Cody Garbrandt had a stellar rise to the top of the Bantamweight division, winning his first five fights inside the Octagon — four of them via knockout — before defeating Dominick Cruz to win the division title in 2016.
One of the tests that many felt was going to be his toughest during that span was one against Thomas Almeida, a man many felt could be a future champion. In May 2016, the then-undefeated combatants squared off in the main event of UFC Fight Night 88.
Always the aggressor, Garbrandt pushed the pace early, throwing heavy strikes in search of a home run shot. Almeida, meanwhile, played it more cautiously, preferring a defensive approach that featured counter striking whenever possible. However, two minutes into the bout, “No Love” landed a clean left hook that rocked the Brazilian bomber. Immediately, Garbrandt jumped in with a barrage of strikes, though Almeida was able to recover.
About 30 seconds later, however, Garbrandt landed a vicious right hand right on the chin of his foe, sending him crashing to the canvas. A few hammerfists later, and it was all she wrote, as Garbrandt went on to secure the win and his ninth straight victory.
After winning the title later that year, Garbrandt’s reign was short-lived, getting knocked out by T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 217. His woes didn’t end there, however, as Dillashaw knocked him out again at UFC 227, while Pedro Munhoz did the same at UFC 235.
Garbrandt will look to end his three-fight skid when he takes Raphael Assuncao in a pivotal bout this Saturday (June 6, 2020) at UFC 250 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s a must-win situation for “No Love,” as four straight losses won’t look good for his future title aspirations.
To see the complete UFC 250: “Nunes vs. Spencer” fight card click here.
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