Cody Brundage: 'Fighting Is Not Really a Career,' and the Numbers Are Getting Hard to Ignore

Cody Brundage, absolutely *crushing* it in the Octagon this year, just dropped a bomb. Three fights already in 2026, including that insane stoppage win over Andre Petroski on May 16, and now he's hitting pause. He's taking a break until *next year*, not for injury. Brundage has a baby coming in July with his wife, ex-UFC fighter Amanda Cooper. Get this: he's spending August through January training to become a firefighter. Talk about a plot twist!

Trading Canvas for Classroom: Brundage's Bold Move

You hear "fighter takes time off" and usually think recovery, right? Not Cody. This 32-year-old veteran has been busier than most fighters get in a whole *year*, logging three bouts in just six months. Brundage revealed his packed schedule was all by design. He's diving headfirst into the fire academy for four months, meaning super limited MMA training. "I don't even know if you'll see me again until next year," Brundage told MMA Fighting. "I've got a baby coming in July. I just got accepted into the fire academy out here, which is four months of basically very limited MMA training." He admitted it'd be weird, but "it will be good. I'm excited for the time off." This isn't just about family. Brundage is straight-up calling fighting what it is, saying, "Fighting is an awesome job but it's not really a career."

Dana White's Stance vs. a Fighter's Reality

Fighters have side gigs, but Brundage's move highlights the UFC pay conversation. Dana White, the UFC CEO, recently brushed off questions about minimum salaries after WNBA players got a new deal guar

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anteeing $270,000 a season. White fired back, "First of all, if you come into the UFC, let's say you sign a three-fight deal, we're going to find out if you even belong in the UFC. I should pay you $370,000 to see if you belong in the UFC?" But Cody Brundage isn't some newbie. He's a 16-fight UFC veteran! He's not complaining about his pay. He believes a stable career like firefighting *reduces* stress, making him a better fighter. "Stability is definitely a thing," Brundage explained. With young kids and a wife, fighting gets easier when there's a solid Plan B. "If fighting doesn't work out, then I have this career to fall back on."

A Blueprint for Life After the Octagon

Brundage has seen the horror stories, guys clinging to combat sports past their prime with no other options. He's determined not to be one of them, avoiding damage impacting his quality of life or family. "You see a lot of guys, they get done and then don't really know where to go," he said. Becoming a firefighter gives him that crucial direction, a career that "pays well, has great benefits but also allows me to keep a schedule where I can fight, if that's something I choose and want to do." He expects 24-hour shifts, leaving plenty of time to train. Not depending solely on UFC pay? Brundage thinks it's all positive, saying, "It makes fighting much easier, to be honest." It's the best of both worlds, giving him purpose for the long haul. So while we won't see Cody Brundage back in the Octagon until *next year*, he's building a future beyond fighting. He's setting himself up for stability, family, and a new career that will, in his words, make him a better fighter when he does return.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.