Garbrandt plans to drop down and ‘save the flyweight division’

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Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt revealed some major plans for his next career move.

Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt is looking at a future 125-pounds. In a recent interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, “No Love” says these plans will take place after he takes care of some business at 135 pounds.

“I’m looking at going at 125 (pounds). That’s what I want to go do,” Garbrandt said. “I’m young, I can do it, I walk around at 145 pounds. I think I got down to, sometimes after sparring sessions, 142, 143. I’m still strong, fast for my weight, I can keep that at 125.

“That’s the plan that’s cool with me and Ali (Abdelaziz). We spoke about doing this. Of course, we’re focused on Rafael (Assuncao), and that’s still the fight to make and the fight next. And then go down and really save the flyweight division.”

The 28-year-old Garbrandt, who’s been training with Mark Henry in New Jersey, says he is making this move after fellow Dominance MMA fighter Henry Cejudo left the 125-pound division.

“Henry wanted to leave and he’s set with 135, so I’ll go down to 125 and just resume there and they’ve got a lot of talent there, and I could bounce back-and-forth,” he said.

Garbrandt is currently on a three-fight skid. He last competed last March at UFC 235 where he lost to Pedro Munhoz via first-round knockout.

Because of kidney issues, Garbrandt was forced out of his scheduled co-headliner fight against Assuncao at UFC Columbus, an event that ended up being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.