Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt is currently gearing up to take on reigning champion T.J. Dillashaw in a highly anticipated titel fight rematch. Now “No Love” has come forward with his thoughts as he prepares for the big bout.
The two mixed martial artists first faced off back at UFC 217, with Dillashaw earning a second round TKO over his opponent. Now the two will fight at UFC 227.
The event will take place Aug. 4 in Los Angeles, Calif. UFC 227 will be available live on pay-per-view. Speaking on the latest edition of The MMA Hour, Garbrandt offered his thoughts on preparing for another shot at the title.
“That’s what made me a world champion. That’s why I was so — after T.J., hats off to T.J., congrats to you. I’m thankful for that. I’m thankful that I was able to win the world title at a young age, I’m thankful that I was able to lose it at a young age. Because I was already good before that and this is what’s going to make me great. I’ve always learned so much from my losses.
“I lost an amateur fight where it was supposed to be my last amateur fight before going pro and people were like, ‘Oh, you think you’re going to make this? You just got knocked out as an amateur?’ And I went on to win 13 fights straight and become a world champion, the best in the world. So that’s why I’m so motivated now. I just took it all in, walking out of the Octagon on November 4th [at UFC 217]. Like, alright, we’re on this, I knew 100 percent we’d get this shot again. Didn’t care how long it had to take me.”
“I was walking out of the Octagon, I remember saying, ‘I’m going to remember everything about this.’ Everything about this walk back, without my belt. T.J. getting in my face after I was knocked out. I know damn well that dude would never, ever do that if there wasn’t that referee in there. Never, ever.
“He’s a coward. That’s it. He wanted to act like that, he’s not a real champion. Getting in my face like that, flexing on my coaches, I’m going to remember all that and that’s what motivates me in training. So I’m going to get that one back for everybody.”
“I’m excited to be able to run it back. Definitely wipe that smile off of his face. We did the press conference, he looked like he brushed up on his sh*t talking. That’s why I said to him after, ‘Hey man, looks like you worked on your sh*t talking.’ He’s like, ‘It’s business, man.’ He wouldn’t even look at me, he’s such a coward.
“‘It’s a business.’ I understand it’s a business and you’re the champ, you get the pay-per-view sales. Look, I’m focused on coming back for what’s mine and taking that title off of him. So if you want to have this drawn out back-and-forth, Twitter, media wars, it’s cool man, I’m not focused on that, I’m focused on myself. He’s like, ‘It’s business,’ and then he asks me how my kid’s doing. If you’re going to be — I don’t know, I don’t even think he knows who he is.”
“Everything in my life, I couldn’t be more blessed than I am today. So I’m super thankful for everything, the book that’s coming out, to go out and share our story, about Maddux, where I’m from, things like that. The dream that I held on to through everything, through my life, and now this new chapter.
“It’s August 4th against T.J. Dillashaw and getting my title back. That’s the only sole focus I have right now is getting my title back. That’s what motivates me every day.”
