Career Averages - Cody Garbrandt
Career Averages - Augusto Mendes
Cody Garbrandt - Fight History
AJ thinks Adrian YaƱez is due for a highlight reel knockout and that Cody Garbrandt is the perfect opponent. He calls YaƱez a true lock on the card, predicting a second or third round KO. He notes that Garbrandt is past his prime and will get clipped.
AJ picks YaƱez to knock out Garbrandt, citing Garbrandt's inactivity, decline, and recent losses. He believes YaƱez's pressure, speed, and combinations will overwhelm Garbrandt, who is no longer the same fighter. AJ notes that Garbrandt's chin has been cracked before and that YaƱez is hungry and more active.
AJ picks YaƱez by KO, stating Garbrandt is cooked and a step behind, and that he got lucky in his last fight. He expects a violent, brutal KO from YaƱez.
AJ picks Adrian YaƱez by KO, believing Garbrandt is about to get slimed out and busted up with big shots. He thinks YaƱez's KO feels right and that Garbrandt may run around avoiding the fight.
AJ picks Adrian YaƱez by violent knockout, citing YaƱez's fast hands, slick boxing combinations, and knockout power. He believes Cody Garbrandt is past his prime, slower, and more passive, and that YaƱez's timing and reach advantage will lead to a knockout. He notes that Garbrandt hasn't been knocked out since 2021 and YaƱez is due for a knockout win.
AJ is confident in Adrian YaƱez, believing he will knock out Cody Garbrandt. He notes Garbrandt's decline and that YaƱez has a speed and boxing advantage. He expects YaƱez to force a firefight and get the KO, as Garbrandt's chin is vulnerable.
Angelo picks Adrian YaƱez because he is faster, cleaner, more technical, and younger. He notes that Cody Garbrandt is not the same fighter as 10 years ago, with seven losses in the last decade and a chinny style. He believes YaƱez's takedown defense (75%) should be enough to handle Garbrandt's wrestling, and that YaƱez should win by decision. He also likes the plus 200 odds on YaƱez by decision.
Angelo believes YaƱez is the better striker at this point, with better chin and speed. He notes Cody is a shell of his former self, with a 4-7 record in the last 10 years. He doubts a finish and expects YaƱez to win a striking match.
Big Brady is confident in Adrian YaƱez, citing Cody Garbrandt's low volume and tendency to fight not to lose. He believes YaƱez will come forward, land big shots, and knock out Garbrandt, who has a weak chin and has been knocked out multiple times. He notes YaƱez is a knockout artist and that Garbrandt's only path is an early KO, which is unlikely.
Big Brady picks Adrian YaƱez to win inside the distance at -105 for 1.5 units, calling the line a 'wild line' given YaƱez is nearly -500 on the moneyline. He notes Garbrandt has no chin and YaƱez finishes most of his wins by knockout. He also has a half-unit on YaƱez by KO in rounds 2 or 3 at +280, expecting Garbrandt to run early but eventually get caught. He admits the fight has 'trap written all over it' but sees value.
Big Brady picks Adrian YaƱez to win by second-round knockout. He believes Garbrandt is due to get knocked out again, noting his low volume and defensive style. He highlights YaƱez's high volume, power, and recent knockouts. He thinks Garbrandt's chin is vulnerable and YaƱez will land a big shot.
Big Brady is confident YaƱez wins by KO, calling it a fine parlay piece. He notes Garbrandt has no chin, doesn't throw anything, and almost lost his last fight. He thinks YaƱez at -250 was a phenomenal bet, but at -410 it's wide. He expects the KO prop to be juiced and the under to be scary because Cody might try not to get hit.
Cody picks Adrian YaƱez, citing Garbrandt's decline in durability, speed, and volume. He notes Garbrandt's 0-for-15 takedown streak and poor recent performances. YaƱez has better cardio, speed, and is the more reliable fighter at this stage.
Daniel Levi picks Adrian YaƱez to knock out Cody Garbrandt, citing Garbrandt's suspect chin and decline since his back injury. He notes that YaƱez has better durability and confidence, though he acknowledges Garbrandt could land an early knockout. Levi expects YaƱez to find the finish, possibly later in the fight if Garbrandt is cautious.
Jacob picks Adrian YaƱez, emphasizing that the key is to stay balanced and not chase the knockout. He advises YaƱez to touch and move, making Garbrandt overthrow and then counter. He believes YaƱez is capable in wrestling and grappling, and should be the better striker. He warns that if YaƱez tries to knock Garbrandt out, he gives Garbrandt opportunities.
Lucrative James picks Adrian YaƱez via KO, stating that Cody Garbrandt is washed and his chin is gone. He notes Garbrandt's early speed and power but expects him to fade after round one, allowing YaƱez to land a knockout. He highlights YaƱez's durability and recent performances against tough competition.
The host loves Yanez in this spot, especially if his early durability holds up. He notes Garbrandt often fades in the second and third rounds, and expects Yanez to take full advantage and win by knockout.
The host is confident in YaƱez's striking and defensive responsibility, expecting him to counter Garbrandt and eventually find a knockout in rounds two or three. He views Garbrandt as a faded fighter with durability issues and likes YaƱez as a parlay piece.
Paul picks Adrian YaƱez by KO, noting Garbrandt is overdue for a knockout loss. He mentions YaƱez's KO prop at -115 and plans to bet it. He doesn't love the moneyline at -450.
The MMA Guru picks Adrian YaƱez to win by KO in the first or second round. He is highly critical of Cody Garbrandt, stating that Garbrandt's head is not in the game and that he has been backing away in recent fights. He notes that YaƱez has a solid jab that will give Garbrandt problems, similar to Rob Font's jab. He believes YaƱez will pepper Garbrandt and put him away.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 28 of 54 | 51% | 28 of 54 | 0 of 8 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:53 |
| Xiao Long | 0 | 59 of 108 | 54% | 70 of 119 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:47 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 10 of 20 | 50% | 10 of 20 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
| Xiao Long | 0 | 20 of 31 | 64% | 20 of 31 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 7 of 15 | 46% | 7 of 15 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
| Xiao Long | 0 | 21 of 41 | 51% | 22 of 42 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 11 of 19 | 57% | 11 of 19 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Xiao Long | 0 | 18 of 36 | 50% | 28 of 46 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:47 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Garbrandt | 28 of 54 | 51% | 13 of 39 | 11 of 11 | 4 of 4 | 17 of 42 | 11 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
| Xiao Long | 59 of 108 | 54% | 11 of 41 | 19 of 28 | 29 of 39 | 51 of 99 | 3 of 4 | 5 of 5 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Garbrandt | 10 of 20 | 50% | 6 of 16 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 7 of 16 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Xiao Long | 20 of 31 | 64% | 3 of 10 | 2 of 4 | 15 of 17 | 20 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Cody Garbrandt | 7 of 15 | 46% | 4 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 13 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Xiao Long | 21 of 41 | 51% | 3 of 16 | 6 of 7 | 12 of 18 | 21 of 40 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Cody Garbrandt | 11 of 19 | 57% | 3 of 11 | 7 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 13 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Xiao Long | 18 of 36 | 50% | 5 of 15 | 11 of 17 | 2 of 4 | 10 of 28 | 3 of 3 | 5 of 5 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Xiao (-148), Garbrandt (+124)
Round 1
The preliminary headliner will conclude the de facto āCody against the worldā series, with gentlemen named Cody sporting a record of 0-2 so far today. Garbrandt (14-7, 9-7 UFC) would like to turn things around for his namesake when he faces the well-traveled Xiao (27-10, 1-2 UFC). Fists and feet are sure to fly in this bantamweight encounter, and they do just as soon as referee Herb Dean clocks them in.
The fighters do not touch gloves, as Garbrandt is loaded for bear and promptly puts three fists on Xiaoās face. Garbrandt backs off to circle around, and he works the lead leg with a kick but is booted with a shin to his chin. Garbrandt retreats in a hurry, and Xiao largely lets him off the hook with little more than a low kick. Garbrandt crashes the pocket, and he is met with a knee to the body, and when he takes a step back, he gets kicked in the stomach. Xiao swats out with kicks from both sides, following the former champ around without anything coming back at him. The Chinese fighter side kicks the body, and Garbrandt locks him up in a clinch when Xiao gets in close. Garbrandt thumps the body when tied up, and he lashes out with a ferocious elbow that drops Xiao.
