Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt recently announced his plans to move down to the flyweight division following his fight against Raphael Assuncao.
Talking to ESPN MMA, Cody “No Love” Garbrandt revealed his plans to move down in weight to fight at flyweight after his bout against Raphael Assuncao:
“First we’re focused on Raphael, and that’s still the fight to make and the fight next,” Cody Garbrandt explained. “Then go down and really save the flyweight division.”
Garbrandt was scheduled to fight Assuncao in the co-main event at UFC on ESPN 8 in March of this year. He ended up having to withdraw from the bout due to kidney issues. The event itself was later cancelled due to the growing concerns over the outbreak of COVID-19.
Their bout has not been rescheduled at this time.
Garbrandt is currently ranked No. 9 in the UFC bantamweight division. He captured the bantamweight belt from the former champion Dominick Cruz at UFC 207 back in December of 2016.
Since then, Garbrandt has been on an unsuccessful run with 3 losses in a row. He lost the title in his 1st defence against TJ Dillashaw via TKO (punches) in the 2nd round at UFC 217 in November, 2017. Garbrandt went on to rematch Dillashaw at UFC 227, but once again lost the fight via TKO (knees and punches) in the 1st round. In his last fight he faced Pedro Munhoz, once again losing via knockout (punches) in the 1st round.
Following his announcement about dropping down to the flyweight division, the former UFC flyweight champion Henry Cejudo was quick to respond:
“I own that weight class too! No where to hide @Cody_Nolove” Cejudo tweeted.
UFC bantamweight contender Petr Yan also got involved, seemingly taking a dig at the former champion for no longer being interested if fighting him:
“What happened to the plan to fight me?” Yan tweeted.
Cody Garbrandt didn’t stay quiet and was quick to fire back at both fighters for calling him out:
“We will see you. If you are calling the shots and picking your fights. Then I’ll see you soon. We all know when you’re the champ you call the shots. No easy way out for you at any weight class.” Garbrandt tweeted in response to Cejudo.
“I’d fight you wherever! That was my plan to fight you and June/ July like I stated but you took a fight.” Garbrandt responded to Yan.
Henry “Triple C” Cejudo is the current UFC bantamweight champion. He captured the vacant title against Marlo Moraes at UFC 238 in June of last year after TJ Dillashaw tested positive for PEDs (EPO) and was suspended from professional competition, resulting in him being stripped from the title.
“Triple C” is now scheduled to make his 1st title defence at bantamweight against the former UFC featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo at UFC 250.
Meanwhile, Petr Yan is currently ranked No. 3 in the UFC bantamweight division. The Russian fighter defeated Garbrandt’s coach and friend Urijah Faber in his last Octagon outing at UFC 245 in December of last year. He remains undefeated in the UFC with 6 straight wins (14-1 MMA) and has been campaigning for a title shot against Cejudo.
Yan is scheduled to face Marlon Moraes in the main event at UFC Kazakhstan later this year in June.
This article first appeared on CLOSEDGUARDMEDIA.com on 5th April, 2020.
