Cody Bollinger has been a professional mixed martial artist since 2006 and some of the promotions he has competed in are King of the Cage, Bellator, The Ultimate Fighter, and the World Series of Fighting.
On March 20, he will make his Titan FC debut against Andre Harrison at Titan FC 33 in a key featherweight bout that could determine the next 145 pound title challenger.
Bollinger (17-3, 1NC) was released from his World Series of Fighting contract in December and shortly after becoming a free agent, he signed with Titan FC.
When it comes to why he signed with the promotion, Bollinger told The MMA Report that there were two main reasons.
“They seem like really good guys,” Bollinger said. “They also had a really stacked featherweight division and that is where I am fighting at now. I wanted to push myself as much as I could in these lower circuits until I get up to the UFC. Those two things and everything they promised me, they put in the contract. They were willing put in paper and writing for me. That kind of sealed the deal for me.”
If you have been following the career of Bollinger, there has been some tough times for him. From not being able to make bantamweight during The Ultimate Fighter and his relationship with World Series of Fighting Executive Vice President Ali Abdelaziz. With everything that has happened throughout his career, does “The Cali Cowboy” have any regrets?
“I am happy with where I am at and obviously I wish I could have made weight for The Ultimate Fighter,” he said. “That would have been nice to finish out. I was real confident in the fact that I could win that show. Besides that, there is no regrets or bitterness on my shoulder or any chips. I am fine. I am just happy to be fighting still, especially with a great company like Titan.”
At Titan FC 33, he will look for his second straight win as he meets Harrison. Bollinger wants to go out and impress himself in this fight. How can Bollinger impress himself? Simply, defeat Harrison by stoppage.
“He has five decisions out of his eight wins. Not that he is a boring fighter, but his style really kind of plays into decision fights. Kind of getting points and stealing rounds with takedowns. Me being a wrestler since I was four years-old, it can be real easy for me to get in that type of fight with him. Especially, seeing who the better wrestler is and playing that aspect of the fight. I really think to put on an impressive fight, I have to keep it on the feet and really push the pace. Not let him get any takedowns and if I get a takedown, keep moving and working. Even get back up and start hitting him again. I would like to break him mentally and just have him quit in that fight. That would impress myself.”
The Titan FC 33 card will be headlined by Desmond Green defending the Titan FC featherweight title against Kurt Holobaugh. Last week, Estevan Payan told The MMA Report that he believes a victory on the March 20 fight card should get him a title shot. For Bollinger, he feels that a victory should get him a title shot but understands the decision will ultimately be made by the Titan FC match makers.
“I definitely think that if I win this fight, I do deserve a title shot against Holobaugh or Green, whoever wins,” Bollinger said. “That is all up to the match makers. If I win this fight, I am calling out whoever wins. Hopefully I am granted my wish. No promises or anything but as long as I go out there and win this fight the way I plan to, I see myself fighting quickly after that for the title.”