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Cody Garbrandt wants to return at UFC 290 and has an opponent in mind.
Garbrandt and Yahya were slated to meet one other twice in 2022, however, both contests collapsed when Yahya pulled because of an injury. Before making a comeback versus Trevin Jones at UFC 285 a few weeks ago, "No Love" took note of his injuries. He received a unanimous decision victory.
It was Cody Garbrandt's second victory in his past seven starts and his first since 2020. After losing the bantamweight championship to T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 217, when they had a revenge fight, the 31-year-old has had a severely poor performance in the cage.
However, Yahya's matchup with Montel Jackson at UFC Fight Night 222 is set for April 22. Garbrandt thinks they may rematch on July 8 at UFC 290 if Yahya survives the Jackson bout uninjured.
The former bantamweight champion was questioned on MMA Junkie Radio regarding his upcoming match and likely foe.
“I’d like to fight International Fight Week. My birthday is July 7. The fight’s July 8, so it would be great to weigh in on my birthday, fight the next day, (and) get a big win. I saw Rani Yahya is slated to fight in April, so if he wins, hopefully, he can fight in July. That’s something I look forward to, fighting him.”
He further added:
“He’s (Yahya) got a lot of records in the bantamweight division, riding a three-fight win streak, probably the best grappler in our division, so I would like to test my grappling skills against him. It’s already been two camps I was supposed to fight him, and he pulled out twice two weeks before the fight. So that would be my ideal fight July 8.”
Yahya, who is known for his grappling skills, has a professional record of 28-10-1 and has won his last two fights in the UFC. Despite his recent struggles, Garbrandt remains one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC. Known for his knockout power and aggressive style, Garbrandt has earned 10 of his 13 professional wins by knockout.
If the fight is rebooked for UFC 290 in July, it will be interesting to see how Garbrandt approaches the matchup. Will he look to keep the fight standing and use his striking to knock out Yahya, or will he try to take the fight to the ground and test his grappling skills against one of the best submission artists in the UFC?
Regardless of how the fight plays out, it is sure to be an exciting matchup between two of the best bantamweights in the UFC. Garbrandt is hungry to get back in the win column and prove that he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level, while Yahya is looking to continue his winning streak and prove that he is more than just a one-dimensional grappler.
Fans of the UFC will no doubt be eagerly anticipating this matchup, and if Garbrandt gets his wish, we could see these two fighters square off at UFC 290 in July.