Cody Garbrandt wants to get a chance to get a title shot again. However, instead of the rematch fans are expecting from him and Dominick Cruz, “No Love” believes the path leading there is a fight against Deiveson Figueiredo.
Garbrandt and Cruz faced each other in December 2016 during the UFC 207 event, where the former defeated the latter via decision. This allowed Garbrandt to snatch the UFC bantamweight belt. However, the success didn’t last long, with the fighter receiving a losing skid after that fight.
Now, with a clear intention to seize the title again, Garbrandt is ready to try again and advance in the ranking. Nonetheless, the former champ dismissed the idea of doing it again with No. 10-ranked Cruz.
“Honestly, that fight doesn’t interest me,” Garbrandt told ESPN. “What else am I supposed to do with the guy? I mean, go in and knock him out this time? That’s the only thing that would go put a statement or top that. It’s so hard to top that performance.”
“The Dominator” has not fought since losing to Marlon Vera in August 2022, while Garbrandt is boasting a two-fight winning streak after defeating Trevin Jones and Brian Kelleher. In order to make his record more enticing to get the shot he wants, the 32-year-old wants to add Figueiredo to his resume, especially after “Deus Da Guerra” made a monumental entrance in bantamweight.
“At the end of the day, Deiveson Figueiredo coming to the bantamweight division and having a win over Rob Font, I go knock Deiveson out, and it puts me right back in title contention,” Garbrandt said. “That’s what I’m here to do. I don’t want to be a runner-up in this sport. I always want to be at the top. I think that fight stylistically and everything it mounts to puts me back in the top.”
Getting the fight, however, probably won’t be easy for Garbrandt, with Figueiredo seemingly more interested in ranked fighters in order to move faster in the ranking. In November, the former two-time flyweight champion shared his intention to face Sean O’Malley and Dominick Cruz soon.
