Cody Garbrandt, head-and-shoulders portrait
No Love

Cody Garbrandt

Bantamweight
Former champion
11 KO wins
Record Record: 15-8-0
Wins
15
Losses
8
Draws
0
11KO/TKO
0Sub
4Dec
View full record ↓

Vitals

Height, reach, and career background.

Age
34
Height
5′7″1.70 m
Reach
65″166 cm
Stance StanceWhich side a fighter leads from — a striking term, not a religious one. Orthodox: right-handed, left foot and hand forward (the common default). Southpaw: the mirror image, right side forward (usually a left-hander). Switch: changes between the two during a fight.
Orthodox
Weight class
Bantamweight
Nationality
United States
Team
Xtreme Couture
Active
2012–present

Record

Tap expandable fights for their breakdowns.

LossRecord after fight: 15-8-0TKO
Opponent: Adrian Yañez, their record after the fight: 18-6-1punchesR1 2:47

Garbrandt opened quickly and pressed the action. Yañez turned the fight with counter right hands. Punches from both hands dropped Garbrandt for the TKO at 2:47.

Key moments

  • Garbrandt opened quickly and pressed the action.
  • Yañez turned the fight with counter right hands.
  • Punches from both hands dropped Garbrandt for the TKO at 2:47.
WinRecord after fight: 15-7-0DEC
Opponent: Xiao Long, their record after the fight: 27-11-0unanimousR3
UFC 326
7 Mar 2026

A bizarre fight in which Xiao Long was docked two points in round three for repeated low blows — one left Garbrandt retching mid-cage. Garbrandt recovered to take 28-27 cards across the board.

Key moments

  • A competitive striking battle early.
  • Repeated groin strikes by Xiao Long.
  • A two-point deduction in round three.
  • Garbrandt pot-shotted his way to the decision.
LossRecord after fight: 14-7-0DEC
Opponent: Raoni Barcelos, their record after the fight: 20-5-0unanimousR3
UFC Atlanta
14 Jun 2025
LossRecord after fight: 14-6-0SUB
Opponent: Deiveson Figueiredo, their record after the fight: 23-3-1rear-naked chokeR2 4:02
UFC 300
13 Apr 2024

Garbrandt kept the opening round measured with selective low kicks, but Figueiredo took over with a second-round takedown and a sequence of positional attacks. Garbrandt survived an arm-triangle threat and mount pressure, then was caught in a body triangle and rear-naked choke at 4:02 of the second round.

Key moments

  • Garbrandt used low kicks and careful exchanges to stay competitive in round one.
  • Figueiredo took the fight to the mat early in round two and advanced through half guard.
  • Garbrandt defended the first choke attempts but could not escape the mount and back-control sequence.
  • The body triangle and rear-naked choke forced Garbrandt to tap at 4:02 of round two.
WinRecord after fight: 14-5-0KO
Opponent: Brian KelleherpunchR1 3:42
UFC 296
16 Dec 2023

A walk-off one-punch knockout with a perfectly timed right hand — Garbrandt's first finish since 2020 and the start of brief back-to-back wins.

Key moments

  • A timed counter right hand.
  • Kelleher dropped face-first.
  • A walk-off finish, no follow-up needed.
  • His first finish since 2020.
WinRecord after fight: 13-5-0DEC
Opponent: Trevin JonesunanimousR3
UFC 285
4 Mar 2023

A return to form: Garbrandt out-struck Jones and mixed in grappling, including two round-two takedowns and a brief rear-naked choke attempt, to snap a skid.

Key moments

  • Cleaner striking throughout.
  • Two takedowns in round two.
  • A brief rear-naked choke threat.
  • Snapped a losing skid.
LossRecord after fight: 12-5-0TKO
Opponent: Kai Kara-FrancepunchesR1 3:21
UFC 269
11 Dec 2021

Garbrandt's flyweight debut ended in a first-round TKO after Kara-France dropped him twice with right hands. A brief takedown bought Garbrandt time, but Kara-France finished with ground strikes before referee Herb Dean intervened.

Key moments

  • Garbrandt's first and only fight at flyweight.
  • Kara-France dropped him twice with right hands in the first round.
  • A takedown by Garbrandt briefly delayed the finish.
  • Kara-France's second straight first-round stoppage — a statement win in the flyweight division.
LossRecord after fight: 12-4-0DEC
Opponent: Rob Fontunanimous5
UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt
22 May 2021

Font out-boxed Garbrandt over five rounds, controlling the pace with a sharp jab and right straight.

