Cody Pepper FIGHT TALK WITH YOUR BOY THE WHATS NEXT KID interview

The Cody Pepper FIGHT TALK WITH YOUR BOY THE WHATS NEXT KID interview on MILLIONS covered Pepper’s first bare-knuckle fight in Italy on a Colby Covington undercard. Pepper said he took the bout on two weeks’ notice, plans to attack his opponent’s body and believes a strong performance could lead to a contract.

What did Cody Pepper say about his next fight in Italy?

Cody Pepper said his upcoming fight would be his bare-knuckle debut and the realization of a goal he has held since he was 15. He accepted the opportunity on two weeks’ notice, knowing it would take him abroad to Italy and put him on an undercard featuring Colby Covington.

Choosing the Italy fight

Pepper said he had been talking with two other promotions, but this opportunity stood out and was the biggest offer he received. The short notice did not deter him. He had wanted a bare-knuckle fight for three years and took this one when it became available.

Fighting on Covington’s undercard added to the occasion for Pepper, who said he has always liked him. He expected some nerves but also felt excited. Winning remained his aim, rather than simply taking part in a fight he and the interviewer discussed as a potential historic first at his age.

When asked how his family reacted, Pepper gave a practical answer: a free trip to Italy was hard to turn down. For him, the trip also meant a chance to show what he could do in his first bare-knuckle bout.

How did Cody Pepper’s earlier fights prepare him for a bare-knuckle debut?

Cody Pepper said people underestimate his experience because he is 18. He began training at six and has competed across kickboxing, Muay Thai, boxing and MMA, as well as in a boxing-style fight using MMA gloves. Bare-knuckle is new to him, but fighting is not.

From kickboxing to boxing and MMA

His route began in kickboxing, followed by his first Muay Thai fight. Pepper then switched to boxing and recalled having about six bouts before moving to MMA for one fight. He described that MMA opponent as one of the best at his level, then returned to boxing.

At 15, Pepper decided bare-knuckle was what he wanted to pursue. He had a hybrid boxing fight with MMA gloves before continuing in boxing and eventually accepting this debut. That range of rules and gloves is why he objects to being judged solely by his age.

The 30-second bout and his jab

Pepper also discussed a bout for a belt the previous November that he said lasted 30 seconds. After the interviewer raised a clip of a jab knockout, Pepper called the jab his best weapon. It is part of the boxing experience he brings into this fight, even as he prepares for the different demands of bare fists.

What did Cody Pepper change in bare-knuckle training?

Cody Pepper said he has not rebuilt his punches for bare-knuckle. He continues to train in boxing gloves so his punches feel natural when he fights. The larger adjustment, he explained, is defensive: blocking a bare fist with the hand can hurt the defender’s hand in a way gloved boxing does not.

Rather than absorb punches on his hands, Pepper has worked on sweeping an opponent’s hands aside. He noted that some fighters turn their punches over differently for bare-knuckle, but he has chosen not to make that change to his own punching mechanics.

He also sees value in attacking the body. Pepper said body shots are particularly effective without gloves and expected to throw plenty of them. As an example, he pointed to Lorenzo Hunt’s Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship fight in Italy, saying Hunt’s body work broke down his opponent.

What did Cody Pepper say about his opponent and body-shot plan?

Cody Pepper said his opponent looks well covered when throwing punches, but he believes that protection is concentrated on the head. Pepper plans to look for a body shot when the opponent throws his jab. He respects the opponent’s toughness while seeing that habit as an opening he can exploit.

Pepper said he had watched video and researched the opponent during his brief preparation. He would not dismiss him as an easy fight, saying he chooses tough opposition and that few people would accept this matchup with only two weeks to prepare.

He also considers the bout a risk. Pepper described the opponent as older and said he probably weighs more naturally. Even so, he expects to succeed. His body-shot plan comes from the specific opening he thinks he saw on video, not from an assumption that the opponent cannot defend himself.

Why is Cody Pepper prioritizing defense after taking the fight on short notice?

Cody Pepper said defense is his main focus before the fight because even a slight bare-knuckle punch can open a cut and end a bout. He acknowledged that two weeks was less preparation time than he expected when pursuing this goal, but said the camp had gone well and he felt fit enough to compete.

With travel approaching, Pepper said he would keep working on defense. That priority sits alongside his plan to attack the body: he wants to find openings without taking unnecessary punches on his face or hands.

The speed of the opportunity surprised him. Pepper had wanted the fight for years but had not expected it to arrive so quickly. He accepted anyway, saying he would not have done so if he did not believe he was ready.

What did Cody Pepper say about his age and a possible contract?

Cody Pepper said he expects some viewers to focus on his being 18 rather than on his fighting ability. He believes a strong showing could change their minds. He also said he had been told a contract could be available if he performed well, whether he won or lost.

Pepper wants to win, not merely qualify for another opportunity. He said people might assume an 18-year-old lacks the strength for this fight or will be overpowered. His answer to those doubts is to let his performance speak for itself.

The possible contract matters because, Pepper said, the promotion does not hold shows where he lives. Continuing with it could mean traveling for fights while doing what he loves. Pepper put that ambition plainly:

So traveling the world and doing something I love it's like that is that's the dream job

For now, the first step is the Italy debut. Pepper said a good fight could leave him with an offer regardless of the result, but he intends to win and take the opportunity that follows.