Cody Haddon at Malcolm Wellmaker: Fight Night Preview

It’s a classic collision of rising prospects and contrasting styles as Cody Haddon meets Malcolm Wellmaker on Saturday night, November 15, 2025. With both men hunting a breakout moment and the venue still TBD, the intrigue centers on whether Haddon’s high-pace, well-rounded game can corral Wellmaker’s rangy power and opportunistic counters. Expect urgency from the opening horn: each fighter knows this is the kind of showcase that can springboard them up the ladder.

The Matchup

This bout profiles as a tempo war. Haddon thrives on proactive pressure, layered combinations, and clinch-to-mat sequences that force opponents into defensive cycles. Wellmaker, by contrast, is a patient sniper—he uses length, footwork, and feints to draw mistakes and punish overextensions. The question: can Haddon maintain volume without eating the clean counter that changes the fight?

Beyond style, there’s resume context. Haddon’s recent form suggests steady improvements in shot selection and defensive responsibility, particularly against jab-heavy opponents. Wellmaker has quietly stitched together a run built on knockdowns and control of the center with economical output. What’s at stake is clarity: the winner graduates from “prospect to watch” to a legitimate factor in the division’s middle tier, setting up a top-15 test in early 2026.

Players to Watch

• Cody Haddon: Look for his jab-to-level-change sequence and a heavy dose of cage clinches. If he gets early respect for his hands, his double-leg timing opens up. His ability to chain wrestle after initial sprawls could be pivotal in stealing rounds late.
• Malcolm Wellmaker: A rangy striker with a calibrated right hand and a sneaky check hook. If he maintains his preferred long range, he’ll look to freeze Haddon with stance switches and kick entries, then punish with counters as Haddon steps in.
• Cornermen and Game Plans: Haddon’s corner typically emphasizes between-round adjustments to shot selection; Wellmaker’s team is adept at cueing counter patterns (e.g., slip-overhand after the second jab). Live tweaks could swing momentum.

Key Stats

Haddon averages a high striking pace, often topping 12–14 significant strike attempts per minute, with a takedown attempt rate north of 4 per 15 minutes.

Wellmaker’s knockdown rate trends above division average, paired with a counter-success clip that spikes against forward movers.

• Haddon tends to win minutes: favorable control-time splits in rounds he initiates early clinch pressure.
• Wellmaker’s first-round moments are dangerous: a disproportionate share of his finishes or momentum-swing knockdowns occur in the opening seven minutes.
• Defensive notes: Haddon’s head movement has improved, but he still eats straight counters when exiting on the center line; Wellmaker’s takedown defense is solid initially but can fade under chain pressure.

Prediction

Early danger for Haddon is real—Wellmaker’s timing can punish his entries before the wrestling takes hold. But across 15 minutes, the sustainability edge leans Haddon. Expect him to test range with feints, jab the chest, and drive to the fence for mat returns. If he survives the first five minutes clean, his cumulative body work and clinch control should bank rounds. Wellmaker will have moments—particularly with counters off the break—but unless he scores a knockdown, Haddon’s volume and grappling cycles likely decide the cards.

Lean: Haddon by competitive decision, with a live early threat from Wellmaker’s power. For angle-watchers, early-round volatility favors the striker’s moments, while late-round attrition trends toward the grinder’s control.