Xiao pops back up and hoots, with the strike apparently a flash knockdown as he gets back in Garbrandtās grill to chase him around. Garbrandt spins with an elbow that tags Xiao in the forehead, and Xiao raises his arms as if to ask for more. Xiao takes a step back and slips, his balance possibly not fully back with him, but he proceeds to stalk down the former bantamweight king and work his lead leg. Xiao motions to Garbrandt to trade when he gets struck, and he thumps Garbrandt in the face with another head kick. Xiao loads up with a hard inside leg kick that makes Garbrandt switch stances, goofing around and swinging his hands around while they are well out of range. Xiao peppers the front leg and charges in, but Garbrandt greets him with a double and tackles him to his seat. Xiao springs right back up, and Garbrandt tries to kick him in the head but is too close to get it off. Xiao responds with a step-in elbow, and he fires off a body kick and resets to attack with a wheel kick that misses. Garbrandt strings together three punches, but only one partially lands. The horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Xiao
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Garbrandt
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Xiao
Round 2
Xiao comes out of his corner with a strategy: attack Garbrandtās lead leg. Garbrandt lines up a few punches and offers out a takedown, and Xiao sprawls and the two reset. Garbrandt digs a right hand to the ribcage and goes upstairs, causing a thin trickle of blood to drip from the Chinese fighterās nostril. Xiao goes high with a kick, and he stays busy with offense to any target he can find. He just misses a step-in elbow when Garbrandt crashes the pocket, and Garbrandt wings a right hand that misses the mark. Xiao thumps the body with his shin, and he kicks the front leg to force a stance switch. Xiao kicks his foeās leg out from beneath him when Garbrandt is about to engage, and Garbrandt gingerly stands back up and immediately absorbs one or two more for his effort.
Garbrandt crowds his opponent to pursue a level change, and Xiao breaks and blocks a spinning back fist on the break. Garbrandt shoots for a single, and Xiao scrambles out of the way and responds with a low kick. The 27-year-old nearly bashes Garbrandt with another head kick, but it is his calf kick that is hampering the former champ in a major way. Xiao chambers and fires a high kick, and he pushes off the stomach with a side kick and narrowly misses one up high. Garbrandt signals that he missed by this much, and then takes a right hand on the chin. The two crash together, with Garbrandt attempting a takedown and headbutting his opponent, and Xiao tumbles to his seat. Dean calls time, and Xiao wants to get back to it and high-fives Garbrandt and is alright. The tepid round comes to a close.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Xiao
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Xiao
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Xiao
Round 3
Xiao reintroduces himself by offering up a steady diet of kicks to all targets. His body kicks lead to low kicks, and one bumps into Garbrandtās cup when Garbrandt is ducking down for a takedown. Dean sees it and calls time, and the former champ takes about 50 seconds before he is all good. Xiao immediately pushes the pace once more, going after Garbrandt and dodging a wheel kick. Xiao rushes after him and boots Garbrandt square in the groin, who topples to the mat and dislodges his mouthguard in serious pain. Dean again calls time, and Garbrandt starts dry heaving. The dry heaving turns to actual vomiting in a bucket, which should mean the fight should be over. Somehow, the fight is not actually stopped, even though the rules clearly indicate that a fighter who vomits during a fight āshall be stopped by the referee and the fighter shall lose the contest by a technical knockout due to medical stoppageāāquoting the Unified Rules directly. No one has a clue what the rules of MMA are anymore, and Dean deducts one point from Xiao but restarts the match. Garbrandt gets back to his feet and goes ballistic a la James Thompson against Aleks Emelianenko, screaming at Xiao and preparing to assault him violently. Garbrandt comes out swinging for the fences, and they crash together and end up in a clinch. Remarkably, Xiao knees Garbrandt in the groin again, and Dean stops the fight and takes another point from Xiao, while threatening that there will be a DQ with one more. When they resume, Xiao leaps forward with a flying knee, and Garbrandt motions that he missed by a mile. Xiao points to the ground, and Garbrandt does not bite and engage foolishly.
Xiao chases after the former champ, and he walks directly into a right hand. Garbrandt retreats rather than engaging, possibly still compromised from the multiple fouls, while Xiao wings kicks at him. Garbrandt keeps moving, landing a body shot and one to the head. Xiao runs at Garbrandt and kicks him in the head, and when Garbrandt drops down, Xiao knees him in the head potentially illegally. Garbrandt stands back up and knees him back, but it is almost exclusively Xiao who is attacking. Xiao sprints forward and clinches up, where he hits a trip takedown and lands in full mount. He hits the floor with one second left, and lands at least one punch after the bell. When time mercifully expires, Garbrandt has to shove his opponent off of him, and there is very nearly a brawl in the cage but for Dean getting between them. They proceed to bury the hatchet after one of the worst fights in UFC history, and it just so happens to be the second fight that many new MMA fans will be seeing on the CBS airwaves. Talk about a disaster.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 9-8 Garbrandt (28-27 Xiao)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 9-8 Garbrandt (28-27 Garbrandt)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 9-8 Garbrandt (28-27 Xiao)
The Official Result
Cody Garbrandt def. Long Xiao via Unanimous Decision (28-27, 28-27, 28-27)
Angelo picks Cody Garbrandt to win based on his striking and footwork, but strongly advises against betting on him, calling it a ridiculous thing to do in 2026. He notes Cody's age and recent loss to an older fighter, and says he would never put money on Cody. He separates pick from bet.
Big Brady picks Cody Garbrandt as an underdog over Xiao Long, but with low confidence. He believes Garbrandt is washed and can't take a shot, but Long Xiao lacks KO power and has poor takedown ability. Garbrandt still has elite takedown defense and anti-grappling. Brady expects a boring fight where Garbrandt uses movement and clinching to win a decision, similar to his fight against Trevin Jones. He warns fans will boo.
Cody picks Garbrandt as a dog, citing his superior competition and wrestling ability. He notes that Xiao Long has been taken down frequently and that Garbrandt can use wrestling to win. He acknowledges the risk but sees value at plus money.
Connor believes Garbrandt should win easily based on speed and the level of competition. He notes that Long Zhao has struggled against low-level bantamweights and that Garbrandt, despite his psychological and technical flaws, has a massive advantage in athleticism. He is shocked that Garbrandt is an underdog and thinks the line is inaccurate.
Daniel Vreeland reluctantly picks Cody Garbrandt as an underdog, citing his higher level of competition and former champion status. He notes that Garbrandt's chin and cardio are concerns, but he believes Garbrandt has enough to beat a relatively unproven opponent. Vreeland warns that picking Garbrandt is scary but sees value.
The host acknowledges Garbrandt is technically superior on the feet but is on a steep decline, with poor durability and gun-shy tendencies. He compares Garbrandt to other declining fighters like Moreno and Cyborg. Xiao Long is a high-volume, tough striker who throws double the strikes per minute. The host would back Long if forced to bet, but personally passes due to Long being average and the possibility of Garbrandt outclassing him.
James picks Cody Garbrandt as an underdog, believing this is a massive step down in competition for Garbrandt. He notes Garbrandt's speed advantage and better boxing, and expects him to win round one. However, he acknowledges Garbrandt's poor chin and cardio, but thinks he can survive if he builds an early lead. James sees the fight as close to 50/50, making Garbrandt the value side at plus odds.
Garbrandt is washed with a compromised chin and cardio. Long is durable, aggressive, and has good takedown defense. After a competitive first round, Long will walk Garbrandt down and likely knock him out in the second or third round.
Paul also picks Garbrandt, noting his speed and technique. He thinks the fight will be close and dicey, but at plus money, he takes the former champion. He acknowledges the possibility of a knockout loss.
The MMA Guru picks Cody Garbrandt, believing he will outclass Xiao Long at range. He notes Garbrandt's speed and footwork, and predicts a decision or late KO. He acknowledges Garbrandt's inconsistency but thinks Xiao Long is not top-level.
