For now, Garbrandt must focus on his UFC 202 fight with Takeya Mizugaki, which takes place this Saturday night. If he is successful vs. Mizugaki, that will give the 25-year-old 10 wins in 10 career fights, including five inside the Octagon.
Current No. 8-ranked UFC bantamweight Cody Garbrandt has been seen frequently in headlines these past few weeks after engaging in a war of words with current 135-pound champ Dominick Cruz. ‘No Love’ has aspirations of one day sitting atop the mountain of the UFC’s bantamweight division; a feat only two men who aren’t named Dominick Cruz have
Current No. 8-ranked UFC bantamweight Cody Garbrandt has been seen frequently in headlines these past few weeks after engaging in a war of words with current 135-pound champ Dominick Cruz.
‘No Love’ has aspirations of one day sitting atop the mountain of the UFC’s bantamweight division; a feat only two men who aren’t named Dominick Cruz have accomplished in the division’s history, however, none of them did it by defeating ‘The Dominator’.
During a recent interview with FOX Sports, Garbrandt stated that he has been dreaming of fighting Cruz since his adolescence and revealed his 135-pound hit list in the process:
“I’ve got a UFC hit list. My UFC hit list goes like this — by default it’s Takeya Mizugaki, he’s my next fight. Then it goes Dominick Cruz, TJ Dillashaw, John Lineker. That’s my UFC hit list,” Garbrandt said.
“I’ve been thinking about whooping his ass since I was a kid, since I was a teenager,” Garbrandt said. “That’s no lie. Since the WEC days and all that.
I’ve had over a million fights with Dominick Cruz in my head and I’ve won every one of them. It’s finally coming. It’s right there and he knows it”
While Garbrandt takes nothing away from Cruz’s legendary accomplishments inside the Octagon, the Team Alpha Male product doesn’t believe Cruz has ever faced a young-and-hungry prospect with fight-ending power like himself:
“When has that guy fought a young, hungry lion that’s been coming up, that’s proved himself, climbed the rankings that’s hungry and had such drive and laser focus to get the top? Coming from nothing.
That’s why I think he’s got the title — he beat TJ (Dillashaw), he beat (Urijah) Faber — and nothing against him, coming back from injury and being out for so long, good for him.
Give him a round of applause for that but when’s the last time he fought a young, hungry, heavy hitting, mean mother (expletive) that loves to fight?” Garbrandt said.
“He hasn’t. That’s why he’s fearful of me. That’s why he doesn’t want to fight me. He knows I’m hungry to get in there. It’s almost there.
I’m more focused, more driven, more motivated and hungrier to do this because it’s right there. It’s within arm’s reach. I want to reach out and grab his throat.”
May 29, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Cody Garbrandt (blue gloves) punches Thomas Almeida (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Mandalay Bay Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports
‘No Love’ seems to have it all planned out following his bout with Takeya Mizugaki this Saturday, as he claims he will then challenge Cruz for the belt before defending it against former teammate TJ Dillashaw next:
“I’ll beat Takeya, I’ll fight Dominick for the title, TJ is the first title defense, knock him out, bring on John Lineker, I’ll knock him out. He doesn’t get off the hook that easy.
He was supposed to get that ass whooped in February. That’s my game plan. That’s what I want,” Garbrandt said.
“I don’t see any fighter that’s ever had a hit list out. That’s my hit list and I’m sticking to it.”
Garbrandt will take on Mizugaki on the main card of UFC 202 live on pay-per-view (PPV), from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 20, 2016.
When Dominick Cruz fought his Team Alpha Male teammate Urijah Faber in their trilogy bout for the UFC Bantamweight Championship at UFC 199, fellow UFC 135-pound standout Cody “No Love” Garbrandft was mic’d up for a new episode of “UFC Full Blast.”
Featured above is Garbrandt’s “Full Blast” video from UFC’s “Ultimate Insider” program on FOX Sports 1, which was released for free via the official UFC On FOX YouTube channel on Monday afternoon.
