Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt has encountered another setback in his professional fighting career. Once a dominant force who claimed the title from Dominick Cruz in 2016, Garbrandt now holds a challenging record of 3 wins and 7 losses in his last ten outings, following two consecutive defeats at UFC Atlanta.
The 33-year-old fighter displayed a noticeably different appearance in his recent bout compared to his fight against former champion Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300. Garbrandt showcased longer hair and new tattoos, including a prominent design featuring a sword through his right eye.
In the bantamweight match, Garbrandt, nicknamed ‘No Love’, competed against seasoned Brazilian veteran Raoni Barcelos. Garbrandt had a respectable start in the first round, but Barcelos effectively out-landed him in the subsequent rounds (2 and 3), ultimately securing a unanimous decision victory.
This recent string of losses has caused considerable concern among fans regarding Garbrandt`s future in the sport, with some spectators openly suggesting he should consider retirement.
Josh Thomson Discusses Garbrandt`s Inner Struggles
Former UFC and Strikeforce fighter Josh Thomson offered a very direct opinion on Garbrandt`s latest performance. Speaking on The Weighing In Podcast, Thomson suggested that Garbrandt might be contending with challenges that extend beyond his opponents in the octagon.
“The Cody situation is very frustrating from the outside looking in because you see all the talent,” Thomson stated, acknowledging Garbrandt`s innate abilities.
Thomson highlighted Garbrandt`s recent physical changes, such as his new face tattoo, as potential indicators of deeper personal issues. “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,” he added.
He speculated further, suggesting, “It’s almost like a mid-life crisis he’s going through. 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.”
The retired fighter expressed regret seeing Garbrandt`s significant talent potentially being undermined by these apparent non-fighting struggles. “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,” Thomson lamented. “But something’s going on. There’s something else going on with him.”
Garbrandt`s Past Ability to Recover from Defeats
Early in his career, Cody Garbrandt was undefeated with an 11-0 record and held a world championship title. However, he subsequently experienced a difficult period, suffering three consecutive losses by knockout, starting with the loss of his title to rival TJ Dillashaw in 2017.
Despite this challenging phase, Garbrandt demonstrated resilience, bouncing back three years later with a spectacular buzzer-beater knockout victory over Raphael Assuncao at UFC 250.
Unfortunately, he was unable to maintain that momentum, losing his next two fights after the Assuncao win. Garbrandt managed to secure two victories during 2023 before his recent submission defeat against Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300.
