Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt will be a man on a mission when he makes his long-awaited Octagon return this weekend.
‘No Love’ is set to take on Raphael Assuncao at the UFC 250 fight card on Saturday as the bantamweight clash gets a second life, following its cancellation last March, with Garbrandt suffering from health issues.
Coming off three straight knockout losses and a 15-month hiatus, the former UFC champion said he never lost the drive and hunger to compete inside the Octagon.
“I don’t think I was ever in a mindset where I don’t want to fight cause I feel like every time that I tried to draw away from fighting, I was always pulled back in. Without fighting, I don’t think I would be as happy in this life,” he said on Wednesday (per MMA Fighting).
“It’s not an option for me [to stop fighting]. I want to fight. I love to fight. It’s about finding that passion, that drive. Keeping that drive alive. Keeping that hunger alive.”
Switching Up
The past three losses were really painful for Garbrandt and he knows he needs to make necessary adjustments to get back on winning track, which includes getting out of his comfort zone.
“I don’t know if I was going through the motions or if it was just the same thing but I needed a switch up. The only way that I could truly test myself was get out of my comfort zone, in a way that I’m away from my family, that comfort that you build inside of your life,” he continued.
“It was little things that I necessarily wasn’t doing or wasn’t knowing that I was doing in terms of technical errors or things I was doing off rhythm or not off rhythm. They just broke me down to my strengths, my weaknesses and it’s been clicking.”
Reclaiming The Title
Ahead of Saturday’s event, Garbrandt said the goal is to reclaim the bantamweight throne and hold on to it until the time comes to retire from fighting.
“For me, I’m in the sport to be the best. It was never chasing money. I never even thought of money until I got money. It was like ‘oh sh*t I won some fights and here’s some money.’”
“That’s cool, that’s a plus side to it but money was never the motivating factor. It was always being the best. That’s my quest to get back to the title.
“I’ve battled my demons. I’m here to take the throne again. Whoever that is when my time comes for another title shot, I’ll be ready. I’m going to capitalize on it.”
“I’m going to hold onto this title until it’s time to walk away from this sport.”
(Featured Image Source: Instagram/ Cody Garbrandt)