Zane agrees that Garbrandt should win, emphasizing that Long Zhao is a significant step down from Garbrandt's recent opponents. He notes that Garbrandt has shown some improvement in recent losses, but still has major flaws. He is also surprised by the betting line and thinks Garbrandt should be a healthy favorite.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 28 of 94 | 29% | 45 of 111 | 0 of 7 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 0:46 |
| Raoni Barcelos | 0 | 37 of 85 | 43% | 43 of 93 | 1 of 11 | 9% | 0 | 0 | 2:26 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 10 of 44 | 22% | 10 of 44 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
| Raoni Barcelos | 0 | 6 of 19 | 31% | 8 of 21 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 | |
| 2 | Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 6 of 27 | 22% | 14 of 35 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Raoni Barcelos | 0 | 15 of 35 | 42% | 17 of 38 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:31 | |
| 3 | Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 12 of 23 | 52% | 21 of 32 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 0:33 |
| Raoni Barcelos | 0 | 16 of 31 | 51% | 18 of 34 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:39 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Garbrandt | 28 of 94 | 29% | 23 of 85 | 3 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 22 of 86 | 6 of 7 | 0 of 1 |
| Raoni Barcelos | 37 of 85 | 43% | 31 of 75 | 0 of 3 | 6 of 7 | 33 of 76 | 4 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Garbrandt | 10 of 44 | 22% | 10 of 42 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 42 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Raoni Barcelos | 6 of 19 | 31% | 5 of 15 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 17 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Cody Garbrandt | 6 of 27 | 22% | 4 of 24 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 24 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Raoni Barcelos | 15 of 35 | 42% | 14 of 33 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 13 of 28 | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Cody Garbrandt | 12 of 23 | 52% | 9 of 19 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 20 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 |
| Raoni Barcelos | 16 of 31 | 51% | 12 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 | 16 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Barcelos (-180), Garbrandt (+150)
Round 1
Of the three Codys competing tonight, Garbrandt (14-6, 9-6 UFC) is the last one to try to get on the board for his namesake. The former champ, who celebrates about 80% of his wins by knockout, takes on a man five years his elder but no less dangerous than ever in Barcelos (19-5, 8-4 UFC). Most notably, the Brazilian derailed the hype train of Payton Talbott in January, firmly ruling out that he was washed up and ready to get tucked into bed. Referee Mike Beltran draws the assignment to watch over the bantamweights, watching them bump fists together to start the match. Garbrandt starts fast, rushing forward with four punches and a head kick. Barcelos bounces off the fence, and Garbrandt surges towards him with a trio of flying fists. Another combo comes from the former champ, and Barcelos ducks it and tries to take him down. Garbrandt hops away and resets, already wary of the possible takedown in play. Garbrandt measures with a single body kick, and he rails Barcelos with three speedy punches. Barcelos drops to a knee, and Garbrandt points at him. As Barcelos stands, he goes after a takedown. Garbrandt ducks away from it, dodges an overhand right and falls to 50/50 when Barcelos looks for a takedown. When the takedown does not materialize, Barcelos leaps at him and splits open Garbrandtās eyebrow with his knee. Garbrandt backs away, avoiding a flying switch kick as chants for āLetās go, Codyā echo in the building. Barcelos lands first after they stop calling for the former champ, working the body with a left. Barcelos has a head kick slap off the raised guard, and he rolls with a right hand over the top. Garbrandt swings and misses with a pair of punches, and his second effort to the body gets in. āNo Loveā shows Barcelos no love by tossing him out of the way, although the Brazilian recovers and fires off an uppercut that gets through. Garbrandt knees up the middle and tags Barcelos with two fast punches, and Barcelos gets his attention with a strong overhand right. Garbrandt thinks about showboating or dancing but evaluates that the strike did some damage and plays it cool. Barcelos attacks a single, and Garbrandt pops out of it and partially checks a calf kick flying at him. Garbrandt has three or four punches land, and he does a little dance. Barcelos takes him down, and Garbrandt gets away with an illegal upkick while scrambling. Barcelos climbs into top position, lands a few hammerfists, and the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garbrandt
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Garbrandt
Round 2
The fighters high-five before getting after it, and Barcelos is quick to engage his wrestling. Garbrandtās overhand right goes wide, and he plants his feet to defend the takedown effort. Another try also comes up short, and Garbrandt pushes off and loads up on quick punches. Barcelos chases Garbrandt around the outer edge of the cage, chambering and firing a right hand but missing with the follow-up. Barcelos chops down the front leg, and he ducks down and eats a right hand while looking for a single. When the takedown is not successful, Barcelos clips him with two right hands. Garbrandt defends a double, but a knee up the middle from the Brazilian tags him cleanly. Garbrandt puts out two punches that further develop some swelling on Barcelosā right cheek, but Barcelos ignores it and shoots for a single. Garbrandt stuffs it, turns his man to the side and elbows him cleanly for it. Barcelos keeps the pressure up, walking through a low kick and a body shot to catch āNo Loveā with his overhand right. Barcelos times a crisp uppercut and drops down for a single, lifting Garbrandtās leg way up in the air. Garbrandt still stays upright, takes a right hand and puts his leg down. Barcelos connects with another big right, and he reaches out with one to the midsection. Barcelos jabs his way forward, scooting back to avoid all but a left hand in a combination. Garbrandt rolls with a right hand on the way out, but the jab from the Brazilian is finding its home repeatedly. Barcelos loads up on a right hand and ducks down, before unleashing another right hand that nearly puts the champ down. The round ends with Garbrandt shooting for a desperation takedown.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos
Round 3
There is a final glove touch, and Barcelos gets right back to pressuring. Garbrandt keeps him at bay for less than a second with a body kick, as Barcelos walks him down behind his overhand right. Garbrandt shoots for a single, and Barcelos laughs it off. A second takedown from Garbrandt is nowhere near being successful, and Barcelos pays him back with a calf kick that turns Garbrandtās knee. Garbrandt gives him back two low kicks to think about, and he absorbs a flush right hand when circling away. Barcelos kicks at his front leg again, setting up his jab and right hand. Garbrandt rushes forward but is out of range for his combo, and he gets sat down with a leg kick. The former champ shoots for a takedown and finds his way into a guillotine choke setup, but he breaks out of is as he leans against Barcelos. The Brazilian breaks free, and Garbrandt connects at the end of a right and a left. Barcelos clubs him with a one-two that forces the striker to shoot in on his hips, and he holds Garbrandt down and circles around to the side in hopes of taking the back. Barcelos manages to take the back after softening Garbrandt up, and he sneaks a hook in. āNo Loveā lands some no-look punches, but Barcelos is singularly focused on shutting down any hopes of escape. Garbrandt pushes his feet on the wall to turn himself around, where he drops down two punches before Barcelos explodes. The two fighters burst back to their feet and start slugging it out, with Garbrandt landing flush and Barcelos doing the same. Garbrandt waves him on, and Barcelos instead backs off. Garbrandt scores a right hand and is chucked out of the way like a childās plaything when attempting a single. Garbrandt points to the ground to initiate a brawl, but Barcelos goes the opposite direction and evades him until the fight wraps. Barring something unexpected, all three Codys struck out tonight.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos (29-28 Barcelos)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos (30-27 Barcelos)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos (29-28 Barcelos)
The Official Result
Raoni Barcelos def. Cody Garbrandt via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo leans Cody because he is faster and has power, while Raoni lacks power in his hands. He warns that Cody must avoid getting taken down. He is not confident enough to bet on Cody given his recent struggles.
Big Brady picks Cody Garbrandt by second-round knockout. He believes Garbrandt's takedown defense is elite (80%) and that he can keep the fight standing. He notes Barcelos is 38 with a questionable chin, and Garbrandt has the power to knock him out. He acknowledges multiple outcomes but leans toward a knockout.
Connor picks Barcelos, emphasizing that Garbrandt's wrestling has declined and that Barcelos's chain wrestling and takedown variety will be a major threat. He notes that Garbrandt's tunnel vision when he feels confident often leads to him getting taken down, as seen against Figueiredo. Connor also points out that Barcelos is 38 and chinny, so Garbrandt could still knock him out, but Barcelos's wrestling should be the deciding factor.
Despite public love for Barcelos after his upset win, Garbrandt has good takedown defense and superior striking. He will chip away at Barcelos and win a decision.
The Guru picks Raoni Barcelos, stating he is 'done with Cody Garbrandt.' He criticizes Garbrandt's fundamental flaws in striking and grappling, such as giving up his back and poor low kicks. He notes Barcelos has faced tough competition and fraud-checked Payton Talbott. He expects Barcelos to win by decision or TKO in the second round.
Zane picks Barcelos, citing his deep wrestling game and ability to chain takedowns, which should be effective against Garbrandt's shaky takedown defense. He notes that Garbrandt has been taken down easily by lesser wrestlers and that Barcelos's wrestling has improved with age. However, Zane acknowledges that Barcelos's striking has become a liability and that Garbrandt still has one-punch power, making this a dangerous fight for both.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deiveson Figueiredo | 0 | 13 of 19 | 68% | 21 of 27 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 2 | 0 | 3:43 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 16 of 31 | 51% | 18 of 33 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deiveson Figueiredo | 0 | 9 of 15 | 60% | 9 of 15 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 14 of 26 | 53% | 15 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 | |
| 2 | Deiveson Figueiredo | 0 | 4 of 4 | 100% | 12 of 12 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 2 | 0 | 3:39 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deiveson Figueiredo | 13 of 19 | 68% | 9 of 14 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 8 of 13 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 3 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 16 of 31 | 51% | 6 of 19 | 0 of 1 | 10 of 11 | 16 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deiveson Figueiredo | 9 of 15 | 60% | 5 of 10 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 7 of 12 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 14 of 26 | 53% | 4 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 11 | 14 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Deiveson Figueiredo | 4 of 4 | 100% | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 2 of 5 | 40% | 2 of 4 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Figueiredo (-310), Garbrandt (+250)
Round 1
Tonightās the night. And itās going to happen again and again. Has to happen. Nice night. Las Vegas is a great town. I love the international food, bahn mi sandwiches, my favorite. But weāre hungry for something different now. Violence. Itās coming by the bucketful, and it starts with bantamweights that will almost certainly stand and bang. Former flyweight kingpin Figueiredo (22-3-1, 11-3-1 UFC) is putting some momentum together to make a run at his new weight class, while Garbrandt (14-5, 9-5 UFC) wishes to hold the line and prove he is not washed up at the tender age of 32. Fists are sure to fly, but before they do, referee Mark Smith checks them in. There is no touch of gloves, and it go time. Garbrandt introduces himself with a chopping calf kick, and he fires off another without concern. Garbrandt aims another on the inside, and then drops down on his knee to throw a sweeping kick out of the Mortal Kombat playbook. Figueiredo reaches out with a right hand that comes up short, and Garbrandt continues to work the lead leg. Figueiredo responds with one that he turns his hips into, and both men clash together and swing hard, while banging heads. Figueiredo backs off and gathers his thoughts, and he checks a kick coming at him. Figueiredo ducks an oncoming salvo and brings up a knee to the body, and he intercepts Garbrandt tossing a cartwheel kick by kicking Garbrandt in the face. The former bantamweight champ gets back up without issue, and he marches down āDaico.ā Figueiredo lunges forward with an inaccurate swarm of punches, and Garbrandt hops in and out deliver a low kick. Garbrandt prods out with another calf kick, and he keeps his guard up to swat away a front kick aimed at his chin. Garbrandt leaps forward and catches the Brazilian with a left hand, and Figueiredo pulls guard and looks for a leglock. Garbrandt backs off before he is vulnerable, and he resets and dings a standing Figueiredo with a sharp one-two. Figueiredo meanders forward and lets go with a right hand, but it is one-and-done. Figueiredo does not quite reach with a front kick, but he elects to take the fight down and lifts Garbrandtās leg up to drive him to the mat. Garbrandt jumps back up without taking any additional fire, and he lands a low kick before the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garbrandt
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Garbrandt
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Figueiredo
Round 2
The fighters get back to business, and Garbrandt reaches out first with a high body kick. Figueiredo rushes forward swinging leather, and Garbrandt answers him with a clubbing left hand. Figueiredo pursues a takedown from behind, where he strips the former bantamweight champ from his balance and lowers him down to the mat. Figueiredo shifts over to move into half guard, where he presses down for a potential arm-triangle choke. Garbrandt turns, and Figueiredo takes his back and flattens him out. Figueiredo wriggles his arm out and hammers Garbrandt in the side of the head with a right hand. When Garbrandt turns back over, Figueiredo assumes full mount and sets up an arm-triangle choke. āDeus da Guerraā jumps over to the side and locks down the arm-triangle choke, and he squeezes with all his might. Garbrandt struggles and keeps his wits about him, while Figueiredo lowers his chest down to complete the maneuver. Figueiredo sits up just slightly and punches him in the side of the head, and he gets back to mount. Garbrandt tries to kick off and explode back to his feet, but the Brazilian mightily shoves him flat on his back. Figueiredo drops down shoulder strikes to the jaw, and he smacks Garbrandt in the side of the head with his fists when he finds openings. Garbrandt bursts back to his feet, and Figueiredo follows him every step of the way to lock down back control, set up a body triangle and start fishing for a choke.
