice, the less I bleed in battle”, and of course “There’s no place like HOME.” While these phrases have carried over to other sports, their origins are in baseball and former collegiate baseball star turned top MMA prospect Cody Davis knows this all too well, as he prepares to fight for the LFA flyweight title in front of his home fans in the main event of LFA 161.
“I played baseball for 18 years and I felt like I had to do something new,” Davis told LFA.com. “The attributes baseball gives like quick feet at keeping things simple have carried over into MMA.”
Baseball for all of its household names and memorable rivalries also has its share of confrontations. Nolan Ryan showcased his natural grappling ability, when he put Robin Ventura in a headlock after the youngster tried charging the mound. Rougned Odor showcased his crisp hands when he landed a punch to the jaw of Jose Bautista after Bautista slid hard into second base. These are the first two examples that come to mind with Davis when thinking about other past and present fighting potential of baseball players.
“Maybe Nolan Ryan would have made a great MMA fighter, because we all seen him get down,” Davis said with a laugh. While Davis was known for his affable nature on the baseball diamond, the elite athlete has since channeled his aggression and competitive fire more affectively by making the jump to become a professional Mixed Martial Artist.
Get your tickets for LFA 161: Davis vs. Siqueira
Cody Davis played baseball collegiately at the NCAA Division III program at Marian University.
The transition from baseball to MMA began while Davis was playing baseball collegiately at Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He joined the local gym Unified Martial Arts and would make his amateur MMA debut back home in California shortly after graduating college. The Los Angeleno linked up with Chad George at CMMA in Gardena, California and would enjoy a perfect 7-0 record as an amateur.
“I started training with Chad George at CMMA in May 2017. I started training with him when I was 22,” Davis explained. “He’s a great coach, because he’s more on the mental side than anything. And he’s been there, he’s been there, and he’s done that, so he knows what we’re going through. He’s already been through everything.”
Davis quickly fell in love with jiu-jitsu upon joining CMMA and currently holds a purple belt in the martial art and his natural athletic prowess and affinity to the submission game was a natural match from the beginning.
“When I started with Chad, all I did was jiu-jitsu tournaments for my very first year,” Davis explained. “I would do one or two jiu-jitsu tournaments a month as a white belt. This is my sixth year with Chad and I’m now a purple belt in jiu-jitsu.”
Watch LFA 161: Davis vs. Siqueira
Cody Davis with Sammy the Sabre at Marian University.
Davis is now excited to be fighting for he LFA title after picking up 3 wins in the LFA in just over a year. Those three wins happened to take place in the top three American media markets of Chicagoland, Los Angeles, and New York. It was after his last win at LFA 155 in March, where he began using the signature hand gesture showing he wants a belt around his waist. He then confirmed to Gilbert Melendez in his post-fight interview, inside the cage, that was indeed what he wanted next.
“Fighting on the road and getting to travel around the country has been very beneficial to me. Just how to do things away from home and out of your comfort zone,” stated Davis. “I like fighting in front of my home fans regardless, but fighting for the title at home just puts a cherry on top.”
That wish was then quickly granted based off an LFA résumé that includes a Unanimous Decision victory over local standout Payton Brezinski in Chicagoland, a Rear Naked Choke victory over top Bolivian prospect Alvaro Prado in Los Angeles, and a lightning-fast Arm-Triangle Choke victory over the previously undefeated top Guamanian prospect Joseph Camacho in New York. Noe Davis has his sights set on the title shot that he asked for and he will get to do it in the comfort of his hometown of Los Angeles in the main event of LFA 161.
Cody Davis with former UFC champion Glover Teixeira after his win at LFA 155.
Moreover, Davis is a student of the game and knows what could be next by winning the LFA flyweight world title. Ten men have won the title with nine then getting called up to the UFC. Roberto Sanchez, Maikel Perez, Casey Kenney, Brandon Moreno, Brandon Royval, Jimmy Flick, Victor Altamirano, Charles Johnson, Carlos Mota, and Felipe Bunes are the first ten men to win the LFA flyweight title. Perez is the only one that was not signed by the UFC. He likely would have too, but the former Cuban Olympian lost his title defense to current UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno four summers ago in California. Davis now plans to be the tenth LFA champion to sign with the UFC, but standing in his way is Igor Siqueira. The Brazilian is a teammate with Bunes, who is the most recent LFA flyweight champion to sign with the UFC.
“I think Igor is a good fighter. He has good jiu-jitsu and I just can’t wait to mix it up with him,” Davis exclaimed. “That’s kind of it, really. I think winning the title regardless, it means a lot to me, especially just a good guy like this coming out of a good gym like this. It means a lot to me.”
You can watch Cody Davis face Igor “The Golden Boy” Siqueira for the LFA flyweight title in the main event of LFA 161. The event takes place Friday, June 23rd and it will be available worldwide on UFC Fight Pass at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
=====================================================================================================
In 2017, RFA and Legacy FC merged to form LFA, the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts. The combined forces of LFA launched the careers of over 280 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC. In 2018, the promotion joined the Imperial Family Companies group (formerly London Trust Media). In 2019, the promotion announced a broadcast partnership with UFC FIGHT PASS®. In 2021, the LFA expanded internationally by hosting multiple events in Brazil.
Please visit LFA.com for bout updates and information. Visit the official LFA YouTube page at @LFA_Fighting. LFA is on Facebook at Facebook.com/LFAfighting. LFA is also on Instagram at @LFAfighting and Twitter at @LFAfighting.
About LFA:
LFA is a professional Mixed Martial Arts promotion that gives rising stars and top contenders the opportunity to prove their talent to fans and leaders in the industry. LFA was formed by the powerhouse merger between RFA and Legacy FC. LFA presents live Mixed Martial Arts events on a monthly basis around the United States including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas, and Houston. Based in Las Vegas, NV, LFA is one of the most active and respected MMA organizations in the fastest growing sport in the world. (The Octagon, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, UFC®, and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC. All rights reserved).
About UFC FIGHT PASS®:
UFC FIGHT PASS® is the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports. Since launching in 2013, UFC FIGHT PASS is now available in more than 200 countries and territories. FIGHT PASS provides its members with unlimited access to live UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims; live mixed martial arts and combat sports from around the world; original series and historical programming; special features; behind-the-scenes content; in-depth interviews; and up-to-the minute reports on the world of combat sports. UFC FIGHT PASS subscribers also have 24/7 access to the world’s largest fight library, featuring more than 20,000 bouts from dozens of combats sports organizations, as well as every fight in UFC history. Fight fans can access UFC FIGHT PASS on personal computers, iOS and Android mobile devices, Apple TV, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, and Sony TVs with Android TV. For more information, please visit UFCFightPass.com.
About IMPERIAL FAMILY COMPANIES:
The Imperial Family Companies maintains a diversified portfolio with one common theme: bringing power to the people. The IFC is proud to partner with the LFA management team to showcase the greatest talents of tomorrow. Learn more about the IFC at ImperialFamily.com.
About COMMERCE CASINO & HOTEL:
The Commerce Casino & Hotel is LA’s #1 destination for games of skill. From hold ‘em and pai gow to blackjack and baccarat, we make great games better with our unsurpassed commitment to service. With the most tables of any card room in the country, there’s always a seat for players of all skill levels. The Commerce Casino complex includes a full-service 200-room hotel, which houses a day spa, beauty salon, pool and sundeck, banquet rooms, shops and entertainment. The Commerce is also home to several restaurants and plays host to live boxing, MMA and Professional Wrestling events. The Commerce Casino & Hotel is Where The Game Reigns. For more info visit: CommerceCasino.com.
