Preview: UFC Fight Night 228 Prelims

Middleweights

Jacob Malkoun (7-2, 3-2 UFC) vs. Cody Brundage (8-5, 2-4 UFC)

ODDS: Malkoun (-485), Brundage (+370)

Malkoun keeps chugging along, and it will be interesting to see if he ever scores a big breakthrough. A training partner of Robert Whittaker, Australia’s Malkoun did not look particularly ready for the UFC upon getting signed, and that was even before he got knocked out by Phil Hawes just 18 seconds into his promotional debut. “Mamba” figured to be in a similar position as cannon fodder for his sophomore UFC fight against Abdul Razak Alhassan, but that instead started a run where Malkoun has shown off an intelligent fighting style based around implementing his wrestling game. Malkoun is not much of an athlete or a finishing threat—it cost him a controversial decision loss to Brendan Allen in a fight he mostly controlled—but his wins have been clear affairs where he dragged his opponents into some ineffective fights. It is a trend that might continue in his latest assignment. Brundage has had a frustrating 2023, particularly after a solid 2022 campaign saw him seemingly prove himself as a UFC-level fighter. A solid athlete with a basic set of tools, Brundage came into each fight with a sound approach, even if it did not always guide him to a victory. However, he cost himself an April fight against Rodolfo Vieira with some poor grappling decisions—a trend that continued in a surprisingly awful performance against Sedriques Dumas in June, which was hopefully only thanks to Brundage taking the fight on short notice and a quick turnaround. There is always a chance that Malkoun can hit an athletic wall. However, with Brundage stepping in on late notice again after such a poor showing and being prone to those poor grappling decisions, this looks like another fight where Malkoun can control a grind without threatening a finish. The pick is Malkoun via decision.

Jump To »
Argueta vs. Johns
Fialho vs. Means
Malkoun vs. Brundage
Usman vs. Collier
Inoue vs. Goldy
Vidal vs. Rendon