Figueiredo cinches up a rear-naked choke, and at this point it is just academic. āNo Loveā considers going out on his shield, but at the last minute, he taps out, and we have our first finish of the evening.
This marks the first time that Garbrandt has ever been submitted.
The Official Result
Deiveson Figueiredo def. Cody Garbrandt R2 4:02 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Angelo picks Cody Garbrandt as the underdog, citing his superior wrestling, clean boxing, and size advantage. He notes Figueiredo's power may not carry up to bantamweight and that Garbrandt's chin is a concern but his wrestling history and boxing should prevail. He acknowledges Garbrandt's tendency to chase knockouts and get caught, but believes his wrestling and boxing will be enough.
Cody is very confident in Figueiredo. He notes that Garbrandt's resurgence came against low-level opponents (Brian Kelleher, Trevin Jones) and that he still has a weak chin. Figueiredo is a big bantamweight with power in both hands and solid takedown defense. Cody points out that Garbrandt fights emotionally and tends to run into fire when hit. He expects Figueiredo to knock Garbrandt out, possibly in the first round. Cody calls this his favorite bet on the card.
Connor picks Figueiredo, agreeing that Garbrandt's chin and tendency to make mistakes will be exploited. He notes that Figueiredo's new patient style will allow him to get reads without putting himself in danger. Connor points out that Garbrandt only gets reads when pursued, and Figueiredo will not oblige. He expects Figueiredo to land a big shot eventually.
Daniel Vreeland leans toward Deiveson Figueiredo, citing his power and guillotine choke. He acknowledges Garbrandt's chin issues and believes Figueiredo will land a knockout. However, he is hesitant due to Figueiredo's inconsistent performances and the high price (-300). Vreeland notes that Figueiredo can be gun-shy and Garbrandt has power, making this a risky bet.
Lucrative James does not make a pick for this fight. He calls it a banger and says it's impossible for the fight to be boring. He notes that the UFC has been trying to put it together for a while. No prediction is given.
Figueiredo is the bigger power puncher and will force Garbrandt to exchange. Garbrandt has been hesitant recently but will be forced to bite down on his mouthpiece and pay dearly. Figueiredo knocks him out within two rounds.
Paul agrees, noting that Garbrandt has all the skills but lacks durability. Figueiredo is a big flyweight who carries power up to bantamweight. Paul mentions that Garbrandt throws naked leg kicks in the pocket, leaving himself open to counters. Figueiredo has power in both hands and is relentless when he hurts opponents. Paul believes Garbrandt will get into a firefight and eventually get knocked out. He also notes that Figueiredo has good takedown defense and get-up game.
The MMA Guru envisions Cody Garbrandt knocking out Deiveson Figueiredo in the first round. He notes that Figueiredo is a straight-line puncher, while Garbrandt excels with hooks and keeping his head off the center line. He believes Garbrandt will make Figueiredo go first and time him with a devastating shot, citing Garbrandt's speed and momentum after recent wins.
Zane picks Figueiredo, reasoning that he is the biggest puncher Garbrandt has ever faced. He notes that Garbrandt is chinny and Figueiredo has 11 knockdowns at flyweight. Zane expects Figueiredo to be patient and not make reckless mistakes, while Garbrandt will likely back up to the cage and get hit. He predicts a stinky fight but a Figueiredo win.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Garbrandt | 1 | 20 of 41 | 48% | 21 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Brian Kelleher | 0 | 17 of 25 | 68% | 21 of 29 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:36 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Garbrandt | 1 | 20 of 41 | 48% | 21 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Brian Kelleher | 0 | 17 of 25 | 68% | 21 of 29 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:36 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Garbrandt | 20 of 41 | 48% | 16 of 37 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 35 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Brian Kelleher | 17 of 25 | 68% | 9 of 13 | 1 of 3 | 7 of 9 | 17 of 24 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Garbrandt | 20 of 41 | 48% | 16 of 37 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 35 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Brian Kelleher | 17 of 25 | 68% | 9 of 13 | 1 of 3 | 7 of 9 | 17 of 24 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Garbrandt (-198), Kelleher (+164)
Round 1
Former champ Garbrandt (13-5, 8-5 UFC) is searching for his first two-win year since 2016, as he picked up a victory in March over Trevin Jones. Standing in his way will be the returning Kelleher (24-14, 8-7 UFC), who has been away from the Octagon for nearly 18 months and has grown himself a sweet skullet. The bantamweights with plenty of ways to finish fights will receive oversight by referee Marc Goddard, who starts the clock as the fighters tap gloves. Kelleher advances, sticking out his jab to find his range. Garbrandt does the same, and he suddenly lashes out with three punches and catches Kelleher on the chin. Garbrandt rushes forward throwing hands, and he dings Kelleher on the temple. Kelleher responds with two powerful calf kicks, and misses a front kick on the nose by a whisker. Kelleher connects with another calf kick, forcing Garbrandt to spin all the way around to recover. The punches from Garbrandt have opened a cut on the top of Kelleherās head, but he pays it no mind. Garbrandt rushes in with three punches, and Kelleher pecks at him with a calf kick that forces the former champ to stumble on his way in. Kelleher pushes out a front kick, and shoots in for a double-leg takedown that jams Garbrandt against the wall. Garbrandt defends the first try and knees his foe in the sternum, and Kelleher drops down for a second effort but bails on it when Garbrandt pushes off. Garbrandt blitzes with a punch combo, and Kelleher takes a few on the chin and is more interested in chopping down the lead leg of his opponent. Garbrandt absorbs another leg kick or two before closing the distance, and he pursues his own possible level change or just ties him up to slow down the kick assault. Garbrandt lands an elbow on the break, and he evades a low kick that whizzes past him. Garbrandt digs several punches to the body and goes to the head, and Kelleher tries to escape but gets his bell rung by the former champ.
Garbrandt gives chase, and he belts Kelleher in the jaw with a right hand that cinematically sprays blood out of his mouth. Kelleher recovers slightly, sitting down on a front kick. Garbrandt drives home a right hand that smashes āBoomā right on the chin and sends him crashing down in a heap.
Watching Kelleher fall on his face, Garbrandt does not bother trying to seal the deal and instead limps away as Goddard waves the fight off. Serious swelling has developed on the shin of "No Love," which may not have been able to take much more punishment had the fight continued.
The Official Result
Cody Garbrandt def. Brian Kelleher R1 3:42 via KO (Punch)
Angelo picks Cody Garbrandt, stating he should dominate everywhere, but worries about his chin and tendency to brawl. He notes that if Cody shows patience, he is a confident pick. He is unsure about betting due to chin concerns.
Big Brady picks Brian Kelleher to win by knockout, despite acknowledging Garbrandt is more skilled. He notes Garbrandt's chin issues (4 KO losses) and washed performances, while Kelleher has power and a guillotine threat. Brady believes Kelleher will force exchanges and land a big shot, putting Garbrandt out. He also notes Garbrandt has zero submissions, so a sub win is unlikely.
