By Verne Iron Wing

We had a chance to catch up with Cody Connell. Fresh off a trip to the Pan Am’s and ready to defend his title at Kick Down 100.

FF: How’s it going man?

CC: I’m good, been doing good. Just got back from So-Cal, so I can’t complain.

FF: Yeah man, tell us about your trip.

CC: There were 123 guys in my bracket and I entered as a Blue Belt and I had worked out in a gi twice before I went down there. I made it to the second round and lost on points. I grabbed the inside of his pant leg, and got some points taken away. I just lost on points man. It was a great experience though. I got some really good rolls in with some really good guys. What I’m finding is that I’m like a Brown belt level without the gi, but man, the gi just changes everything.

FF: Sounds like the trip went well though?

CC: Yeah, I went out there with Chad Robichaux, he’s a Strikeforce 135 pound champion I believe. He’s fighting in Legacy FC as the co-main event on May 7^th at 125, and I think the winner of that fight is going to the UFC.

FF: Really? Right on.

CC: Yeah, he’s out here in Westcliffe now, Brad’s training us both.

FF: You guys are getting quite the crew out there.

CC: I know…He’s flying in guys, so I’m making all kinds of progress. I think after I handle my business here, I’m dropping to 45’s and I’m going to make my pro debut for Legacy FC in Houston Texas.

FF: Awesome!

CC: Hell yeah man.

FF: So you’re fighting Saturday and potentially could be leaving your amateur career undefeated. Not real common in this pool. You mentioned making your pro debut in Texas, but do you have anyone you would like to fight as pro first here in Colorado?

CC: This is a big opportunity for me fighting down there. I’d like to come back and fight for Steve as a pro. You never know how things will go, hopefully I’ll do well and I can stay down there and get a couple fights, but I’d really like to fight for Steve, because he’s done so much for me and I’d like to fight here in Colorado. But at 45s, I don’t know. I just really don’t know that many opponents because that hasn’t been my weight class, so I haven’t really been paying attention to it. I know there are some really legit guys here in this state at 45.

FF: Well I’m sure we could come up with a few guys we would like to see you go up against at 45. So is there anybody at amateur you didn’t get to fight that you wish you had prior to going pro?

CC: No, I wanted to fight the best guys and I fought everybody they put in front of me. I’m looking forward to this opponent here. I respect him, and I can’t wait to get in there with him.

FF: Speaking of Mitch, Steve mentioned to us that this has the potential to be the best amateur fight Colorado has seen. What are your thoughts on that?

CC: Definitely on paper it looks great. I’m 7-0 right now, and I believe he’s 15-4. I don’t know how many of his fights are sanctioned or not, but usually if you win 15 times in a cage, you’re respectable, you’ve got something going for you, you’ve figured it out a little bit. You know, he’s coming down a weight class and he’s probably going to feel strong…I’m just looking forward to it. I hope it’s a great fight. I hope it lives up to the expectations.

FF: I’m sure it will…what do you know about Mitch?

CC:  I know he trains out of Nebraska, and he’s a pretty well rounded fighter. I believe he can wrestle, seems comfortable standing. He’s been in there often and anybody with that much experience, you have to respect it. There isn’t one thing that sticks out, he just seems well rounded.

FF: Ok, so…Kick Down 100. How’s it feel being a part of that?

CC: It feels great…I jumped on this wagon, what was it, Kick Down 80? My club has been part of Kick Down since I believe in the 50s, and that was my goal…fighting on Kick Down 100. I talked with a couple team mates and just the fact that I’ve been given that opportunity…you know, you have respect that. 100 shows. It just doesn’t get the publicity it deserves. Steve Alley’s done a lot for the sport of MMA. Not just here in this state, but you have think, what other promotions were up there in Wyoming really? And now they have a commission. That just shows what he’s done for the sport. I’d really like that to be put out there. That maybe he doesn’t get the credit he deserves. He’s always put on great shows and always treated his fighters well and with respect. You know, talk to the fighters that have fought for him, he’s always done them right, and I think that’s why his success is the way it is. You don’t have 100 shows if you don’t treat people right. He knows how to treat people and he knows how to run his organization and he does it in a classy way and it’s great to be a part of it.

FF: Man… well said. Before I let you go Cody, any plans on trying out for the Ultimate Fighter next go round?

CC: You know, I have never really put too much in that. I like having a camp and getting in there and having fights. As long as I keep taking care of what I need to and the wins keep coming and I keep training hard, that publicity will come. Legacy is a great opportunity for me. I have this fight in front of me now and it’s definitely the biggest fight I have had. I think you just take it one fight at a time and nothing’s going to come for you if you don’t get the wins.

FF: Anybody you’d like to thank?

CC: Equine Digit Support Systems, they have always helped me out and supported me. They have been nothing but great in helping me succeed. I do believe it takes great people around you to be successful. You are the company you keep and I’d like to thank everybody that supported me through this, my team, my camp. Brad. I have been training at Randy’s house once a week throughout this whole camp, you know, I’m blessed to have some great people in my life and I think that’s why I’ve had the success that I have.