Brian Kelleher's Recent Performance
Brian Kelleher, with a record of 24-15-0, has faced tough competition in his recent outings. He suffered a first-round knockout loss to Cody Garbrandt at UFC 296 in December 2023, and was submitted by Mario Bautista via rear-naked choke in the first round at UFC Fight Night in June 2022. Earlier, he also succumbed to a first-round rear-naked choke by Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 272 in March 2022. Despite these setbacks, Kelleher has demonstrated resilience, securing unanimous decision victories against Kevin Croom in January 2022 and Domingo Pilarte in August 2021. His fighting style is marked by aggressive striking and a dangerous submission game, particularly his guillotine choke, which he used to defeat Ray Rodriguez in September 2020.
Cody Gibson's Recent Performance
Cody Gibson, with a record of 20-10-0, has also been actively competing against high-level opponents. He faced back-to-back unanimous decision losses to Miles Johns at UFC Fight Night in March 2024 and Brad Katona at UFC 292 in August 2023. Prior to these losses, Gibson secured notable wins in The Ultimate Fighter 31, including an arm-triangle choke submission against Rico DiSciullo and a KO/TKO victory over Mando Gutierrez. Gibson's fighting style includes a solid ground game with effective submissions, as seen in his win over Francisco Rivera Jr. via arm-triangle choke in November 2022. He also holds a unanimous decision victory against John Dodson at XMMA 3 in October 2021.
Fight Analysis
Brian Kelleher's aggressive approach and experience in the UFC make him a formidable opponent. He is known for his ability to capitalize on opponents' mistakes with his striking and submission skills. However, his recent losses to high-caliber opponents highlight potential vulnerabilities, particularly in his defensive grappling and striking defense.
Cody Gibson, on the other hand, brings a well-rounded skill set with a strong grappling foundation and effective striking. His recent losses suggest he struggles against more seasoned UFC fighters, but his wins in The Ultimate Fighter 31 and his submission victory over Rivera demonstrate his capability to finish fights both on the ground and standing.
Prediction: This bout promises to be a clash of styles, with Kelleher likely to push the pace and look for a finish early, while Gibson may aim to weather the storm and exploit Kelleher's defensive lapses. Given Kelleher's experience and finishing ability, he has a slight edge in this matchup.
