Cody Garbrandt

Garbrandt started quickly, but Yañez changed the exchange with counter right hands. Punches from both hands dropped Garbrandt and ended the bout at 2:47 of round one.

Key moments

• Garbrandt started the fight quickly.
• Yañez changed the exchange with counter right hands.
• Punches from both hands dropped Garbrandt and forced the stoppage at 2:47.

A bizarre fight in which Xiao Long was docked two points in round three for repeated low blows — one left Garbrandt retching mid-cage. Garbrandt recovered to take 28-27 cards across the board.

Key moments

• A competitive striking battle early.
• Repeated groin strikes by Xiao Long.
• A two-point deduction in round three.
• Garbrandt pot-shotted his way to the decision.

Figueiredo took Garbrandt's back early in round two, worked an arm-triangle from mount and then secured a body-triangle and rear-naked choke for the tap.

Key moments

• Figueiredo ducked under to the back.
• Mount and arm-triangle pressure.
• A second back-take with a body triangle.
• Rear-naked choke finish at 4:02.

A walk-off one-punch knockout with a perfectly timed right hand — Garbrandt's first finish since 2020 and the start of brief back-to-back wins.

Key moments

• A timed counter right hand.
• Kelleher dropped face-first.
• A walk-off finish, no follow-up needed.
• His first finish since 2020.

A return to form: Garbrandt out-struck Jones and mixed in grappling, including two round-two takedowns and a brief rear-naked choke attempt, to snap a skid.

Key moments

• Cleaner striking throughout.
• Two takedowns in round two.
• A brief rear-naked choke threat.
• Snapped a losing skid.

Garbrandt's flyweight debut ended in a first-round TKO after Kara-France dropped him twice with right hands. A brief takedown bought Garbrandt time, but Kara-France finished with ground strikes before referee Herb Dean intervened.

Key moments

• Garbrandt's first and only fight at flyweight.
• Kara-France dropped him twice with right hands in the first round.
• A takedown by Garbrandt briefly delayed the finish.
• Kara-France's second straight first-round stoppage — a statement win in the flyweight division.

Font out-boxed Garbrandt over five rounds, controlling the pace with a sharp jab and right straight.

Key moments

• Font controlled the distance with a persistent jab throughout.
• Garbrandt tried takedowns early but couldn't sustain the pressure.
• Font bled Garbrandt with clean combinations over the championship rounds.
• Two judges scored it 50-45 — a dominant margin on the cards.

With one second left in round two, Garbrandt landed a perfect straight right that knocked Assunção out cold at the buzzer — a contender for Knockout of the Year and a stunning end to a three-fight losing skid. Garbrandt had spent the round working calf kicks before detonating the punch.

Key moments

• He mixed in calf kicks and feints to set up openings in round two.
• The knockout punch landed with one second remaining in the round.
• Assunção was knocked cold at the horn in one of the year's most dramatic finishes.

A wild first-round slug fest that ended with Garbrandt's third straight knockout defeat. After trading hard shots — including a monstrous knee from Garbrandt — Munhoz landed a flush right cross that dropped Garbrandt, then followed with finishing punches with nine seconds remaining in the round.

Key moments

• Both fighters traded hard right crosses in an explosive opener.
• An accidental head butt briefly floored Garbrandt early.
• Garbrandt responded with a monstrous knee to Munhoz's face.
• Munhoz's right hand dropped Garbrandt and he finished on the ground — Garbrandt's third straight KO loss.

The bantamweight title rematch played out in familiar fashion: Garbrandt wobbled Dillashaw early with a hook, but over-eagerness left him open and Dillashaw dropped him twice before finishing with a knee against the cage. The fight was stopped at 4:17 of round one, with Dillashaw retaining the belt.

Key moments

• Garbrandt landed an early hook that visibly staggered Dillashaw.
• Over-commitment on a big hook left Garbrandt open to Dillashaw's counter.
• Dillashaw dropped Garbrandt twice before finishing with a knee to the face against the cage.
• Dillashaw retained the bantamweight title — Garbrandt's second straight first-round KO loss.

Garbrandt lost his bantamweight title in a wild two-round fight at Madison Square Garden. He controlled round one and dropped Dillashaw, nearly finishing — but Dillashaw survived and stormed back in round two, stopping the champion with a left head kick and follow-up strikes.

Key moments

• Garbrandt knocked down Dillashaw late in round one and almost finished him.
• Dillashaw recovered between rounds and came out in round two with urgency.
• A left kick to the head staggered Garbrandt, setting up the TKO finish.

Garbrandt became UFC bantamweight champion with a dominant five-round performance over the great Dominick Cruz, out-moving and out-boxing the champion with precision and power.

Key moments

• Garbrandt matched Cruz's footwork and head movement from the opening bell.
• Dropped Cruz multiple times, including four knockdowns in round four.
• Taunted Cruz after a knockdown in round four — a flash-point moment of the fight.

After Mizugaki landed early kicks, Garbrandt countered with a sharp combination that dropped him, then swarmed with left hands to force the stoppage. After the fight he called out champion Dominick Cruz, who was in the building.

Key moments

• Mizugaki opened with low kicks but was quickly countered.
• A step-in right hand from Garbrandt dropped Mizugaki.
• Left-hand follow-up strikes forced the referee stoppage at 0:48.

Garbrandt took a late-replacement opponent — Mendes accepted on six days notice at catchweight — and delivered another first-round TKO in Pittsburgh. He avoided a guillotine attempt when Mendes pulled guard, then landed a left hook and right cross combination that dropped Mendes before the stoppage.

Key moments

• Original opponent John Lineker withdrew with illness less than a week out.
• Mendes, a BJJ black belt, pulled guard and briefly threatened a guillotine.
• A left hook and right cross combination dropped Mendes for the TKO finish.

Garbrandt made his UFC debut against the experienced Marcus Brimage and earned a third-round TKO, fighting for a Fight of the Night bonus in his promotional introduction. After a right hand caught Brimage flush, Garbrandt swarmed and a final vicious strike slumped Brimage against the cage with ten seconds remaining in the round.

Key moments

• UFC debut on the Jones vs. Cormier card at UFC 182.
• Went three rounds — the fight earned a Fight of the Night bonus.
• A right hand caught Brimage flush to spark the finish sequence.
• TKO at 4:50 of round three, with Herb Dean stopping the bout.

Garbrandt defended the NAAFS bantamweight title against Stanford in Canton, Ohio, stopping him in the first round.

Key moments

• A regional title defence in Garbrandt's home state of Ohio.
• Fifth consecutive finish — all five wins came by knockout or TKO.
• First-round stoppage at 1:37, consistent with his pattern of quick finishes.

Garbrandt won the Pinnacle FC bantamweight title with a first-round TKO over James Porter in Pittsburgh.

Key moments

• Pinnacle FC bantamweight title fight in Pittsburgh.
• Fourth consecutive first-round knockout finish.
• TKO stoppage at 2:17 of round one.

Garbrandt returned from a near-year-long layoff and showed no rust, stopping Shane Manley in the first round at Iceoplex in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.

Key moments

• Returned from a near-year layoff without showing any ring rust.
• First-round KO stoppage at 3:57.
• Second professional win, both by knockout.

Garbrandt made his professional MMA debut at Pinnacle FC in Pittsburgh and stopped Charles Kessinger in the first round with punches. The performance announced him as a natural finisher from his very first professional appearance.

Key moments

• Professional MMA debut at age 21.
• First-round TKO at 4:11, stopped by referee with Kessinger slumped against the cage.
• Competed at a catch weight above bantamweight for this debut fight.