Garbrandt wants to become Ultimate's first 'three-time champion' (Photo: UFC)
The objectives of cody garbrandt, recently installed as bantamweight champion (up to 61 kg.), go beyond their own division. The North American intends to own the UFC belt in two other categories, the flyweight (57 kg.) and featherweight (66 kg.), reigned by Demetrious Johnson e José Aldorespectively.
The bantamweight, which dethroned Dominick Cruz in December last year, he said he had his eye first on Mighty Mouse, owner of the flyweight belt. Johnson faces the Brazilian Wilson reis in April and could equal the record for consecutive belt defenses (10), a feat that only Anderson Silva achieved so far. Garbrandt suggested that, if he beats Reis, DJ would have to pass him to get past Spider.
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“I can beat this guy, of course (…) Demetrious Johnson He's the best pound for pound with good reason, he's an incredible fighter and great person. I really like him and his family, but this is a legacy I set out to build. Friends, friends, business aside. We can put on a great fight, especially for this division”, commented Garbrandt, on Aubrey Marcus' podcast, about his desire to face Johnson.
However, the bantamweight champion's desire doesn't stop there. Undefeated in his MMA career with 11 victories, Garbrandt reiterated his dream of also reigning in the featherweight division, which he has José Aldo as the current owner of the belt and who has only had one other champion (Conor McGregor, stripped of the title at the end of last year).
“There’s something about José Aldo…I would like to face him too. He's the champion now and he has wins over my teammates, so my team knows him well. If my time comes to move up a division and Aldo is still the champion, I would love to face another legend and become a three-time UFC champion. I have 10 more years to reach these goals,” he commented.
Before realizing his dreams, however, Garbrandt will need to face his former teammate TJ Dillashaw, former champion and his challenger for the first defense of the bantamweight belt. The two trained on the 25th season of the reality show The Ultimate Fighter and are expected to face each other in the show's final.
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