Cody Garbrandt has faced another significant setback in his UFC career.
The former UFC Bantamweight Champion, who famously defeated Dominick Cruz for the title in 2016, now holds a concerning record of 3 wins and 7 losses in his last ten appearances, most recently suffering consecutive defeats at UFC Atlanta.
Garbrandt, aged 33, presented a notably different look compared to his previous fight against former champion Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300. He was seen with longer hair and new tattoos, including a distinctive sword design near his right eye.
In his bantamweight bout at UFC Atlanta, Garbrandt competed against the seasoned Brazilian fighter Raoni Barcelos. `No Love` started strong with a decent first round, but Barcelos gained control in the subsequent rounds, landing more strikes in the second and third to earn a unanimous decision victory.
This recent loss has intensified worries among fans regarding Garbrandt`s future in the sport, with some suggesting that retirement might be his best option.
A veteran figure from the UFC community commented that `something is going on` with Cody Garbrandt.
Josh Thomson believes Cody Garbrandt is `fighting some inner demons`
Former UFC and Strikeforce competitor Josh Thomson provided a blunt assessment of Garbrandt`s performance, suggesting that Garbrandt was battling more than just his opponent during the UFC Atlanta event.
Speaking on The Weighing In Podcast, Thomson remarked, “The Cody situation is very frustrating from the outside looking in because you see all the talent.”
He continued, “You see everything he’s doing. I think as a former fighter and other people that I’ve talked to also, the tattoo on the face, the other stuff going on.”
Thomson added, “It’s almost like a mid-life crisis he’s going through.”
He elaborated on his concerns: “There’s more to it than just fighting. It seems like he’s fighting some inner demons. He’s got some other things going on. It’s sad because he’s so talented, so blessed. He’s got all the tools and everything he can be that a lot of fighters wish they had.”
“`But something’s going on. There’s something else going on with him,` the retired fighter concluded regarding Garbrandt.”
Cody Garbrandt`s History of Bouncing Back After Consecutive Losses
Once boasting an undefeated record of 11-0 and holding the world championship, Garbrandt subsequently faced a tough period, suffering three consecutive losses by knockout, starting with his title defense defeat against his rival TJ Dillashaw in 2017.
Garbrandt eventually managed to score a significant rebound victory with a dramatic knockout of Raphael Assuncao at the buzzer, three years later at UFC 250.
However, `No Love` struggled to build upon this success, losing his subsequent two fights.
Garbrandt secured two victories in 2023 before his recent submission loss to Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300, followed by the unanimous decision loss to Barcelos at UFC Atlanta.
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