{{Short description|American mixed martial arts fighter (1981)}} {{Infobox martial artist | name = Cody Donovan | other_names = Donnybrook | image = | image_size = 200px | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|02|20}} | birth_place = Waterloo, Iowa, United States | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}} | weight_lb = 205 | weight_class = Light Heavyweight | reach = {{convert|74|in|cm|abbr=on}} | style = | stance = | fighting_out_of = Denver, Colorado, United States | team = Grudge Training Center<br /> [http://www.highaltitudema.com/ High Altitude Martial Arts] <br /> Jackson's Submission Fighting | rank = ''Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152379166835343.950804.313075020342|title=BJJ Black Belt|website=Facebook|date=December 20, 2012}}</ref> under Nate Marquardt | years_active = 2008–2014 | mma_kowin = 4 | mma_subwin = 3 | mma_decwin = 1 | mma_koloss = 5 | mma_subloss = | mma_decloss = | mma_draw = | mma_nc = | url = [http://www.codydonovan.com/ Official Website]<br /> [https://www.ufc.com/athlete/kodi-stemenn-0 Official UFC Fighter Profile]<br /> [http://www.highaltitudema.com/ High Altitude Martial Arts] | sherdog = 22304 | footnotes = | updated = }}
'''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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sports.ca.msn.com/top-stories/cody-donnybrook-donovan-relishes-ufc-journey |title=Cody (Donnybrook) Donovan relishes UFC journey - Sports - MSN CA |access-date=2014-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520022646/http://sports.ca.msn.com/top-stories/cody-donnybrook-donovan-relishes-ufc-journey |archive-date=2014-05-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Donovan attended the Art Institute of Colorado and graduated with a degree in media arts.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ufc.ca/fighter/Cody-Donovan|title = Cody Donovan | UFC|date = 14 September 2018}}</ref>
==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.<ref name="auto"/>
===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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/2012/12/eddie-mendez-out-of-ufc-on-fx-6-with-injury-cody-donovan-steps-in|title=Eddie Mendez out of UFC on FX 6 with injury, Cody Donovan steps in|publisher=MMAjunkie.com |date=2012-12-05 |accessdate=2012-12-05}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://themmareport.com/2013/06/brad-pickett-vs-michael-mcdonald-and-ovince-st-preux-vs-cody-donovan-added-to-ufc-on-fs1-1/|title=Ovince St-Preux vs. Cody Donovan added to UFC on FS1 #1|publisher=themmareport.com| author=Jason Floyd|date=June 4, 2013}}</ref> He lost the fight via first-round KO.
Donovan was expected to face promotional newcomer Robert Drysdale on November 16, 2013 at UFC 167.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2013/10/3/4800994/robert-drysdale-vs-cody-donovan-reportedly-set-for-ufc-167|title=Robert Drysdale vs. Cody Donovan set for UFC 167|publisher=mmafighting.com| author=Luke Thomas|date=October 3, 2013}}</ref> However, Drysdale was refused a fighting license by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) and was replaced by Gian Villante.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/10/robert-drysdale-denied-ufc-167-license-after-testing-for-elevated-te-ratio|title=Robert Drysdale denied UFC 167 license due to elevated T/E ratio |publisher=MMAjunkie.com |accessdate=2013-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/10/gian-villante-replaces-robert-drysdale-meets-cody-donovan-at-ufc-167|title=Gian Villante replaces Robert Drysdale, meets Cody Donovan at UFC 167|date=29 October 2013|publisher=MMAjunkie.com|accessdate=2013-10-29}}</ref> He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.
Donovan faced Nikita Krylov on July 19, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 46.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2014/04/ufc-fight-night-in-dublin-adds-mccall-pickett-latifi-lawlor-harris-serry-donovan-krylov|title=UFC Fight Night in Dublin adds Donovan-Krylov|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2014-04-29|accessdate=2014-04-29}}</ref> He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.
