Cody Garbrandt is hoping to get his fight against Rani Yahya rebooked.
Garbrandt and Yahya were booked to fight twice in 2022 in July and October, but both times Yahya was forced out of both fights. Yet as Yahya is set to return on April 22 against Montel Jackson, Garbrandt says if the Brazilian wins, he would like to get the fight rebooked for UFC 290 which is International Fight Week.
Cody Garbrandt Still Wants to Fight Rani Yahya
“I’d like to fight International Fight Week,” Garbrandt told MMA Junkie Radio. “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’s 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.”
It is Personal Now for Cody Garbrandt and Rani Yahya
Although Yahya is booked and has pulled out twice, Garbrandt says he wants the fight to make Yahya pay for making him for through two fight camps for nothing.
“July 8, I’m getting ready for whatever – hopefully Rani Yahya,” Garbrandt added. “It’s two fights that he’s pulled out, so I’d really like to whoop his ass just for that. That’s two fight camps you didn’t get paid for.”
Garbrandt (13-5) snapped his two-fight losing skid last time out with a lackluster decision win over Jones at UFC 285. Prior to that, he suffered first-round knockout loss to Kai Kara-France in his flyweight debut, and after that fight, he moved back up to 135lbs. Before the flyweight scrap, he suffered a decision loss to Rob Font.
