Cody Garbrandt Floats Idea of Flyweight Title Clash With Deiveson Figueiredo

A one-time UFC bantamweight titleholder, Cody ‘No Love’ Garbrandt – has set sights on a drop to 125-pounds and a new flyweight excursion, opposite recently minted undisputed gold holder, Deiveson Figueiredo.

The Ohio puncher snapped a devastating three-fight knockout skid in June, stopping longtime bantamweight contender, Raphael Assunção – with a klaxon beating Knockout of the Year candidate opposite the Brazilian. Just a month removed from the outing, Garbrandt looks to follow through on pre-existing blueprints to test flyweight waters.

In an interview with ESPN reporter, Brett Okamoto – the 29-year-old revealed he had spoken to UFC president, Dana White during the promotion leader’s trip to Yas Island, and after some deliberating spoke of his intentions to meet with Figueiredo – preceding as the division’s number-one contender.

“As far as I know, Garbrandt said when asked if he’s the number-one contender. “I don’t have a contract in hand, I’m waiting on that. I talked to Dana (White) when he was on ‘Fight Island’ and he said, ‘I’ll work on it. I just got done working out and I weigh 145-pounds. I don’t cut weight to fight at 135(-pounds). I can be very dangerous (at flyweight) and at 135(-pounds).”

A move to flyweight for Garbrandt – would mark his first appearance at 125-pounds under the promotion’s banner. In ten Octagon appearances, Garbrandt has remained a bantamweight staple and has competed as high as featherweight in just his second professional outing.

Rising to Octagon prominence, the Team Alpha MMA and Mark Henry product earned a title opportunity against two-time champion, Dominick Cruz back in December 2016 – with a stunning first-round finish of Thomas Almeida. In a majorly one-sided win, Garbrandt took the title with a dominant five-round unanimous decision.

Faltering in his first championship defence, an overly emotional Garbrandt dropped a second-round knockout to former teammate and bitter enemy, T.J. Dillashaw – before losing to the Duane Ludwig trainee in an immediate rematch. Capping off a three-fight losing run, Garbrandt once again abandoned a gameplan and suffered his third consecutive knockout defeat in a matchup alongside Pedro Munhoz at UFC 235 last March.

For Brazilian power-puncher, Figueiredo – following his second straight stoppage of Joseph Benavidez, the 32-year-old earmarked his intentions to lodge multiple title defences at 125-pounds, with contenders such as Brandon Moreno, Alex Perez, and Askar Askarov chomping at the bit to stand opposite the Pará native in his first attempted defence.

Ross Markey

Senior writer for FightBook MMA. An aspiring mixed martial arts reporter based in Ireland. Producer of news articles, interviews, opinion features, and exclusive features such as, ‘The Fallout’, ‘The Breakdown, and, ‘This Week In MMA’.