“Bantamweight star Cody Garbrandt was mic’d up for his live reaction to the UFC 199 title fight between his teammate Urijah Faber and his heated rival, Dominick Cruz.”
Garbrandt makes his Octagon return at the stacked UFC 202 pay-per-view event, as he looks to add to his momentum when he meets longtime durable contender Takeya Mizugaki in an undercard bout.
Headlined by the highly-anticipated rematch between Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor, UFC 202 is scheduled for this Saturday, August 20th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Join us here at MMANews.com this Saturday for live coverage of the UFC 202 PPV.
https://youtu.be/C37CjqDdJoc
When Dominick Cruz fought his Team Alpha Male teammate Urijah Faber in their trilogy bout for the UFC Bantamweight Championship at UFC 199, fellow UFC 135-pound standout Cody “No Love” Garbrandft was mic’d up for a new episode of “UFC Full Blast.”
Featured above is Garbrandt’s “Full Blast” video from UFC’s “Ultimate Insider” program on FOX Sports 1, which was released for free via the official UFC On FOX YouTube channel on Monday afternoon.
“Bantamweight star Cody Garbrandt was mic’d up for his live reaction to the UFC 199 title fight between his teammate Urijah Faber and his heated rival, Dominick Cruz.”
Garbrandt makes his Octagon return at the stacked UFC 202 pay-per-view event, as he looks to add to his momentum when he meets longtime durable contender Takeya Mizugaki in an undercard bout.
Headlined by the highly-anticipated rematch between Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor, UFC 202 is scheduled for this Saturday, August 20th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Join us here at MMANews.com this Saturday for live coverage of the UFC 202 PPV.
A nasty throw-down is beginning to brew up in the UFC’s bantamweight division. UFC 135-pound champ Dominick Cruz made headlines earlier this week when he teased a potential matchup between he and No. 8-ranked Cody Garbrandt with the following statement: “I think people want to see it because he’s knocking people out, and I’ll give him
A nasty throw-down is beginning to brew up in the UFC’s bantamweight division.
UFC 135-pound champ Dominick Cruz made headlines earlier this week when he teased a potential matchup between he and No. 8-ranked Cody Garbrandt with the following statement:
“I think people want to see it because he’s knocking people out, and I’ll give him that,”Cruz said. “But the good thing for me about that matchup is he’s had a lot of concussions, he knows it.
He had to pull himself out (of fights). I could just add to the list of concussions he’s had and it would be a great night for me I think.”
‘No Love’ was quick to respond, courtesy of MMA Junkie, stating that he’ll make Cruz eat every word he’s said:
“He said he’s going to add to my concussion list,” Garbrandt said. “That says to me like he’s going to try to go in there and kill me. He wants to do that, so I’m definitely going to make him eat every one of his words.
He’s going to be eating through a straw for a couple of months after we fight.”
Garbrandt currently has a meeting with No. 11-ranked Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 202 and believes he can earn a shot at the 135-pound title with a finish.
While former bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw may say otherwise coming off of his unanimous decision win over Raphael Assuncao at UFC 200, Garbrandt believes he’d finish both Dillashaw and Assuncao if the day ever came for them to meet inside the Octagon:
“Raphael Assuncao was out for however long he was out, and T.J., he won the fight but didn’t really look impressive,” Garbrandt said.
“I thought he just fought safe and fought to win. You put Raphael Assuncao in front of me, I knock him out. Same thing with T.J.(Cruz) got a title shot after beating Takeya, so why don’t I? I have had two straight first-round knockouts. I’m undefeated. I’m an exciting fighter.
I’m the most talked about fighter in my division. I think that fight between me and Dominick stylistically is what people want to see. He knows that. … It’s hard to deny me. I’m going in there and knocking guys out and calling my shot and calling what round I’m knocking them out.