After three consecutive KO/TKO stoppage losses, Donovan announced his retirement from MMA competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2014/09/ufc-light-heavyweight-cody-donovan-announces-retirement-from-mma|title=UFC light heavyweight Cody Donovan announces retirement from MMA|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=MMAjunkie Staff|date=2014-09-09|accessdate=2014-09-09}}</ref>
==Personal life== Donovan is married.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-10-17 |title=Cody ‘Donnybrook’ Donovan to Retire from MMA- Popular Colorado Fighter to stay active in Martial Arts, Irish Community, and Missionary Work – Celtic Connection |url=https://celticconnection.com/2014/10/17/cody-%e2%80%98donnybrook%e2%80%99-donovan-to-retire-from-mma-popular-colorado-fighter-to-stay-active-in-martial-arts-irish-community-and-missionary-work/ |access-date=2025-10-23 |language=en-US |quote=October 17, 2014 t’s been a tremendous year of change for Cody ‘Donnybrook’ Donovan. He was married, ...}}</ref>
==Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Titles==
*'''High Altitude Martial Arts''' **HAMA Light Heavyweight Championship (one time)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elevationfightteam.com/#!the-coaches/inkbm/|title=elevationfightteam.com - Registered at Namecheap.com|website=www.elevationfightteam.com}}</ref>
==Mixed martial arts record== {{MMArecordbox |ko-wins=4 |ko-losses=5 |sub-wins=3 |sub-losses=0 |dec-wins=1 |dec-losses=0 |draws= }} {{MMA record start}} |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|8–5 |Nikita Krylov |TKO (punches) |UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Brandao |{{dts|2014|July|19}} |align=center|1 |align=center|4:57 |Dublin, Ireland | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|8–4 |Gian Villante |TKO (punches) |UFC 167 |{{dts|2013|November|16}} |align=center| 2 |align=center| 1:22 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|8–3 |Ovince Saint Preux |KO (punches) |UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen |{{dts|2013|August|17}} |align=center|1 |align=center|2:07 |Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|8–2 |Nick Penner |KO (punches) |UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson |{{dts|2012|December|15}} |align=center|1 |align=center|4:35 |Gold Coast, Australia |{{small|Fight of the Night}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|7–2 |Peter Nolan |Submission (rear-naked choke) |Instinct Fighting 4 |{{dts|2012|June|29}} |align=center|1 |align=center|3:41 |Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|6–2 |Brian Albin |Decision (unanimous) |Bellator 38 |{{dts|2011|March|26}} |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Tunica, Mississippi, United States | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|5–2 |Xavier Saccomanno |Submission (rear-naked choke) |Full Force Fighting 1 |{{dts|2011|January|29}} |align=center|2 |align=center|3:12 |Denver, Colorado, United States |{{small|Won Full Force Fighting Light Heavyweight Championship}} |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|4–2 |Cortez Coleman |TKO (corner stoppage) |C3 Fights: Slammin Jammin Weekend 5 |{{dts|2010|August|7}} |align=center|1 |align=center|N/A |Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States |{{small|Fight stopped due to injury}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|4–1 |Isaac Villanueva |Submission (rear-naked choke) |Ascend Combat: The Beginning |{{dts|2010|April|3}} |align=center|2 |align=center|4:52 |Shreveport, Louisiana, United States | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|3–1 |Eric Smith |TKO (punches) |ROF 36: Demolition |{{dts|2009|December|4}} |align=center|1 |align=center|3:18 |Denver, Colorado, United States | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|3–0 |Joe Stripling |TKO (punches) |Shogun Fights 1 |{{dts|2009|October|24}} |align=center|2 |align=center|1:16 |Baltimore, Maryland, United States | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|2–0 |John Doyle |TKO (punches and elbows) |UWC 5: Man O' War |{{dts|2009|February|21}} |align=center|1 |align=center|2:33 |Fairfax, Virginia, United States | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|1–0 |Wade Drake |TKO (punches) |UWC 4: Confrontation |{{dts|2008|October|11}} |align=center|1 |align=center|0:15 |Fairfax, Virginia, United States | {{end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{UFC|cody-donovan}} * {{Sherdog}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Donovan, Cody}} Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:American male mixed martial artists Category:American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu Category:People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters Category:Light heavyweight mixed martial artists Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu