Cody Garbrandt shuts down possibility of Dominick Cruz rematch

When you had been hoping to see a rematch between Cody Garbrandt and Dominick Cruz, hold your expectations low.

Though the sentiment inside the fan base is likely to be totally different, there’s little to zero curiosity on Garbrandt’s half to battle Cruz a second time, he stated. Garbrandt defeated Cruz to win the UFC bantamweight title in 2016, which stands as arguably his greatest profession win. Now, seven years later, although situationally the battle makes some sense, Garbrandt is under no circumstances contemplating a rematch with Cruz.

“Actually, that battle doesn’t curiosity me,” Garbrandt told ESPN. “What else am I presupposed to do with the man? I imply, go in and knock him out this time? That’s the one factor that will go put an announcement or prime that. It’s so arduous to prime that efficiency.”

After defeating Cruz in 2016, many anticipated Garbrandt to go on a tear at 135 kilos. Nonetheless, Garbrandt misplaced the title and went on a 1-5 skid.

However in 2023, in much-needed performances, Garbrandt bounced again and went 2-0 with wins over  Trevin Jones and, most recently, Brian Kelleher at UFC 296. The 32-year-old is set to make one other run on the title, and that plan consists of Deiveson Figueiredo and never Cruz.

“On the finish of the day, Deiveson Figueiredo coming to the bantamweight division and having a win over Rob Font, I’m going knock Deiveson out, and it places me proper again in title competition,” Garbrandt stated. “That’s what I’m right here to do. I don’t need to be a runnerup on this sport. I at all times need to be on the prime. I believe that battle stylistically and every thing it mounts to places me again within the prime.”