Dominick Cruz is just adding fuel to the fire with his (expletive) talking,” Garbrandt said. “He wants to fight me; he’s going to get me. I’m next in line. I’m the most talked about fighter in the bantamweight division. I’m undefeated. I’m knocking guys out.
He goes from UFC 199 and acting like he doesn’t who I am to where it’s like, alright, he’s mentally got to get ready to fight me because he knows it’s his next fight.
He knows I’m the fight. I’m the most marketable fighter. I’m the fighter that everyone’s talking about in the division. I bring a lot to the table. He knows I’m a huge threat. He’s not dumb.”
May 29, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Cody Garbrandt (blue gloves) punches Thomas Almeida (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Mandalay Bay Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports
Throughout all of Cruz’s ongoing trash-talk toward’s Garbrandt the 135-pound knockout artist is using the war of words as fuel, and claims that when he meets Cruz inside of the Octagon…. he’s going to wire the champ’s jaw shut:
“The words from him, man, I like that (expletive),” Garbrandt said. “I like (expletive) talking. I use it as fuel. I use it as, ‘Alright, I remember you saying this a couple of months back.’ I’m one fight closer to shutting Cruz’s mouth, so that’s exciting all in itself.
“You better hope that FOX keeps you with a job because I’m going to wire your jaw shut.”
Garbrandt will meet Mizugaki on the main card of UFC 202 live on pay-per-view (PPV), from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 20 2016.
UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz completed perhaps the greatest career comeback of all-time against TJ Dillashaw. After only competing once over the course of five years due to repetitive surgeries, two torn ACL’s, having the groin of a cadaver transplanted and being stripped of the title, ‘The Dominator’ was eventually paired with ‘The Viper’ at
UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz completed perhaps the greatest career comeback of all-time against TJ Dillashaw. After only competing once over the course of five years due to repetitive surgeries, two torn ACL’s, having the groin of a cadaver transplanted and being stripped of the title, ‘The Dominator’ was eventually paired with ‘The Viper’ at UFC Fight Night 81. Although previously untouchable, there were still serious doubts about Cruz’s ability to come back after such a rough journey.
Taking the split decision win over Dillashaw in a fight of the night performance on January 17 this year, the king of the bantamweights was back. Following such a harrowing set of circumstances, Cruz’s win was spectacular on many levels. An old rivalry was once again reignited with Urijah Faber and Team Alpha Male, one that would be settled at UFC 199.
Cruz danced and boxed his way around ‘The California Kid’ to settle his rivalry in their rubber match. Once again celebrating with UFC gold in hand, ‘The Dominator’ had also proved himself quite the colourful character in the media. The beef with Dillashaw was still going on though, as was the feud with TAM. Cody Garbrandt has been calling out the champ non stop recently, angling for the next crack at the coveted strap.
Then out of nowhere comes former Alpha Male striking coach Duane Ludwig. The UFC veteran and current trainer of former champ TJ Dillashaw sent out the following post to his official Instagram:
In case you don’t get the reference to peanut butter–Urijah Faber once revealed a comical story about ‘Bang’ selling PB from the front desk of Team Alpha Male HQ in Sacramento, CA. This was around the time that Faber had an ongoing feud with Ludwig, and they were allegedly at each other’s throats over sponsorship money.
It’s a funny enough troll job, but if Dillashaw or Ludwig think it’ll lead to a near future title shot, would they be right? Having defeated Raphael Assuncao by unanimous decision at UFC 200, ‘The Viper’ certainly eliminated another contender, but now he has Cruz’s beef with Alpha Male to contend with too. ‘Killashaw’ famously left TAM on bad terms to train at Elevation Fight Team in Denver, CO, before losing the title to Cruz.
