So, here’s the scoop. Ex-Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight champ, Cody Garbrandt, is set to grace the UFC 296 this weekend. This is a big deal, folks. It’s the first time he’s stepping into a fight without any nagging injuries or personal issues since his title bout with Dominick Cruz. And that was way back in December 2016, mind you.
Garbrandt, with a record of 13-5, is up against Brian Kelleher, who’s sitting at 24-14. This face-off is part of the preliminary portion of Saturday’s UFC 296 card. And guess where it’s happening? The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, baby!
Now, let’s rewind a bit. Post his 2016 title win, Garbrandt had a rough ride. He faced a string of losses, went through a divorce, and even switched teams. But hey, every cloud has a silver lining, right?
Despite the setbacks, Garbrandt emerged victorious in a unanimous decision against Trevin Jones at UFC 285. He’s pretty stoked about his upcoming fight. In his words, “This is the best I’ve felt in all of my camps.” He’s been training consistently and feels his skill level is “off this planet.”
Kelleher, on the other hand, is coming off a year layoff and consecutive losses against Umar Nurmagomedov and Maurio Bautista in 2022. But don’t count him out just yet. Garbrandt knows the threat this New Yorker poses and is ready to face it head on.
Garbrandt acknowledges Kelleher’s experience, saying, “That guy’s got a ton of fights; over 30 professional fights. He’s battle-tested.” He’s fought Renan Barao and won. He’s faced injuries and setbacks. But Garbrandt is determined not to let Kelleher build a name off him. He’s confident of his victory. And we can’t wait to see how it unfolds!