LAS VEGAS – Injuries are Cody Garbrandt’s biggest opponent right now. But the ex-UFC bantamweight champ is confident he’ll be back at the top soon.
Garbrandt is targeting a return to the cage in early 2020 after a pair of wrist injuries. And he believes a title shot against current champ Henry Cejudo isn’t far out of reach, he told MMA Junkie.
“I starch one more guy, I’m back to fighting Henry,” he said. “I’ve been up the mountain before, and I’m coming back.”
Although Garbrandt specifically mentioned current double-champ Cejudo, whose next title defense is expected at flyweight, he expressed no preference over who he fights for the title. Any comeback ending in a belt is good enough.
Garbrandt tore several ligaments and tendons in his wrist following a knockout loss to Pedro Munhoz in March. He was about to announce his next fight when he re-injured his wrist. He underwent stem cell therapy two weeks ago and received a six- to eight-week estimate for recovery time.
With a 2019 return dashed, Garbrandt said he’ll do whatever it takes to get back his title.
“I believe I am the best, and you’ve got to prove to yourself that you are the best,” he said. “It’s always me vs. me; it’s never about my adversary. If I’m good with myself, and I go in there at peace with myself, that guy across there is going to have a bad night.”
Garbrandt was in Las Vegas at the Olympia Weekend Expo to help promote the release of Limitless’ new line of health and fitness products. To hear more from “No Love,” check out the video above.