Dominick Cruz continues to dominate the UFC’s bantamweight division coming off a lopsided unanimous decision title defense against Urijah Faber at UFC 199 this past June, and patiently awaits the next man up to challenge ‘The Dominator’ for the 135-pound throne. One probable prospect who lies on the outskirts of the UFC’s top five bantamweight
Dominick Cruz continues to dominate the UFC’s bantamweight division coming off a lopsided unanimous decision title defense against Urijah Faber at UFC 199 this past June, and patiently awaits the next man up to challenge ‘The Dominator’ for the 135-pound throne.
One probable prospect who lies on the outskirts of the UFC’s top five bantamweight rankings, comes in the form of heavy hitting Team Alpha Male member Cody ‘No Love’ Garbrandt.
Garbrandt (9-0) comes off a dominating first round knockout win over Brazilian killer Thomas Almeida at UFC Fight Night 88, and made quite the statement en-route to a future shot at the bantamweight title.
In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Cruz commented on the possibility of a future matchup with Garbrandt, who Cruz says has been riding the coat tails of his teammate Faber:
“I like Garbrandt because one, he’s Team Alpha-Fail, and two, he runs his mouth, he’s an emotional guy, he’s got a goofy part in his hair and a ton of tattoos so he thinks he’s tough,” Cruz said.
“All of those things together make for an interesting fight. The fans get behind Cody.
I’ve gotten a lot of tweets about him, he’s got a lot of fans because he’s been riding the coattails of Urijah Faber for a while now, so what he does is he goes, ‘Hey Faber, let me train under you, I’ll get all your fans and you can just send your fans over to me and I’ll just rep the name and let you pimp me out with Torque, and I’ll let you manage me and in this I’ll get all your fans.’
He’s got the Faber fan base, he’s got his own fan base, he’s got his emotions, he’s got his whining and crying and talking about knocking people out.
Between all that, I think he can make a pretty good run at running his mouth at me.”
Cruz eluded to the fact that people want to see a fight between himself and Garbrandt because of the trail of bodies being left at the powerful hands of ‘No Love’, but says that the only thing that will happen in a contest between them two will be yet another addition to Garbrandt’s extensive concussion history:
“I think people want to see it because he’s knocking people out, and I’ll give him that,” Cruz said. “But the good thing for me about that matchup is he’s had a lot of concussions, he knows it.
He had to pull himself out (of fights). I could just add to the list of concussions he’s had and it would be a great night for me I think.”
Garbrandt didn’t waste any time to respond the Cruz’s concussion comments:
A photo posted by Cody Garbrandt (@cody_nolove) on
“Concussions don’t change clarity,” Garbrandt wrote. “I see right through you! Like I said, keep my belt polished. I’m going to dice that melon head up of yours. When you wake up from being unconscious, I’m going to make you wrap the belt around my waist.”
While Cruz remains adamant he is not trying to pick his own fights, he did state that he is just simply staying on the lookout for the ‘money fights’:
“I’m never the type to pick my fights,” Cruz said. “The things is this: If the UFC heard everything I said, or they heard none of it, they could just sign me up on the dotted line and give me whoever they want.
I’ve always just signed up and said, ‘OK.’ But if you’re going to give me a choice and ask me questions about the matchups I think fans and myself want to see, that’s what I’m talking about.
This isn’t me trying to pick my fights. I will take anybody they put on that dotted line and I will beat them up because I’m the best in this division and I believe that about myself.
But I’m talking about making money and that’s the matchups we’re talking about right now.”
If a bout with ‘No Love’ is what Cruz is looking for next he’ll have to wait a bit, as Garbrandt is currently scheduled to meet Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 202 in just two weeks.
While Garbrandt takes nothing away from Cruz’s legendary accomplishments inside the Octagon, the Team Alpha Male product doesn’t believe Cruz has ever faced a young-and-hungry prospect with fight-ending power like himself:
‘No Love’ was quick to respond, courtesy of 
In a recent interview with 
If a bout with ‘No Love’ is what Cruz is looking for next he’ll have to wait a bit, as Garbrandt is currently scheduled to meet Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 202 in just two weeks.