Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt has made no bones about who he wants to face next, saying he wants nothing more than to go toe-to-toe with former UFC Featherweight champion, Jose Aldo.
Sure, “No Love” also wants to face current Flyweight champion, Deiveson Figueiredo, after their initial fight was scrapped, but since “Daico” will likely rematch Brandon Moreno later this year, Garbrandt doesn’t want to sit and be idle.
“I’m targeting a fight with Jose Aldo in April – that’s what I’m shooting for,” Garbrandt told MMA Fighting. “I had the title fight at 125, I’m the next in line, but obviously they have to do the rematch. I’m not going to sit and wait eight months. It’s not something I want to do. So I feel like staying at 135 and fighting Jose Aldo will be a great matchup. It’s a fight a lot of fans can get behind.”
Garbrandt got back on track in his last outing, sending Raphael Assuncao packing with a devastating knockout (see it again here). In doing so, “No Love” snapped his three-fight losing streak. With added confidence, the ex-champion feels his best days are still ahead of him.
“I feel my best performances are in front of me, so why not challenge yourself with a Jose Aldo? He’s still dangerous. He’s still there. He’s down in [my] weight class now. He’s coming off a win, I’m coming off a win. We’re both in the top five, so I think it’s the perfect fight to make.”
While Garbrandt respects and admires Aldo for all of the great things he’s accomplished as a legit MMA veteran, he feels he has the skills to take him out should they get matched up against one another.
“Aldo’s game. You don’t get those accolades that he’s achieved, the accomplishments that he’s achieved without being one of the best. That’s what I’m here to prove, that I am the best. I just see him as an opponent. It’s business.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for him, but I know I’m the far superior fighter skill wise, speed, power, conditioning, and that’s what I want to test myself with. I know I’ll knock him out. I’m excited for that fight.”
Aldo also recently snapped his own three-fight skid by defeating Marlon Vera last December, giving him his first win since early 2019. Anyone feeling this matchup?