Cody picks Garbrandt, arguing that he is better in every aspect of martial arts except durability. He notes that Kelleher's only path is a knockout, but Kelleher has only two KO wins in six years. Cody believes Garbrandt will fight smart behind his jab and potentially win by decision or finish. He acknowledges the chin concern but thinks Kelleher is not the guy to exploit it.
Lucrative James picks Brian Kelleher as the underdog. After rewatching Cody Garbrandt's last fight against Trevin Jones, he saw Cody was hesitant, got wobbled, and taken down multiple times. He believes Cody's chin issues could resurface if Kelleher catches him. He acknowledges Kelleher's age (37) and two-fight losing streak but thinks Cody is not a minus 250 fighter.
The host is high on Kelleher as a plus 185 underdog, questioning how Garbrandt can be such a heavy favorite given his recent tentative style and chin issues. He believes Kelleher's aggression, durability, and grappling edge will be key. He expects Kelleher to crash the pocket, land big shots, and possibly finish Garbrandt. The only concern is Kelleher returning from neck surgery, but he thinks even 70% of Kelleher is enough to pull the upset.
Paul picks Garbrandt, stating that skill for skill, this fight is not competitive. He notes that Garbrandt is much faster on the feet and that Kelleher is not a murderous power puncher. Paul points to Garbrandt's last fight against Trevin Jones where he fought smart and stayed out of trouble. He believes Garbrandt will box Kelleher up and potentially win by decision or TKO.
The Guru picks Cody Garbrandt over Brian Kelleher, noting Kelleher's recent losses and decline. He believes the matchup is designed for Garbrandt to get a KO win on a big card. He predicts Garbrandt will win by TKO in the second round.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 26 of 33 | 78% | 33 of 40 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 2:32 |
| Trevin Jones | 0 | 20 of 69 | 28% | 30 of 79 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 1:39 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 17 of 19 | 89% | 17 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Trevin Jones | 0 | 7 of 24 | 29% | 7 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 5 of 6 | 83% | 11 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:20 |
| Trevin Jones | 0 | 2 of 9 | 22% | 6 of 13 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:35 | |
| 3 | Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 4 of 8 | 50% | 5 of 9 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Trevin Jones | 0 | 11 of 36 | 30% | 17 of 42 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:04 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Garbrandt | 26 of 33 | 78% | 8 of 14 | 14 of 15 | 4 of 4 | 21 of 28 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 |
| Trevin Jones | 20 of 69 | 28% | 9 of 50 | 8 of 14 | 3 of 5 | 15 of 64 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 4 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Garbrandt | 17 of 19 | 89% | 2 of 4 | 11 of 11 | 4 of 4 | 17 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Trevin Jones | 7 of 24 | 29% | 1 of 13 | 5 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 7 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Cody Garbrandt | 5 of 6 | 83% | 3 of 3 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 |
| Trevin Jones | 2 of 9 | 22% | 0 of 5 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Cody Garbrandt | 4 of 8 | 50% | 3 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Trevin Jones | 11 of 36 | 30% | 8 of 32 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 2 | 6 of 31 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 4 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Garbrandt (-165), Jones (+140)
Round 1
The prelims wrap up with a must-win bantamweight contest for both competitors. While former champ Garbrandt (12-5, 7-5 UFC) has dropped five of his last six, Guamās Jones (13-9, 1 NC; 1-3, 1 NC UFC) is aiming to snap a three-fight skid of his own. Someone will get their hand raised in the next 15 minutes or less, and referee Jason Herzog will be the first to know. The 135ers opt to not bump fists, and instead Garbrandt walks his man down and unleashes a kick to the ribcage. Jones grimaces and takes a second one on the same spot, and he tries to give one back with far less impact on it. Garbrandt hits the deck and sweeps the leg in a Mortal Kombat-esque move, and Jones looks at him quizzically as Garbrandt stands back up. Garbrandt loads up on another powerful body kick, landing with a thud that echoes in the filling arena. Jones again tries to reply in kind, and it partially lands. The former champion dodges a low kick as the pace slow down, and he looses another body kick with emphasis. A high body kick from Jones bounces off the guard, and Garbrandt intercepts a low kick to fire two punches over the top. Garbrandt sits down on a right hand, and Jones takes it on the chin and is forced to eat another shortly thereafter. Garbrandt moves constantly and circles when Jones tries to back him to thew all, and he starts showboating and dancing around with fancy stance switches. Jones continues plodding after him, and he swings a body kick that grazes the target. Garbrandt steps in with a straight right to the body, and he hops back and blocks a front kick. Garbrandt leans in with a punch to the midsection, and he blocks a half-hearted high kick. Garbrandt kicks the sternum and has a right hand over the top bounce off Jonesā hands. Garbrandt stays on the outside, chipping with a low kick, and he misses with a windmilling right hand but does land a body kick on the way out. Garbrandt again dances with his stance switches, and Jones chases him around the cage but cannot catch him before the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garbrandt
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Garbrandt
Shane Clifford scores the round: 10-9 Garbrandt
Round 2
Jones marches out of his corner to chase Garbrandt around early, and Garbrandt moves and winds up with a body kick. As Jones attempts to respond, Garbrandt crashes forward and scoops Jones off the ground with a double and slams him to the floor. Garbrandt does not choose to keep him down, and he instead backs off and stands back up. Jones tries to make him pay with a reaching right hand, but Garbrandt is well out of harmās way. Jones scores a leg kick on the inside, and he fires a similar kick to the same spot. Garbrandt intercepts an advancing Jones and lifts him off the ground to smash him to the mat once more, and Jones snatches up a guillotine choke before landing. Garbrandt wrenches his neck out and resides in Jonesā guard, and Jones holds him fight to prevent much of the offense coming at him. Jones keeps nullifying Garbrandt, and Garbrandt circles around to let Jones stand so that he can circle around and take Jonesā back. Jones grabs the fence to try to stand, and Garbrandt puts a hook in around the side and threatens with an arm around the face. There is no joke there, so the former champ pushes off and knees his man in the face. Jones returns to ineffectively chasing Garbrandt around the cage, not cutting Garbrandt off and instead crashing forward for a potential single-leg entry. Garbrandt stops this in his tracks with his back against the wall, and he fights off a trip and turns Jones around. They jockey for position until the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garbrandt
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Garbrandt
Shane Clifford scores the round: 10-9 Garbrandt
Round 3
The bantamweights reach the third round, and Jones swipes out with a right hand that misses the mark. Garbrandt catches Jones with a right hand on the way in, but Jones shakes it off and fires off a head kick. Garbrandt ducks it as the kick skims off his hair, and he sits back waiting to counter. Jones kicks the calf once, and the crowd voices its extreme displeasure for their inaction. Garbrandt jabs to the body as he strafes laterally, and he gets slapped in the face with Jonesā foot. Jones swipes out with another high kick, and Garbrandtās own pace has dropped off a cliff. The former champ jumps back and forth but does little else until belting the Guam native with a resounding body kick. Jones tries to snatch it up, but Garbrandt pulls his leg out and continues to circle. Jones chase after him and has a head kick blocked, and he swings mightily with two hooks that are well off the mark. Garbrandt gets off one right hand, and he jumps in the air and pulls back on a possible flying knee with Jones a few feet away. Jones blitzes and misses with an overhand right, and Garbrandt gets caught with a left and hurt with a right. Garbrandt blinks it out and backs off, and Jones follows him around and snipes him with a left hand down the middle. Garbrandt grabs hold of him in the clinch, and Jones turns the corner and hits a trip with a body lock to plant the former champ on his back. Jones land in half guard with 40 seconds left in the fight, and he stands back up to lean on the fence as Garbrandt slaps him in the face with his foot. Jones lowers himself back down and gets popped with a right hand, and Garbrandt rides out the round taking a few shots on the mouth as boos rain down on them.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Jones (29-28 Garbrandt)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Jones (29-28 Garbrandt)
Shane Clifford scores the round: 10-9 Jones (29-28 Garbrandt)
The Official Result
Cody Garbrandt def. Trevin Jones via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Cody Garbrandt because he is the better fighter everywhere, but he is not betting on him due to his questionable chin. He notes that Garbrandt dominates until he gets hit, and Trevin Jones has real power. Angelo hopes Garbrandt can have a resurgence like Glover Teixeira.
Big Brady picks Cody Garbrandt but is hesitant due to his chin issues. He notes Garbrandt is the much better fighter with speed, volume, and wrestling, but his durability is a major concern. He acknowledges Trevin Jones has power and has never been knocked out. He predicts a decision win for Garbrandt, but admits a knockout loss wouldn't be surprising.
Cody picks Garbrandt but is very hesitant due to his compromised chin. He thinks Garbrandt's wrestling and technical boxing give him the edge, and that Jones's low volume and lack of setup make him less dangerous. He expects Garbrandt to win by decision if he fights smart.
Connor picks Trevin Jones because he doubts Cody Garbrandt's ability to stick to a disciplined, low-risk gameplan. He notes that Garbrandt has never shown he can fight a patient, three-round kickboxing match without getting frustrated and aggressive, which plays into Jones's counter-punching strengths. Connor also points out that Garbrandt's durability has declined, making him vulnerable to getting caught and finished.
