“I’ll do something about it,” may prove to be the five most lucrative words Cody Garbrandt has ever uttered.
With the target on Conor McGregor’s back increasing in size every time the UFC put on a show, a new contender has joined the Red Panty Night queue and has skipped a whole bunch of places.
Cody Garbrandt may have solidified himself as one of the UFC’s hottest commodities with his stunning dismantling of Dominick Cruz in UFC 207’s main event. The young, heavily tattooed power-puncher entered into the contest as an underdog against arguably the greatest 135 lber ever, but his sheer dominance in winning the bantamweight belt made those betting lines look very foolish in hindsight.
Cruz never even came close to winning the fight. Garbrandt made it look easy.
And new… #UFC207 https://t.co/xJgXbFy4Zx
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) December 31, 2016
Where do you go from beating the greatest in the division? While former champion TJ Dillashaw will be hoping his phenomenal showing against John Lineker on the same card will be enough to earn him a chance to win back what once was his, Garbrandt has other ideas for his next trip to the Octagon.
Speaking on the MMA Hour, he admitted a featherweight title fight against Jose Aldo would be of massive interest to him, while he’d also be well up for taking on lightweight champion Conor McGregor in a catchweight contest.
“I need to sit down with Dana (White) and Sean (Shelby) and find out the biggest money-fight for me. I can go up a weight (to fight) Jose Aldo. He has wins over my teammates, he’s a legend, I’d like to test his chin. I know I hit hard and I’m just getting started.”
“I’d easily go up (to fight Conor McGregor), but my homie Nate Diaz choked him out and I can’t believe he’s the pound-for-pound number two on the list when he got choked out.”
Aldo seems to be who Garbrandt has his sights set on for the moment as he wishes to exact revenge for Scarface’s wins over his Team Alpha Male teammates including Urijah Faber and Chad Mendes. However, he’ll only be willing to sign on the dotted line if the money is right.
“I think I saw Jose Aldo say he’d like to fight me, I’d like to test his chin. He’s got wins over my teammates and I want to get those back. But I just have to sit down with my management team, Sean, Dana and see what fights are the best for me to get us all rich, to get us all paid.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOwDw3bgd6R/?hl=en
Despite pushing hard for the Aldo fight, if an opportunity to take on McGregor presented itself, very few fighters would turn it down.
Garbrandt is no different.
“I’m in this sport to challenge myself. I just beat Dominick handily. I’m ready for a bigger challenge. I think Jose Aldo is tough, I respect him, but I want to test his chin. I hit like a Mack truck.”
“Conor too. He knows that. I’d go up to 150 lb to have a catchweight bout with him. Jose Aldo. I’d go up to 145, but I’m excited for the potential match-ups for me and I think I’m the biggest draw.”
What Garbrandt has going for him that gives him an advantage over most others calling out McGregor is history. The pair clashed on the Ultimate Fighter season 22 when McGregor was coaching opposite his teammate Urijah Faber. Garbrandt. The clip of the two fighters squaring off did a hell of a job of selling that episode to the masses.
Imagine what it could do to sell a fight.
“Me and Conor have the beef on the Ultimate Fighter. I have nothing against the guy, but it’s a business to me. If someone put their hands on me and I didn’t do shit about it, I’d be wanting to get them back, that’s for sure.”
“No Love” gets it. Watch this space.
