Cody Garbrandt is currently experiencing another setback in his UFC career.
The former UFC Bantamweight Champion, who notably defeated Dominick Cruz for the title in 2016, now holds a record of 3 wins and 7 losses in his last ten fights, following consecutive defeats at UFC Atlanta.
Garbrandt, aged 33, appeared significantly different from his bout against former champion Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300. He displayed longer hair and new tattoos, including a striking sword design through his right eye.
In a bantamweight contest, Garbrandt faced off against seasoned Brazilian fighter Raoni Barcelos. While ‘No Love’ had a solid first round, Barcelos was more effective in landing strikes in the second and third rounds, ultimately securing a unanimous decision victory.
This recent loss for Garbrandt has prompted concerns among fans regarding his future, with some even calling for his retirement from the sport.
A veteran of the UFC circuit suggests that `something is happening` with Cody Garbrandt.
Josh Thomson believes Cody Garbrandt is ‘fighting some inner demons’
Former UFC and Strikeforce competitor Josh Thomson offered a very direct opinion on Garbrandt’s recent performance, speculating that Garbrandt was contending with more than just his opponent at UFC Atlanta.
“The situation with Cody is quite frustrating to witness from an external perspective because you can clearly see the immense talent,” Thomson remarked on The Weighing In Podcast.
“You observe everything he`s doing. I believe, as a former fighter myself and based on discussions with others, the facial tattoo and other changes suggest something deeper is at play.”
“It seems almost like a mid-life crisis he might be going through,” Thomson added.
“There’s more influencing him than just the fight itself. It appears he’s battling some internal struggles, dealing with other personal matters. It’s regrettable because he is exceptionally talented and fortunate. He possesses all the necessary skills and potential that many fighters aspire to have.”
“But something isn’t right. There is definitely something else impacting him,” the retired fighter stated concerning Garbrandt.
Cody Garbrandt has previously recovered from consecutive defeats
Once an undefeated world champion with a pristine 11-0 record, Garbrandt subsequently lost three consecutive fights via knockout, starting with the loss of his title to rival TJ Dillashaw in 2017.
Garbrandt eventually managed to bounce back, achieving a dramatic last-second knockout victory over Raphael Assuncao three years later at UFC 250.
However, ‘No Love’ was unable to maintain this positive momentum, suffering losses in his following two bouts.
Garbrandt secured two victories in 2023 before being defeated by Deiveson Figueiredo via submission at UFC 300.
Gareth Pendleton