Jacob picks Cody Garbrandt as the better fighter but is wary of his chin and tendency to load up. He believes Garbrandt should use a point-fighting strategy and mix in takedowns. Jacob will not bet on Garbrandt and needs to see him prove his chin again.
Garbrandt has a huge technical striking advantage and should be able to beat Jones to the punch. However, his durability is a major concern and Jones has power. Garbrandt likely wins by second round KO or decision, but it's stressful to bet on him as a favorite.
Paul has a small sprinkle on Garbrandt by decision at +500. He thinks Garbrandt's wrestling and smart game plan could lead to a decision win, but acknowledges the chin risk. He says it's a dicey bet and he's prepared to lose.
The MMA Guru picks Trevin Jones as an underdog, citing Garbrandt's inactivity, multiple KO losses, and tendency to get caught. He believes Jones can catch Garbrandt on the chin and win by KO.
Zane also picks Trevin Jones, agreeing with Connor that Garbrandt's mental fragility and tendency to make mistakes under pressure make him unreliable. He emphasizes that Jones is tough, has good timing, and can capitalize on Garbrandt's lapses. Zane notes that while Garbrandt has the tools to win if he fights smart, history suggests he will revert to aggression and get caught.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kai Kara-France | 2 | 23 of 41 | 56% | 23 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 9 of 17 | 52% | 9 of 17 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kai Kara-France | 2 | 23 of 41 | 56% | 23 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 9 of 17 | 52% | 9 of 17 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kai Kara-France | 23 of 41 | 56% | 18 of 32 | 1 of 4 | 4 of 5 | 19 of 37 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 9 of 17 | 52% | 4 of 10 | 0 of 1 | 5 of 6 | 9 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kai Kara-France | 23 of 41 | 56% | 18 of 32 | 1 of 4 | 4 of 5 | 19 of 37 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 9 of 17 | 52% | 4 of 10 | 0 of 1 | 5 of 6 | 9 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Up next, City Kickboxing standout Kara France (22-9, 1 NC; 5-2 UFC) plans to ruin the flyweight debut of ex-bantamweight champ Garbrandt (12-4, 7-4 UFC). The intensity is high between the two, and referee Herb Dean takes note of this from the get-go and is keenly aware as they opt not to touch gloves. Garbrandt throws first, in the form of a sweeping leg kick. Kara France backs off and reaches out to establish his range, but Garbrandtās length is giving him pause already as Garbrandt chops his lead leg down like a tree. Kara France keeps the center of the cage, but it is Garbrandt that stays moving and circling on the outside. The two are at a range where they cannot reach the other with their fists, and Kara France throws a leg kick and tries to time an overhand right, but the punch misses the mark. Kara France goes after his foeās leg, and Garbrandt times a counter only to miss by a margin of inches. Volume is low, but the swinging velocity is fairly high from both 125ers. Garbrandt walks through an inside leg kick to time a left hand, and when he does, Kara France slips and nails him with a right hand. The former champ goes down in a heap, and Kara France signals that he has his number and puts his hands up. Kara France cautiously comes in to find home with his punches, without walking into a blazing counter, and he sets Garbrandt down again. The two have an odd grappling exchange, and Garbrandt drags his foe down and tries to take his back. When they get up, Garbrandtās legs are still not totally under him, and absorbs a flush right hand that sends him careening into the wall. The Kiwi rings his bell with another flurry, and Garbrandt waves him on to keep throwing, so Kara France obliges him. A furious right hand, a follow-up left and a brutal uppercut sends āNo Loveā falling face-first to the ground, and Dean calls it a night for the former champion. What a monumental win for Kara France, living up to his āDonāt Blinkā nickname by flooring Garbrandt numerous times en route to a statement-making stoppage win.
The Official Result
Kai Kara France def. Cody Garbrandt R1 3:21 via TKO (Punches)
Big Brady picks Cody Garbrandt by knockout, but with very low confidence. He notes that Garbrandt has fought better competition and is the harder hitter, but there are many red flags: Garbrandt is moving down in weight, has durability concerns, and has been knocked out before. Kara-France has good takedown defense and volume, but his chin is questionable. Brady cannot bet this fight due to the uncertainty.
Daniel Levi picks Kai Kara-France for the upset, expressing concerns about Cody Garbrandt's drop to flyweight. He references historical examples like TJ Dillashaw and Figueiredo struggling with the weight cut, and worries about Garbrandt's durability losing 10 pounds. Levi acknowledges Garbrandt's superior competition but believes the speed and output at flyweight will favor Kara-France. He notes Kara-France's one-punch knockout power and training at a great camp. Levi is skeptical about Garbrandt's desperation move to flyweight.
Garbrandt is the much better technical striker and should be able to counter Kara-France's blitzes. However, his durability is a concern, especially at a new weight class. If he stays disciplined and uses footwork, he can win a decision. The weight cut and chin are question marks, so this is a watch-and-see fight.
The MMA Guru picks Kai Kara-France to win by first-round KO, calling it an upset. He believes Garbrandt's weight cut to flyweight will be detrimental, and his defensive flaws will be exposed. He notes Kara-France's reach advantage and power, predicting he will catch Garbrandt early.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Font | 0 | 176 of 365 | 48% | 183 of 374 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:13 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 63 of 142 | 44% | 78 of 159 | 3 of 10 | 30% | 0 | 0 | 3:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Font | 0 | 21 of 44 | 47% | 23 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 13 of 27 | 48% | 13 of 28 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 0:53 | |
| 2 | Rob Font | 0 | 27 of 55 | 49% | 29 of 57 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 8 of 21 | 38% | 12 of 25 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:58 | |
| 3 | Rob Font | 0 | 32 of 68 | 47% | 35 of 73 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:12 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 15 of 29 | 51% | 18 of 33 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 | |
| 4 | Rob Font | 0 | 51 of 101 | 50% | 51 of 101 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 12 of 25 | 48% | 12 of 25 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 5 | Rob Font | 0 | 45 of 97 | 46% | 45 of 97 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 0 | 15 of 40 | 37% | 23 of 48 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Font | 176 of 365 | 48% | 145 of 326 | 23 of 29 | 8 of 10 | 168 of 356 | 6 of 6 | 2 of 3 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 63 of 142 | 44% | 45 of 120 | 8 of 11 | 10 of 11 | 51 of 126 | 8 of 11 | 4 of 5 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Font | 21 of 44 | 47% | 14 of 36 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 3 | 19 of 42 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 13 of 27 | 48% | 9 of 22 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 6 of 18 | 3 of 4 | 4 of 5 | |
| 2 | Rob Font | 27 of 55 | 49% | 21 of 48 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 24 of 52 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 8 of 21 | 38% | 5 of 17 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Rob Font | 32 of 68 | 47% | 26 of 60 | 4 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 30 of 65 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 15 of 29 | 51% | 13 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 15 of 28 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Rob Font | 51 of 101 | 50% | 42 of 90 | 7 of 8 | 2 of 3 | 51 of 101 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 12 of 25 | 48% | 8 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 4 | 10 of 22 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Rob Font | 45 of 97 | 46% | 42 of 92 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 44 of 96 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Garbrandt | 15 of 40 | 37% | 10 of 34 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 39 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Like the previous fight, this bantamweight headliner may have title aspirations on the line between Font (18-4, 8-3 UFC) and ex-champ Garbrandt (12-3, 7-3 UFC). A strikerās delight is expected for the fans, and nothing more need to be said about their resumes coming into this main event. Drawing the final assignment of the card is referee Herb Dean, and with a glove touch, itās on with the show! Garbrandt instantly takes the center of the cage and swings with a low kick, but he pulls he back when he is out of range. Font keeps his range and sticks out long jabs, but none are anywhere near the mark. Both men trade single strikes, and Garbrandt chops down Fontās lead leg with a surprisingly hard kick. Font paws out a left hand and blocks a head kick, and he is not flustered as he lunges with jabs. āNo Loveā targes the lead leg again, and he circles along the outside when Font advances. Font whiffs on an overhand right when Garbrandt starts to showboat by kneeling down, and he loads up on a leg kick. The two trade single jabs, and Font prepares to check a kick so Garbrandt recoils it before it connects. Font slaps out his own leg kick as he chases Garbrandt around the cage, and he stings the former champ with a fierce one-two. Garbrandt shoots in low with a takedown, and Font tosses him aside and does not get reckless. Instead, he backs off and allows Garbrandt kick him in the leg. Font just misses with an uppercut as Garbrandt ducks down, and they throw haymakers at the same time. As Font stumbles, Garbrandt gets off a head kick when Font stands up. Garbrandt lands a crisp left hook as Font is not fazed, and the Boston native lands a few punches and a knee on the way in. As Font advances, Garbrandt catches him and hits a takedown to press Font in the corner of the cage and the floor. Garbrandt sits up and lands a trio of punches, and when Font stands up, Garbrandt tries to kick him in the head. Font marches Garbrandt down, and Garbrandt looks to set up that deadly right hand with his back to the wall that he put Raphael Assuncao away with. Instead, Font commits with a stiff right hand, and the ex-champ lands another takedown with ease. Garbrandt gets elbowed in the back of the head, and he punishes Font with several powerful punches as Font explodes to his feet. When Font finds his range with a jab, Garbrandt hurts him with a few punches. This close, tense round ends before Garbrandt can capitalize.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garbrandt
