Cody Garbrandt

Cody Ray Allen Garbrandt (born July 7, 1991) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC Bantamweight Champion.

Background Garbrandt was born in Uhrichsville, Ohio, on July 7, 1991, and raised there mostly by his mother Jessica. Cody is ten months younger than his brother Zach, who he grew up constantly fighting.

At the ages of four and five, Cody and Zach, respectively, had already been dabbling into boxing with their uncle Robert Meese who was an Olympic alternate in the sport. However, their mother was concerned about the boys becoming punch-drunk thus forbidding boxing and directing them towards wrestling. and was a runner-up in 2008. In football, Garbrandt won All–State honors as a linebacker during his junior season. He was then recruited by the Michigan State Spartans, but due to academic reasons, he ended up at Newberry College, a Division II school, before dropping out for academic and personal reasons, explaining:

After dropping out, Garbrandt sold marijuana, worked as a bouncer, and eventually completed coal miner training in order to work in the field familiar to his family.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Garbrandt ended up taking his first amateur bout in 2009 and compiled an amateur MMA record of 6–2 before making his professional debut in 2012. Prior to his finish of James Porter in May 2014, he moved from Ohio to Sacramento, California to train at Team Alpha Male in an attempt to further his career.

After a first-round finish of Charles Sanford in October 2014, he signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the fall of 2014.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Garbrandt made his promotional debut against Marcus Brimage on January 3, 2015, at UFC 182. He won the fight via TKO in the third round.

Garbrandt faced Henry Briones on July 11, 2015, at UFC 189. He won the fight by unanimous decision, going the distance for the first time in his professional career.

Garbrandt was expected to face long-time veteran John Lineker on February 21, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 83. However, Lineker pulled out of the fight during the week, after contracting Dengue Fever, and he was replaced by Augusto Mendes. Garbrandt won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Garbrandt faced fellow undefeated prospect Thomas Almeida on May 29, 2016, headlining UFC Fight Night 88. He won the fight by knockout in the first round and also earned a Performance of the Night bonus.

Garbrandt next faced Takeya Mizugaki on August 20, 2016, at UFC 202. He won the fight via TKO in the opening minute of the first round.

UFC Bantamweight Championship Garbrandt faced Dominick Cruz for the UFC Bantamweight Championship on December 30, 2016, at UFC 207. Garbrandt won the fight by unanimous decision after knocking Cruz down twice and nearly finishing him in the fourth round.

In January 2017, the UFC announced that Garbrandt would be one of the coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 25 opposite former UFC Bantamweight champion (and former Team Alpha Male teammate) T.J. Dillashaw, with the two expected to face each other on July 8, 2017, at UFC 213. However, the bout was scrapped on May 23, after Garbrandt sustained a back injury. The bout was rescheduled and eventually took place on November 4, 2017, at UFC 217. Despite knocking him down at the end of the first, Dillashaw rallied in the second round and defeated Garbrandt via technical knockout, marking his first loss in his professional career and losing the title. Garbrandt then faced T.J. Dillashaw in a rematch for the UFC Bantamweight Championship on August 4, 2018, at UFC 227. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Post-UFC Championship Garbrandt made his return against Pedro Munhoz on March 2, 2019 at UFC 235. In a frenetic and short bout, Garbrandt was knocked out in the first round. Both participants received the Fight of the Night bonus award.

Garbrandt was scheduled to face Raphael Assunção as the co-main event on March 28, 2020 at UFC on ESPN 8. However, Garbrandt pulled out of the fight on March 12 due to kidney problems. Instead the pair fought each other on June 6, 2020 at UFC 250. Garbrandt got back into the winning column in big fashion, winning the bout via one-punch knockout in the second round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night.

On August 7, 2020, it was announced that Garbrandt intended to move down a division (from bantamweight to flyweight) and was scheduled to face Deiveson Figueiredo for the UFC flyweight championship on November 21, 2020, at UFC 255. However, it was reported on October 2, 2020 that Garbrandt had to pull out of the contest. Garbrandt later revealed he tested positive for COVID-19 on August 29, 2020, as well as suffering from thrombosis, brain fog, and pneumonia.

Following his illness, Garbrandt returned at bantamweight and faced Rob Font on May 22, 2021 in the main event at UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Move to Flyweight Garbrandt made his Flyweight debut against Kai Kara-France on December 11, 2021 at UFC 269. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.

Return to Bantamweight Garbrandt was scheduled to face Rani Yahya on July 9, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 39. However, Yahya withdrew in mid June due to a neck injury. The bout with Yahya was rescheduled and was expected to take place on October 1, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 211. In turn, Yahya withdrew again in mid-September for unknown reasons. While seeking a new opponent, Garbrandt also suffered a training injury, pulling him from the card.

