Back on a winning streak, Cody Garbrandt thinks a future showdown with UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley is inevitable.
Former champ Garbrandt (14-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) and O’Malley (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) have traded plenty of barbs in the past but never crossed paths. Garbrandt and O’Malley experienced different career trajectories when “No Love” went on a losing skid and O’Malley became champion, but Garbrandt is now back to his winning ways. He acknowledges that he still has work to do before a shot at gold but is still very much interested in fighting O’Malley.
“If Sean’s still the champion when it’s my time to punch that ticket again, I would absolutely love that,” Garbrandt told ESPN. “And if he’s not and I’ve got to work my way to Sean if he loses, if he’s ranked – all these rankings are a bunch of bullsh*t to be honest.
“It just never made sense to me, but that’s besides the point. I think a clash course with Sean is definitely in the near future, a money fight. That’s what it’s all about. What is going to bring the most eyes to these fights. Sean and I have history. I would just love to go and smack him around.”
Garbrandt is fresh off a first-round knockout of Brian Kelleher at UFC 296, whereas O’Malley is scheduled to rematch Marlon Vera for his first title defense at UFC 299 on March 9.
After finishing Kelleher, Garbrandt called out former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo – whom he sees as a tougher fight than the champion.
“I think Deiveson’s far more dangerous than Sean O’Malley,” Garbrandt said. “I truly believe that. Sean’s got good skills. He’s got good things, but Deiveson is the next adversary that I want to fight. That’s what I’m focused on. That’s what I want.”