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Garbrandt
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Garbrandt
Round 2
The bantamweight contenders touch gloves to clock in the second round, and Font opens up with a body kick. Garbrandt responds with a right hand that he chains into a takedown, where he lands it in the center of the cage. Garbrandt postures up to land bombs, but Font holds him tight and tries to scramble off the ground without absorbing much in the way of damage. Font throws his legs up to threaten with a choke, and Garbrandt rolls through it but finds his arm snagged with a Font kimura attempt. Font sweeps Garbrandt with the kimura, and the two stand back up, where Garbrandt greets him with a few punches. Font lands a jab and finds himself defending a takedown attempt from the former champ. Garbrandt knees Font in the chest on the way out, and Font sticks out a few jabs to solid effect. Two big punches connect for Garbrandt, but a chain of jabs into a right hand are much more effective for Font. Font commits to the jab, which is flustering the former champ, and Garbrandt wipes his eye after he takes a few. Font fakes high to kick the leg, and one of his jabs gets countered with part of an overhand right. Font catches Garbrandt on the way in with an uppercut, and he advances to throw heavy leather. Garbrandt greets him with a few strikes of his own, so Font loads up on a forearm strike that pounds Garbrandt in the chin. A one-two from Font gets Garbrandtās attention, and a front kick leads to an audible groan from the former champ. The Bostonian tries to land the same strike again, but he turns it into several punches that hurt Garbrandt. When a right hand lands, Garbrandt shoots in for a takedown, and it is stuffed right before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Font
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Font
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Font
Round 3
The two touch gloves to start out the third round, and Font clips Garbrandt with a right hand. Garbrandt retreats, only to get jabbed to the head and body. A stern leg kick makes Font recoil his leg, and as Font looks to make him pay, Garbrandt stings him with a right hook. Font gathers himself and plants the ball of his foot in Garbrandtās solar plexus. Font flicks out several jabs as Garbrandt is trying to measure his right hand, and he lands two punches to make Font back away. Font hurts Garbrandt with a right hand, and Garbrandt bounces off the fence before circling away. The jabs have bloodied the nose of the former champion, who cannot seem to find the timing or range of this strike. Garbrandt again jabs with his foot, and he stutter-steps to make Garbrandt take a funny step back int the cage. Font smashes Garbrandt on the chin with an uppercut, and Garbrandt is dazed and pursues a takedown. Font reverses the position after stuffing it, and he considers his own takedown as he wraps his arms around Garbrandtās waist. Font abandons it to land a few left hands in the clinch, although he does flirt with a few mild trip attempts with his legs. Font tosses Garbrandt down to the ground, and he drops down several punches to the midsection before Garbrandt explodes back up. Font paws out several more jabs when both are upright, and a one-two bothers Garbrandt. Although Garbrandt responds with a counter, the strike is more for a setup to take the fight down. Font sprawls, and he gets back up and frees himself. Back in the center of the cage, Fontās jab is paying dividends as he lands it one after the other. Garbrandt lands one, and when Font rips the body, Garbrandt nods and tries to initiate a brawl. Font does not bite on the reckless exchange, but he still gets caught on the outside from a big punch. Garbrandtās hands are by his waist as he wants the home-run punch, and Font does not change his rhythm and instead keeps the jab flowing. Garbrandt slips a jab and lands a left hand, but Font scores a leg kick right as the horn ends the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Font
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Font
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Font
Round 4
As the fourth round is about to begin, Dean halts them momentarily so that a piece of tape can be cut from Garbrandtās wrist. The fight resumes as Font gets back into his rhythm, and he absorbs a leg kick in the early going. Fontās feints and fakes get Garbrandt to bite, and he lands a few long punches to make Garbrandt backpedal. The two bantamweights trade single jabs, and Font has two punches skim past the bears. When Garbrandt loads up on a punch, Font is right there to walk through it and hit him back harder. Font ends a combination with a body shot, and then strides after Garbrandt to sting him with a leg kick. Garbrandt responds with one to the calf, and Garbrandt changes levels for a takedown. Font stuffs it and deals some damage with body shots, and Garbrandtās hands fall by his waist. Font knows not to challenge him when this counter trap comes together, and he backs off until Garbrandt puts his guard back up. Font walks in with several jabs, and a few punches get through the guard and ring Garbrandtās bell. Two to the body and two to the head come from Font, who is feeling himself right now as Garbrandtās face bloodies up fast. Font ducks a looping shot to ring home an uppercut, and his jab is interspersed between combinations. Garbrandt fakes a takedown attempt, and Font nearly sprawls before gathering himself and jabbing his foe. A few jabs from Font lead to a right hand, and Font boots Garbrandt in the head for good measure. The jabs continue to mount for Font, as Garbrandt is forced into a defensive posture as he eats a clean right hand across the forward bow. Garbrandtās chin has held up, even as Font stops a takedown and drills him in the face with an elbow. Fontās lightning-quick jabs break up any momentum Garbrandt tries to put together, and several land consecutively as Garbrandt grimaces. Font just misses with a looping right hand, and we have reached the 20-minute mark.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Font
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Font
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Font
Round 5
There is one last glove touch to begin the final frame, and Font picks up where he left off in the last round with several sharp jabs. Garbrandt looks to meet him with a few of his own, and he catches Font ducking down with a few stern uppercuts. Garbrandt crashes forward into a clinch, and he lands a few short punches that surprise Font. The Boston native breaks free and slings a front kick, before landing several punches as Garbrandt circles and escapes. Garbrandt is fully loaded up on his punches, and a big left hand catches Font standing still. Garbrandt follows him with two more, but Font is there with body shots. A clinch leads to strikes from both men, with Font landing to the body and Garbrandt getting off several uppercuts. Garbrandt sets up his hands-down approach to lure Font into a bad situation, and Font sees it and rolls out. Font slips a punch to blast the former champ with an uppercut, and Garbrandt is wobbled but not going down. Instead, Garbrandt reaches out with a kick, and Font grabs it and throws his opponent into the cage wall. Garbrandt stays on his feet and throws back with reckless abandon, but Font is nowhere to be found. Fond wades forward with jab after jab, and Garbrandtās hands go back down to his waist as he takes a jab on the chin. Garbrandt rings home a huge right hand that staggers Font for a second, but Font gathers his bearings and lands a few more jabs. A kick for Garbrandt allows Font to throw him down, but Garbrandt springs back up and looks at the ground to start a brawl. Garbrandt backs away from jabs, but Font measures him and hurts him with a right hand. Font marches forward with a head kick and another one-two, and Garbrandtās chin appears to be fading fast. Garbrandt shoots in for a takedown, and Font sees it coming, tosses him aside and lands three punches. When Garbrandt looses a head kick, Font pushes it away and fires off several more jabs. A bit of blood from Garbrandtās face splashes on to the camera lens, and Font keeps working him with punches. Garbrandt swings for a desperation spinning back fist, and when Font ducks it, the ex-champ shoves him over to climb into top position. With seconds to spare, Garbrandt pounds away, but Font is protecting himself from harm and rides out the round. This will be a huge win for Font, who puts himself on an impressive four-fight win streak with his sights set on a future championship opportunity. The UFC is off next weekend after this long run, so we will be back in two weeks with a jam-packed Fight Night show.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Font (49-46 Font)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Font (49-46 Font)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Font (49-46 Font)
The Official Result
Rob Font def. Cody Garbrandt via Unanimous Decision (48-47, 50-45, 50-45)
Big Brady picks Rob Font based on Font's higher output (5.21 significant strikes per minute vs 3.33), a six-inch reach advantage, and durability (never knocked out) compared to Cody Garbrandt's three knockout losses. He notes the smaller cage favors Font and that Garbrandt's low-volume style against Assuncao won't work here. He expects a knockout but acknowledges Garbrandt's power could end it.
Cody Saftic picks Rob Font, citing Font's durability, reach advantage (5-6 inches), and ability to mix in leg kicks. He believes Garbrandt's chin is compromised from hard training and past knockouts, and that Font will break him down over time, likely getting a knockout in the second or third round. Saftic notes that Garbrandt fades in later rounds and that Font's takedown defense and comfort on the ground will neutralize any wrestling threat.
Daniel Levi picks Cody Garbrandt, arguing that Garbrandt has more ways to win with his footwork, kicks, and D1 wrestling. He notes that Rob Font has been hurt in fights before (e.g., against Munoz and Assuncao) and that Garbrandt's last win got his confidence back. He believes Garbrandt can beat Font at his own game in boxing and that Font's recent wins over declining opponents don't prove he's ready for the top three.
Matt leans toward Rob Font, citing Font's more versatile eight-limb striking compared to Cody's boxing-heavy approach. He notes Font's six-inch reach advantage and his ability to attack with leg kicks to slow Cody down. However, he acknowledges Cody's speed, power, and crisp boxing, and admits low confidence due to the fight being a pick'em. He predicts Font may finish late, possibly in the third round, but is not confident enough to place a significant bet.