Garbrandt was scheduled to face Julio Arce on March 4, 2023 at UFC 285. However, Arce withdrew in late January due to a knee injury. and he was replaced by Trevin Jones. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Garbrandt was scheduled to face Mario Bautista on August 19, 2023 at UFC 292. However, Garbrandt withdrew a week before the event due to injury, and was replaced by Da'Mon Blackshear.

Garbrandt faced Brian Kelleher on December 16, 2023 at UFC 296. He won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Garbrandt faced Deiveson Figueiredo on April 13, 2024, at UFC 300. He lost the fight by rear-naked choke submission in the second round, marking his first loss by submission.

Garbrandt was scheduled to face Miles Johns on October 12, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 244. However, the bout was moved to UFC Fight Night 247 on November 9, 2024, for unknown reasons. In turn, Garbrandt withdrew from the bout due to undisclosed reasons and the bout was scrapped.

Garbrandt faced Raoni Barcelos on June 14, 2025, at UFC on ESPN 69. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Garbrandt faced Xiao Long on March 7, 2026 at UFC 326. After Long was deducted two points in the third round for multiple groin strikes, Garbrandt won the fight by unanimous decision.

Garbrandt faced Adrian Yañez on July 11, 2026, at UFC 329. He lost the fight by technical knockout in the first round.

Personal life

During Garbrandt's run with the MMA promotion Pinnacle FC, he met and began dating Danny Pimsanguan. The couple eventually married in July 2017. In October, the couple announced they were expecting their first child. In March 2018, the couple announced the birth of their son. Garbrandt announced in 2023 that he and his wife have divorced. He has a daughter with his girlfriend.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC Bantamweight Championship (One time) Performance of the Night (Two times) Tied (Chuck Liddell, Quinton Jackson, Josh Emmett, Montel Jackson & Ilia Topuria) for most consecutive fights with a knockdown landed in UFC history (7) UFC Honors Awards 2020: President's Choice Performance of the Year Nominee & Fan's Choice Knockout of the Year Nominee UFC.com Awards 2019: Ranked #8 Fight of the Year 2020: Ranked #2 Knockout of the Year & Half-Year Awards: Best Knockout of the 1HY Cage Pages 2016 UFC Fighter of the Year theScore 2016 Fighter of the Year Forbes 2016 UFC Breakthrough Fighter of the Year Sports Illustrated 2016 #2 Ranked Fighter of the Year MMA Junkie 2016 Fighter of the Year 2020 June Knockout of the Month vs. Raphael Assunção Pundit Arena 2017 Fight of the Year vs. T.J. Dillashaw MMADNA.nl 2016 Rising Star of the Year World MMA Awards 2016 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year CBS Sports 2016 #8 Ranked UFC Fighter of the Year 2017 #3 Ranked UFC Fight of the Year 2020 #2 Ranked UFC Knockout of the Year Combat Press 2016 Breakout Fighter of the Year 2023 Comeback Fighter of the Year Fightland 2016 Gameplan of the Year

Folkstyle wrestling National High School Coaches Association NHSCA Sophomore National Runner-up out of Ohio (2008) Ohio High School Athletic Association OHSAA 112 lb DII State Champion out of Claymont High School (2007) OHSAA 119 lb DII State Runner-up out of Claymont High School (2008)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Adrian Yañez TKO (punches) UFC 329

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Xiao Long Decision (unanimous) UFC 326

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Raoni Barcelos Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Loss

Deiveson Figueiredo Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 300

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Brian Kelleher KO (punch) UFC 296

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Trevin Jones Decision (unanimous) UFC 285

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Kai Kara-France TKO (punches) UFC 269

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Rob Font Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Raphael Assunção KO (punch) UFC 250

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Pedro Munhoz TKO (punches) UFC 235

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

T.J. Dillashaw KO (knee and punches) UFC 227

Los Angeles, California, United States Loss

T.J. Dillashaw TKO (punches) UFC 217

New York City, New York, United States Win

Dominick Cruz Decision (unanimous) UFC 207

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Takeya Mizugaki TKO (punches) UFC 202

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States -. Win

Thomas Almeida KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Garbrandt

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Augusto Mendes KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Cowboy

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Henry Briones Decision (unanimous) UFC 189

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Marcus Brimage TKO (punches) UFC 182

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Charles Stanford TKO (punches) North American Allied Fight Series: Rock N Rumble 8

Canton, Ohio, United States Win

James Porter TKO (punches) Pinnacle FC: Pittsburgh Challenge Series 7

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Dominic Mazzotta TKO (punches) Gladiators of the Cage: The North Shore's Rise to Power 4

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Shane Manley KO (punches) Pinnacle FC: Pittsburgh Challenge Series 5

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Charles Kessinger TKO (punches) Pinnacle FC: Pittsburgh Challenge Series 1

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, United States Pay-per-view bouts