Key moments

  • Font controlled the distance with a persistent jab throughout.
  • Garbrandt tried takedowns early but couldn't sustain the pressure.
  • Font bled Garbrandt with clean combinations over the championship rounds.
  • Two judges scored it 50-45 — a dominant margin on the cards.
WinRecord after fight: 12-3-0KO
Opponent: Raphael AssuncaopunchR2 4:59
UFC 250
6 Jun 2020

With one second left in round two, Garbrandt landed a perfect straight right that knocked Assunção out cold at the buzzer — a contender for Knockout of the Year and a stunning end to a three-fight losing skid. Garbrandt had spent the round working calf kicks before detonating the punch.

Key moments

  • He mixed in calf kicks and feints to set up openings in round two.
  • The knockout punch landed with one second remaining in the round.
  • Assunção was knocked cold at the horn in one of the year's most dramatic finishes.
LossRecord after fight: 11-3-0KO
Opponent: Pedro MunhozpunchesR1 4:52
UFC 235
2 Mar 2019

A wild first-round slug fest that ended with Garbrandt's third straight knockout defeat. After trading hard shots — including a monstrous knee from Garbrandt — Munhoz landed a flush right cross that dropped Garbrandt, then followed with finishing punches with nine seconds remaining in the round.

Key moments

  • Both fighters traded hard right crosses in an explosive opener.
  • An accidental head butt briefly floored Garbrandt early.
  • Garbrandt responded with a monstrous knee to Munhoz's face.
  • Munhoz's right hand dropped Garbrandt and he finished on the ground — Garbrandt's third straight KO loss.
LossRecord after fight: 11-2-0TKO
Opponent: T.J. Dillashawknee and punchesR1 4:10
UFC 227
4 Aug 2018

The bantamweight title rematch played out in familiar fashion: Garbrandt wobbled Dillashaw early with a hook, but over-eagerness left him open and Dillashaw dropped him twice before finishing with a knee against the cage. The fight was stopped at 4:17 of round one, with Dillashaw retaining the belt.

Key moments

  • Garbrandt landed an early hook that visibly staggered Dillashaw.
  • Over-commitment on a big hook left Garbrandt open to Dillashaw's counter.
  • Dillashaw dropped Garbrandt twice before finishing with a knee to the face against the cage.
  • Dillashaw retained the bantamweight title — Garbrandt's second straight first-round KO loss.
LossRecord after fight: 11-1-0TKO
Opponent: T.J. DillashawpunchesR2 2:41
UFC 217
4 Nov 2017

Garbrandt lost his bantamweight title in a wild two-round fight at Madison Square Garden. He controlled round one and dropped Dillashaw, nearly finishing — but Dillashaw survived and stormed back in round two, stopping the champion with a left head kick and follow-up strikes.

Key moments

  • Garbrandt knocked down Dillashaw late in round one and almost finished him.
  • Dillashaw recovered between rounds and came out in round two with urgency.
  • A left kick to the head staggered Garbrandt, setting up the TKO finish.
WinRecord after fight: 11-0-0DEC
Opponent: Dominick Cruzunanimous5
UFC 207
30 Dec 2016

Garbrandt became UFC bantamweight champion with a dominant five-round performance over the great Dominick Cruz, out-moving and out-boxing the champion with precision and power.

Key moments

  • Garbrandt matched Cruz's footwork and head movement from the opening bell.
  • Dropped Cruz multiple times, including four knockdowns in round four.
  • Taunted Cruz after a knockdown in round four — a flash-point moment of the fight.
WinRecord after fight: 10-0-0TKO
Opponent: Takeya MizugakipunchesR1 0:48
UFC 202
20 Aug 2016

After Mizugaki landed early kicks, Garbrandt countered with a sharp combination that dropped him, then swarmed with left hands to force the stoppage. After the fight he called out champion Dominick Cruz, who was in the building.