Paul Shaughnessy agrees with Saftic, picking Font. He emphasizes Garbrandt's low output (66 significant strikes in the Cruz fight, 19 against Assuncao) and Font's volume advantage. He notes that Font's reach and jab will cause problems, and that if the fight goes the distance, Font will land significantly more strikes. He also mentions the possibility of betting Font live if he survives the early rounds.
The MMA Guru predicts Rob Font will win by second-round TKO via uppercut. He expects Font to win the first round with his jab at range. In the second round, Garbrandt will become more aggressive and try to slip the jab, but Font will time an uppercut as Garbrandt dips down, putting him down for the finish.
Augusto Mendes - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 83 of 161 | 51% | 162 of 246 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 6:00 |
| Augusto Mendes | 1 | 30 of 91 | 32% | 76 of 145 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 3:13 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 23 of 46 | 50% | 43 of 68 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:24 |
| Augusto Mendes | 1 | 9 of 20 | 45% | 33 of 48 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:11 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 23 of 46 | 50% | 59 of 85 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:27 |
| Augusto Mendes | 0 | 12 of 30 | 40% | 24 of 45 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:35 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 37 of 69 | 53% | 60 of 93 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:09 |
| Augusto Mendes | 0 | 9 of 41 | 21% | 19 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:27 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 83 of 161 | 51% | 28 of 90 | 46 of 55 | 9 of 16 | 53 of 117 | 10 of 12 | 20 of 32 |
| Augusto Mendes | 30 of 91 | 32% | 16 of 73 | 7 of 11 | 7 of 7 | 24 of 84 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 23 of 46 | 50% | 1 of 15 | 18 of 21 | 4 of 10 | 7 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 25 |
| Augusto Mendes | 9 of 20 | 45% | 3 of 13 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 4 | 7 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 23 of 46 | 50% | 8 of 27 | 12 of 15 | 3 of 4 | 14 of 33 | 5 of 6 | 4 of 7 |
| Augusto Mendes | 12 of 30 | 40% | 5 of 22 | 4 of 5 | 3 of 3 | 8 of 26 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 37 of 69 | 53% | 19 of 48 | 16 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 32 of 63 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Augusto Mendes | 9 of 41 | 21% | 8 of 38 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 41 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Sterling opens with some heavy kicks to the lead leg of "Tanquinho," who spends the opening minute coming forward but isn't able to do much effective striking. Sterling goes to the body with a right hand, waits for Mendes to step forward again, then changes levels for a takedown at the base of the fence. Mendes shifts underneath and drops back for a heel hook, forcing Sterling to stand up and pull his leg free. Sterling kicks at the legs of Mendes until referee Mario Yamasaki orders the Brazilian back to his feet. Sterling gets clipped with a right hand and has to quickly extract his head from a guillotine as Mendes jumps guard. Mendes switches to a triangle/armbar attempt, then switches to an omoplata and sweeps to top position. Sterling sits up and drives forward as Mendes sizes him up for another guillotine. Sterling seems unfazed and easily frees his head again, and now it's Sterling on top with one minute left in the round. Mendes holds Sterling in butterfly guard as the New Yorker pounds away with short right hands to the ribs.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Sterling
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Sterling
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Sterling
Round 2
Sterling catches Mendes coming forward and clips the Brazilian with a right hand over the top. The "Funkmaster" presses Mendes against the wall with an underhook and stomps at his feet, then scores with a knee to the body. Mendes reverses with double underhooks, now with three minutes on the clock, looking to trip Sterling to the floor. Sterling hops on one foot but can't escape Mendes' clutches, and now Tanquinho scores with a knee to the body. There's not much happening in the clinch, and finally the bantamweights separate with 80 seconds left in the round. Sterling is pressing forward with punches on the suddenly tired-looking Mendes, but not landing anything cleanly. Sterling hits a trip takedown with 30 seconds left and now begins to score with some hammerfists in the final moments.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Sterling
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Sterling
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Sterling
Round 3
Sterling places a pair of left hands on the face of Mendes in the opening minute. After mixing in a few kicks, the New Yorker comes back with a clubbing left hook that turns Mendes' head. Sterling gets caught leaning inside and nearly has his neck snatched up by Mendes, but Sterling drops to his knees and frees himself from the potential choke. Back up comes Sterling to once again press Mendes against the cage with an underhook. Mendes reverses to the outside but can't do anything with the position before referee Yamasaki breaks up the fighters. Down to the final two minutes now, Mendes swings and misses with a big right hand but his momentum carries him forward and allows him to clinch Sterling against the wall. Sterling loops right hands around the back of Mendes' head, while Mendes seems content to lean Sterling against the wall. Sterling reverses, blocks an attempt by Mendes to reap a leg, then scores a takedown of his own. Mendes posts and stands immediately, marching forward on Sterling with 30 seconds on the clock. Sterling looks the fresher man down the stretch, evading Mendes' punches and countering with a big right hand. Sterling puts a pair of lefts on Mendes' jaw in the closing seconds, and this one will go to the judges.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Sterling (30-27 Sterling)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Sterling (30-27 Sterling)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Sterling (30-27 Sterling)
The Official Result
Aljamain Sterling def. Augusto Mendes via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusto Mendes | 1 | 40 of 106 | 37% | 49 of 116 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2:33 |
| Frankie Saenz | 0 | 42 of 109 | 38% | 74 of 142 | 4 of 9 | 44% | 0 | 0 | 2:13 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Augusto Mendes | 0 | 15 of 40 | 37% | 15 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Frankie Saenz | 0 | 16 of 39 | 41% | 28 of 52 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:51 | |
| 2 | Augusto Mendes | 1 | 11 of 39 | 28% | 13 of 41 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:48 |
| Frankie Saenz | 0 | 11 of 29 | 37% | 26 of 44 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:46 | |
| 3 | Augusto Mendes | 0 | 14 of 27 | 51% | 21 of 35 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:45 |
| Frankie Saenz | 0 | 15 of 41 | 36% | 20 of 46 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:36 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusto Mendes | 40 of 106 | 37% | 16 of 68 | 12 of 24 | 12 of 14 | 26 of 87 | 13 of 18 | 1 of 1 |
| Frankie Saenz | 42 of 109 | 38% | 33 of 95 | 6 of 8 | 3 of 6 | 30 of 89 | 12 of 19 | 0 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Augusto Mendes | 15 of 40 | 37% | 4 of 23 | 5 of 11 | 6 of 6 | 13 of 36 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Frankie Saenz | 16 of 39 | 41% | 11 of 31 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 5 | 11 of 30 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 1 | |
| 2 | Augusto Mendes | 11 of 39 | 28% | 6 of 27 | 3 of 8 | 2 of 4 | 6 of 32 | 4 of 6 | 1 of 1 |
| Frankie Saenz | 11 of 29 | 37% | 9 of 26 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 9 of 26 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Augusto Mendes | 14 of 27 | 51% | 6 of 18 | 4 of 5 | 4 of 4 | 7 of 19 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Frankie Saenz | 15 of 41 | 36% | 13 of 38 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 33 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Garbrandt | 1 | 11 of 41 | 26% | 11 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Augusto Mendes | 0 | 11 of 38 | 28% | 11 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Garbrandt | 1 | 11 of 41 | 26% | 11 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Augusto Mendes | 0 | 11 of 38 | 28% | 11 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Garbrandt | 11 of 41 | 26% | 8 of 37 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 39 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 |
| Augusto Mendes | 11 of 38 | 28% | 5 of 26 | 0 of 1 | 6 of 11 | 10 of 36 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Garbrandt | 11 of 41 | 26% | 8 of 37 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 39 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 |
| Augusto Mendes | 11 of 38 | 28% | 5 of 26 | 0 of 1 | 6 of 11 | 10 of 36 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Garbrandt opens with a kick to the leg of Mendes, then one to the body. A left hook gets the attention of āTanquinho,ā who is on his back foot, looking to avoid Garbrandtās hard early punches. Ninety seconds in, Mendes starts pressing forward. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist steps into the pocket and gets clipped with a punch, then drops to guard, trying to draw Garbrandt down to the ground. Garbrandt has a brief scare as Mendes gets hold of his right arm, but the Team Alpha Male product pulls out and wants Mendes back on his feet to resume the striking. Garbrandt looks to come over the top with hard right hands but Mendes is leery, dodging the strikes. Leg kicks continue to land for Garbrandt as they enter the final minute of the round. āNo Loveā comes in to clinch and gets popped with a nice uppercut from Mendes that makes him back away. In the middle of the cage, Garbrandt explodes with a three-piece combination, connecting with an overhand right that puts Mendes on the floor. Thereās momentary confusion as referee Mario Yamasaki steps between the fighters. Yamasaki does not signal an end to the bout, so Garbrandt steps around him and drops one more punch on the dazed Mendes, and now Yamasaki stops the fight.
The Official Result
Cody Garbrandt def. Augusto Mendes via TKO (Punches) R1 4:18
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