Cody “The Copperhead” Daniel on his November 21 rematch

In the Cody “The Copperhead” Daniel FIGHT TALK WITH YOUR BOY THE WHATS NEXT KID interview, Daniel said he will face a former friend on November 21 after beating him by split decision in a boxing match. The Real Cage Fighting bout will use MMA gloves instead of the boxing gloves they wore the first time. Daniel also discussed joining Empire MMA after years without a gym and his ambition to compete in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship after his MMA career.

What did Cody “The Copperhead” Daniel say about his former friend and next fight?

Cody “The Copperhead” Daniel said his November 21 opponent was a friend when Daniel first started fighting. Their relationship soured, and they met in a boxing match that Daniel won by split decision. For this meeting, Daniel said they have agreed to use MMA gloves, a change he had wanted for their first bout.

From friendship to a split-decision boxing match

Daniel did not name his opponent or explain what caused the disagreement. He described it as “some drama” and said the two were matched at the previous event. Although he won, the split decision left them with another contest to settle.

According to Daniel, the original plan was an MMA stand-up match, but his opponent’s coach did not agree to it. They instead boxed in regular boxing gloves over two-minute rounds. Daniel said he was later contacted about doing the MMA stand-up bout this time and accepted.

Why Daniel respects his opponent

Despite their falling-out, Daniel credited his opponent with experience and resilience. He said the other fighter has had many bouts, has faced tough opposition and “does have heart.” Daniel expects a demanding fight rather than treating their previous result as a guarantee.

What did Cody “The Copperhead” Daniel say about joining Empire MMA?

Cody “The Copperhead” Daniel said he recently joined Empire MMA in Punta Gorda, Florida, after getting this far without a gym. He described himself as largely self-trained up to that point and said he is eager to see how working in a gym affects his development before the November 21 fight.

Daniel was born in Arcadia, Florida, and now fights out of Empire MMA. He located the gym off Route 17 in Punta Gorda and called it a well-respected place to train. His move there gives him a formal training base after a period in which, he said, he had never had one.

He spoke with particular confidence about his punching power in MMA gloves, while stopping short of predicting exactly how the bout will unfold. The new training environment matters to him because he feels he made progress on his own and now has the chance to test how much further he can go with a gym behind him.

Why does Cody “The Copperhead” Daniel want to fight in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship?

Cody “The Copperhead” Daniel said competing in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship has been a goal since shortly after he began fighting. He wants to pursue it after his MMA career. Friends who have made their debuts and a coach who recently won his BKFC debut have kept that goal close to him.

That coach is Don Corbell, whom Daniel also called King Don. Daniel said Corbell won his BKFC debut at OCC Roadhouse, though he could not recall the October date. He praised his coach’s mentality and spoke about bare-knuckle competition as a challenge he wants to take on himself.

Daniel did not give a timetable for leaving MMA or entering BKFC. For now, his stated next step is the November 21 bout, while bare knuckle remains a longer-term ambition shaped in part by the fighters around him.

How is Cody “The Copperhead” Daniel preparing for November 21?

Cody “The Copperhead” Daniel said his priorities for November 21 are keeping his hands up, improving his cardio and correcting mistakes he noticed in the first match. He considers his opponent’s cardio a strength and believes he and his team have a good plan for their second meeting.

Lessons from the first bout

When asked what he had spotted in his opponent, Daniel turned first to his own performance. He mentioned counterpunching, keeping his hands up and mistakes in his head movement. Rather than describe a specific opening he expects to exploit, he focused on changes he can make himself.

The Real Cage Fighting card in Tampa

Daniel said the event in Tampa, Florida, includes boxing, MMA, kickboxing and grappling, including children’s grappling. He estimated that the card has more than 20 bouts. He also named Zion Don Stafford, with whom he has trained, and Rolando among fighters he knows on the card.

The variety of contests is part of why Daniel expects a busy night, but his preparation remains centered on the opponent he has already boxed. He knows that fighter can sustain a pace and wants his own conditioning to hold up when they meet again.

What did Cody “The Copperhead” Daniel say about fight nerves and cardio?

Cody “The Copperhead” Daniel said cardio is what worries him most before a fight. He also sees pre-fight fear as something a fighter must face rather than avoid. The nerves rise while his hands are being wrapped, he said, but fade once his name is called.

For Daniel, conditioning is tied directly to confidence. He believes he has the other tools he needs, but said cardio can decide whether those tools remain useful through a fight. That concern is why he returned to it both when discussing his game plan and when asked about the pressure of performing.

He described the nervousness before walking out as a feeling that makes him feel alive. Daniel put his view of that moment plainly:

I honestly think it's the best feeling in the world

Once he hears his name, Daniel said, the unease disappears and his attention turns to fighting. His approach is not to deny that he feels fear; he regards overcoming it as part of being brave.

How did Cody “The Copperhead” Daniel get his nickname, and what does he do away from fighting?

Cody “The Copperhead” Daniel said he chose the nickname himself. His reddish hair, a shared interest in catching snakes with his father and the way he thinks about his striking all contributed to it. Away from training, he spends time with his two children and enjoys fishing.

Choosing “The Copperhead”

Daniel said he and his father used to catch snakes and that he remains interested in reptiles. He connected the name to his hair as well as his belief that he strikes hard. It was not a nickname given to him by a coach or teammate; he came up with it himself.

Time with his children

His oldest child, Kobe, briefly joined the conversation. Daniel said his younger child is especially interested in fighting, while Kobe has his own interests. On days away from training, Daniel said he takes the children to the park, spends time with family and handles things around the house. He also mentioned fishing and recreational shooting.

Who is Cody “The Copperhead” Daniel?

Cody “The Copperhead” Daniel is an amateur MMA fighter competing in RCF – Tampa Bay. He has skills in boxing, MMA and grappling and continues to develop them while competing in the regional fight scene.