Cody Garbrandt won’t be dropping to the flyweight division following UFC 250, after all.
In the lead-up to Saturday’s co-headliner with Raphael Assuncao (27-7 MMA, 11-4 UFC), the former UFC bantamweight champ Garbrandt (11-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) said he would be moving down a weight class to “really save” the division, which is currently without a champion.
With three straight losses on his record, a change in division could give Garbrandt’s career a fresh coat of paint, especially if he were to lose at UFC 250. The landscape his changed at 135 pounds since his original comments, though, with Henry Cejudo giving up the title and retiring from MMA.
The weight class is now wide open, and it’s renewed Garbrandt’s dedication to stay put and go after the title he once held.
“We’ll see how the bantamweight shakes out,” Garbrandt told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during Thursday’s UFC 250 virtual media day. “I want to the best in the world, that’s what I set out to do. If it’s in the cards for me to go down to ’25 and become the flyweight champion as well as the bantamweight champion, then we’ll do that. We’ll talk with my coaches and my managers. But first and foremost I have a tough adversary in Raphael Assuncao for Saturday I’m focused on.
“You’ve always got to have your second goals ready to go, but it’s getting back to the throne. That’s what I want. I want the bantamweight title back. I’m very excited for that opportunity to climb the ranks again. Once a hunter always a hunter.”
UFC 250 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
If Garbrandt wants to sniff bantamweight gold again, then winning at UFC 250 is essential. “No Love” seemed on track to become a massive star when he took the belt from Dominick Cruz in thrilling fashion in December 2016. He hasn’t won since, though, and has suffered three consecutive knockouts along the way.
It’s been more than 15 months since Garbrandt stepped in the octagon, however, and he said he’s wisely used the time to improve his game and correct the issues that put him in this hole. He expects that to translate into his fight night performance.
“I just got to be myself,” Garbrandt said. “Go out there and fight the way I fight. Put on performances. However I have to do it it’s cool, calm and collected. Just really show my growth. A lot of people look at a loss or a failure as a setback, but for me, I’ve learned. I’ve had to learn the hard way my entire life.”
Cody Garbrandt retreats on flyweight drop ahead of UFC 250: 'I want the bantamweight title back'
