Cody Garbrandt returns to the UFC’s Octagon this weekend for the first time in more than a year, as he takes on Raphael Assuncao in a bantamweight bout in the co-main event at UFC 250.
“No Love” comes in looking to snap out of a three-fight losing skid. After starting his career 11-0 and upsetting Dominick Cruz to claim the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 207, he’s suffered three straight knockout losses. Two of those losses came against his former teammate T.J. Dillashaw, who defeated him to snatch the 135-pound title at UFC 217 and then also won the rematch via TKO at UFC 227. Garbrandt’s last bout was a knockout loss against Pedro Munhoz at UFC 235 in March 2019.
The Ohio native Garbrandt has switched things up for this training camp, splitting time between his home base with Team Alpha Male in California and with noted MMA coach Mark Henry in New Jersey.
“I felt like I needed a change of scenery, to get out of my comfort zone,” Garbrandt said of training with Henry at Ricardo Almeida BJJ with Henry. “I’ve always heard about Mark Henry and his teaching, and to be able to come here and work with him, I was just blown away. He dissects your opponent, he dissects you – as an athlete, as a person – he knows what you’re going to throw before you even throw it. That’s how in sync he is with his fighters.”
He's back!@Cody_Nolove returns at #UFC250 this Saturday! pic.twitter.com/fFnhV4lsYb
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) June 3, 2020
Henry has produced former UFC champions Frankie Edgar and Eddie Alvarez, “Ultimate Fighter” winner Corey Anderson, and the gym also features top Russian transplants who have made a name in the UFC and beyond.
Still just 28 years old, Garbrandt appears to be at a crossroads in his career. In addition to the three losses, he is also coming off of kidney issues he suffered leading up to an original planned bout against Assuncao in March.
If Cody wants to stay near the top of the deep 135-pound division, Assuncao is a fighter he needs to defeat. Also a onetime top contender, he’s coming in off of back-to-back losses and is looking to right the ship against a former champion.
UFC 250 features Amanda Nunes defending her featherweight championship against Felicia Spencer in the pay-per-view main event. The card also features a pivotal bantamweight clash between contenders Aljamain Sterling and Cory Sandhagen.
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