Cody Garbrandt is currently facing further difficulties in his UFC career.
The former UFC Bantamweight Champion, who famously defeated Dominick Cruz 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, presented a noticeably different look compared to his fight against former champion Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300. He was seen with longer hair and new tattoos, including a depiction of a sword through his right eye.
In a bantamweight bout, Garbrandt faced seasoned Brazilian fighter Raoni Barcelos. `No Love` performed reasonably well in the opening round, but Barcelos outstruck Garbrandt in the subsequent two rounds to secure a unanimous decision victory.
This latest loss has caused fans to express concern for Garbrandt`s career, with some even advocating for his retirement.
According to a veteran of the UFC, “something is happening” with Cody Garbrandt.
Josh Thomson Believes Cody Garbrandt is ‘Fighting Some Inner Demons’
Josh Thomson, a former fighter from both the UFC and Strikeforce, gave a stark assessment of Garbrandt`s recent performance, suggesting that Garbrandt was contending with more than just his opponent at UFC Atlanta.
Speaking on The Weighing In Podcast, Thomson described the situation as “very frustrating from the outside looking in because you see all the talent.”
He added, “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… It’s almost like a mid-life crisis he’s going through.”
Thomson continued, “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.”
The retired fighter concluded regarding Garbrandt, “But something’s going on. There’s something else going on with him.”
Cody Garbrandt Has Previously Recovered from Back-to-Back Losses
Garbrandt, who was once an undefeated world champion with an 11-0 record, suffered three consecutive knockout losses, starting with losing his title to rival TJ Dillashaw in 2017.
Three years later, at UFC 250, Garbrandt managed to bounce back with a memorable knockout victory against Raphael Assuncao right at the end of the round.
However, ‘No Love’ could not sustain this positive momentum and lost his following two fights.
After securing two wins in 2023, Garbrandt was defeated by submission by Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300.
