title: Cody Donovan
text: # 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.
  
  ### Ultimate Fighting Championship
  
  Donovan made his UFC debut on December 15, 2012 at UFC on FX 6 against Canadian Nick Penner, replacing an injured Eddie Mendez on nine days notice. 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
  
  Professional record breakdown :
  
  | 13 matches | 8 wins | 5 losses |
  | - | - | - |
  | By knockout | 4 | 5 |
  | By submission | 3 | 0 |
  | By decision | 1 | 0 |
  | Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
  | Loss | 8–5 | Nikita Krylov | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Brandao | July 19, 2014 | 1 | 4:57 | Dublin, Ireland | |
  | Loss | 8–4 | Gian Villante | TKO (punches) | UFC 167 | November 16, 2013 | 2 | 1:22 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
  | Loss | 8–3 | Ovince Saint Preux | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen | August 17, 2013 | 1 | 2:07 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
  | Win | 8–2 | Nick Penner | KO (punches) | UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson | December 15, 2012 | 1 | 4:35 | Gold Coast, Australia | Fight of the Night |
  | Win | 7–2 | Peter Nolan | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Instinct Fighting 4 | June 29, 2012 | 1 | 3:41 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
  | Win | 6–2 | Brian Albin | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 38 | March 26, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Tunica, Mississippi, United States | |
  | Win | 5–2 | Xavier Saccomanno | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Full Force Fighting 1 | January 29, 2011 | 2 | 3:12 | Denver, Colorado, United States | Won Full Force Fighting Light Heavyweight Championship |
  | Loss | 4–2 | Cortez Coleman | TKO (corner stoppage) | C3 Fights: Slammin Jammin Weekend 5 | August 7, 2010 | 1 | N/A | Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States | Fight stopped due to injury |
  | Win | 4–1 | Isaac Villanueva | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Ascend Combat: The Beginning | April 3, 2010 | 2 | 4:52 | Shreveport, Louisiana, United States | |
  | Loss | 3–1 | Eric Smith | TKO (punches) | ROF 36: Demolition | December 4, 2009 | 1 | 3:18 | Denver, Colorado, United States | |
  | Win | 3–0 | Joe Stripling | TKO (punches) | Shogun Fights 1 | October 24, 2009 | 2 | 1:16 | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | |
  | Win | 2–0 | John Doyle | TKO (punches and elbows) | UWC 5: Man O' War | February 21, 2009 | 1 | 2:33 | Fairfax, Virginia, United States | |
  | Win | 1–0 | Wade Drake | TKO (punches) | UWC 4: Confrontation | October 11, 2008 | 1 | 0:15 | Fairfax, Virginia, United States | |
  