Former UFC Champion Looks to Return to Winning Ways This Saturday
Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt returns to the octagon this Saturday at UFC Fight Night Atlanta. This Saturday marks Garbrandt’s first fight in the UFC since he suffered defeat against Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300. It’s no secret that ‘No Love’ has had a career full of triumphant highs and disastrous lows. However, Cody Garbrandt will be looking to turn back the clock with one of his signature knockouts that have made him one of the most beloved fighters in the UFC today.
Being perhaps the heaviest hitter in the history of the Bantamweight Division, Cody Garbrandt was destined for the spotlight. After making his debut in 2015, Garbrandt would win five straight, with four of those wins coming via knockout. Garbrandt’s stellar start to his UFC career would land him a title shot against one of the greatest Bantamweights in UFC history: Dominick Cruz. The fight would produce one of the most impressive performances in UFC Championship fight history, as Garbrandt would go on to dismantle Cruz over five rounds en route to a UFC Championship.
When Garbrandt reached the mountaintop of the UFC in 2016, he reached a level of superstardom that many fighters today could only wish to reach. Many expected Garbrandt’s championship win at UFC 207 to be the beginning of a dominant run with multiple highlight reel KO’s. The run Garbrandt would go on post-UFC 207 would include various highlight reel KO’s, but not for the right reasons. Garbrandt would be finished in his next three fights, which would officially put him out of championship contention. After going 1-4 in the Bantamweight Division following his Bantamweight Championship win, Garbrandt would try his hand in the UFC Flyweight Division. Garbrandt’s change in weight would be short-lived, as after being on the wrong side of yet another brutal knockout, Garbrandt would return to the Bantamweight Division.
Cody Garbrandt is 2-1 since his return to the Bantamweight Division. In 2023, Garbrandt would defeat Trevin Jones by unanimous decision and would follow that win by knocking out Brian Kelleher. After a loss against former UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo, Garbrandt will be looking to return to winning ways against Raoni Barcelos. Barcelos, who is coming off a massive upset victory against Payton Talbott, is a strong grappler, which is the type of fighter that usually gives Garbrandt trouble. In the current state of the Bantamweight Division, and with a champion as dominant as they come, it is likely impossible that Garbrandt will ever reclaim his Bantamweight Championship. However, even though Garbrandt won’t be contending for a UFC Championship anytime soon, he surely will be looking to become a contender for knockout of the year with a win at UFC Fight Night Atlanta.
