Cody Garbrandt doesn’t want to run it back with Dominick Cruz.
Garbrandt most recently fought at UFC 296, where he knocked out Brian Kelleher in the first round to win two fights in a row for the first time since his wins against Takeya Mizugaki and Cruz. The former champ’s most recent victory has stirred talks of a potential rematch with ‘The Dominator’.
In a recent interview with ESPN, ‘No Love’ was questioned about a potential rematch with Cruz, but he declined and expressed interest in facing Deiveson Figueiredo instead.
“That was just a fight that I was ready for. That year was amazing, I had momentum,” Cody stated. “I was healthy, hungry, and that’s where I’m at. I’m healthy and I’m hungry, I think that’s what it boils down to, healthy and hungry. But, I’m a veteran of the sport, I’m smarter in a way… I was a 25-year-old kid just trying to figure things out [back then].
“That fight doesn’t interest me, what else am I supposed to do to the guy? Go in there and knock him out this time? That’s the only thing that would kind of put a statement, not even a statement, but top that. But like I said, it’s so hard to top that performance, and I’ll fight anybody, it doesn’t matter. But at the end of the day, I think Deiveson Figueiredo coming to the bantamweight division, just having a win over Rob Font [makes sense]. I go and knock Deiveson out, I’m right back in title contention. That’s what I’m here to do. I’ve never wanted to be a runner-up in this sport, I always want to be at the top.”
Figueiredo, who previously competed at flyweight, recently made a successful start to his bantamweight career by securing a victory against Rob Font.
Do you agree with Cody Garbrandt?
