Local UFC fighter lands first UFC win in 10 years
Cody Gibson, who recently won his first UFC fight in ten years. Photo from Instagram.
Cody Gibson competed in Las Vegas event
– Templeton resident and mixed martial artist Cody Gibson recently won his first Ultimate Fighting Championship fight since 2014; he competed in Las Vegas against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu opponent Brian Kelleher on July 20.
Gibson, who is nicknamed “The Renegade”, was part of the Bantamweight weight class at 136 lbs. Part of his strategy against Kelleher was to keep him on his back foot and push him to defend along the wrestling cage. The match was won in Gibson’s favor via submission.
“The fight only lasted about three and a half minutes but we implemented our game plan pretty well and had a successful night,” said Gibson, who teaches physical education at Atascadero Middle School.
Gibson began wrestling at 13 years old, continuing throughout high school and college. He noted that he “instantly fell in love with it. I enjoyed the one-on-one aspect of the sport, the physicality of it all, and the lessons it taught me.” He moved into mixed martial arts while in college and made his professional debut at that time.
In 2023, Gibson competed on season 31 of reality television show The Ultimate Fighter. He spent close to two months filming the show, where he lived with other competitors and was coached by Bellator Lightweight World Champion Michael Chandler. After tearing his medial collateral ligament during his first fight against Mando Gutierrez, he received physical therapy and stem cell treatment to continue with training. He ended up reaching the final fight in Boston and competed against Brad Katona.
Cody Gibson during his time on The Ultimate Fighter, season 31. Photo from Instagram.
He trains six days a week, with sessions ranging from strength, conditioning, boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu and more; he will often have two to three sessions in a day. Long distance road work is also part of Gibson’s training which he incorporates several times a week. He notes the importance of recovery and utilizes cold plunges, foam rollers, physical therapy, and more.
Gibson and his family have lived in Templeton for four years. His wife, Jackie, works as a nurse for the Atascadero Unified School District; they share daughters Ella, 8 years old, Margo, 4 years old, and son Hank, 4 months old.
He initially taught AP U.S. History at Arroyo Grande High School and moved to his current job in Atascadero two years ago. In addition, he has been a wrestling coach in various parts of the community, such as with youth programs, middle school and high schools.
“My favorite thing about living [on] the Central Coast, besides the beauty of it all, is the various communities and downtowns each city has and the uniqueness of each location. Whether it’s High Street Deli in SLO, The Range in Santa Margarita, or sushi and ramen at Kuma in Los Osos…we enjoy visiting different towns and exploring,” Gibson said.
The Gibson family, who have lived in Templeton since 2020. Photo from Instagram.
The Gibson family also enjoy attending weekly concerts in Templeton and Venteux Winery, visiting local breweries and farmers markets, and other activities such as hiking and bike riding. They also spend time supporting their daughter Ella’s softball team.
“I think if there is a message I would like to share to people it would be to just follow your dreams and passions and be willing to commit all of yourself to them. Good things will happen if you work hard towards your goals. I never thought of myself or saw myself as anything special. I just worked really hard and had a love and passion for martial arts and so it’s carried me far in this sport and has taught me a lot about life and how to live a disciplined life,” Gibson said.