Key moments

  • Mizugaki opened with low kicks but was quickly countered.
  • A step-in right hand from Garbrandt dropped Mizugaki.
  • Left-hand follow-up strikes forced the referee stoppage at 0:48.
WinRecord after fight: 9-0-0KO
Opponent: Thomas AlmeidapunchesR1 2:53
UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Garbrandt
29 May 2016
WinRecord after fight: 8-0-0TKO
Opponent: Augusto MendespunchesR1 4:18
UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Cowboy
21 Feb 2016

Garbrandt took a late-replacement opponent — Mendes accepted on six days notice at catchweight — and delivered another first-round TKO in Pittsburgh. He avoided a guillotine attempt when Mendes pulled guard, then landed a left hook and right cross combination that dropped Mendes before the stoppage.

Key moments

  • Original opponent John Lineker withdrew with illness less than a week out.
  • Mendes, a BJJ black belt, pulled guard and briefly threatened a guillotine.
  • A left hook and right cross combination dropped Mendes for the TKO finish.
WinRecord after fight: 7-0-0DEC
Opponent: Henry Brionesunanimous3
UFC 189
11 Jul 2015
WinRecord after fight: 6-0-0TKO
Opponent: Marcus BrimagepunchesR3 4:50
UFC 182
3 Jan 2015

Garbrandt made his UFC debut against the experienced Marcus Brimage and earned a third-round TKO, fighting for a Fight of the Night bonus in his promotional introduction. After a right hand caught Brimage flush, Garbrandt swarmed and a final vicious strike slumped Brimage against the cage with ten seconds remaining in the round.

Key moments

  • UFC debut on the Jones vs. Cormier card at UFC 182.
  • Went three rounds — the fight earned a Fight of the Night bonus.
  • A right hand caught Brimage flush to spark the finish sequence.
  • TKO at 4:50 of round three, with Herb Dean stopping the bout.
WinRecord after fight: 5-0-0TKO
Opponent: Charles StanfordpunchesR1 1:37
NAAFS: Rock N Rumble 8
4 Oct 2014

Garbrandt defended the NAAFS bantamweight title against Stanford in Canton, Ohio, stopping him in the first round.

Key moments

  • A regional title defence in Garbrandt's home state of Ohio.
  • Fifth consecutive finish — all five wins came by knockout or TKO.
  • First-round stoppage at 1:37, consistent with his pattern of quick finishes.
WinRecord after fight: 4-0-0TKO
Opponent: James PorterpunchesR1 2:17
Pinnacle FC: Pittsburgh Challenge Series 7
24 May 2014

Garbrandt won the Pinnacle FC bantamweight title with a first-round TKO over James Porter in Pittsburgh.

Key moments

  • Pinnacle FC bantamweight title fight in Pittsburgh.
  • Fourth consecutive first-round knockout finish.
  • TKO stoppage at 2:17 of round one.
WinRecord after fight: 3-0-0TKO
Opponent: Dominic MazzottapunchesR2 0:32
Gladiators of the Cage: The North Shore's Rise to Power IV
15 Mar 2014
WinRecord after fight: 2-0-0KO
Opponent: Shane ManleypunchesR1 3:57
Pinnacle FC: Pittsburgh Challenge Series 5
27 Nov 2013

Garbrandt returned from a near-year-long layoff and showed no rust, stopping Shane Manley in the first round at Iceoplex in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.

Key moments

  • Returned from a near-year layoff without showing any ring rust.
  • First-round KO stoppage at 3:57.
  • Second professional win, both by knockout.
WinRecord after fight: 1-0-0TKO
Opponent: Charles KessingerpunchesR1 4:11
Pinnacle FC: Pittsburgh Challenge Series 1
29 Dec 2012

Garbrandt made his professional MMA debut at Pinnacle FC in Pittsburgh and stopped Charles Kessinger in the first round with punches. The performance announced him as a natural finisher from his very first professional appearance.

Key moments

  • Professional MMA debut at age 21.
  • First-round TKO at 4:11, stopped by referee with Kessinger slumped against the cage.
  • Competed at a catch weight above bantamweight for this debut fight.

The Read

Style, strengths, and defining traits.

Cody Garbrandt is a former UFC bantamweight champion with some of the heaviest hands the division has seen — eleven of his fifteen wins are knockouts, and at his peak he out-boxed the great Dominick Cruz to take the title undefeated. A decorated amateur wrestler from Ohio, his game is built around power and counter-striking.

Garbrandt started quickly, but Yañez changed the exchange with counter right hands. Punches from both hands dropped Garbrandt and ended the bout at 2:47 of round one.

Signature Fights

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