Undefeated bantamweight Cody Garbrandt is now one of the top contenders in his division after knocking out previously undefeated Brazilian Thomas Almeida at UFC Fight Night 88 last Sunday.
With his confidence now at an all-time high, Cody is sure he has the power to stop any potential opponents, including current champ Dominick Cruz.
“I really don’t have a game plan, I just kind of throw,” said Cody after his latest win. “I’m the hardest hitter in the division, I’ll knock anybody out in my division – Dominick Cruz, whoever. I’m gonna be the champion.”
Garbrandt – incredibly not ranked in the UFC bantamweight division’s top 15 at the time of facing Almeida – trains at Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, California with the likes of Chad Mendes and former WEC 145lb champ Urijah Faber.
“I want to thank all my coaches from Team Alpha Male (and) my teammates – I couldn’t do it without them. They got me prepared mentally, physically. It was a rough camp”
“When the lights are shining, that’s when I’m at my best,” he added. “Put whoever in front of me, I’m gonna knock them out.”
When the UFC rankings are updated later this week, it’s likely that Garbrandt will rocket from an unranked position into the top five – possibly the biggest official rankings leap in UFC history.
With the title set to be contested between Cruz and Faber this weekend at UFC 199, it’s possible Cody could be facing fellow top contender and former Team Alpha Male teammate TJ Dillashaw next if TJ can get passed Raphael Assuncao at UFC 200 in July.
