Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt has no plans to walk away from mixed martial arts just yet despite suffering another setback at UFC 329.
Garbrandt endured a difficult night inside the Octagon last Saturday when Adrian Yanez stopped him via TKO in the opening round of their bantamweight clash. The defeat marked Garbrandt’s third loss in his last four fights and raised fresh questions about his future in the sport.
The former champion appeared emotional after the fight and removed his gloves as the official decision was announced, leading many fans to speculate that he was preparing to retire.
However, Cody Garbrandt has since suggested that his fighting career may not be over.In his first public statement since the loss, Garbrandt shared a message on Instagram that hinted at his determination to continue competing despite recent struggles.
“There are moments in life when hope fades, and the weight of endless problems makes the path unclear,” Garbrandt wrote.
“But remember this — you only lose when you choose to give up. Let your struggles be your fuel, not your downfall. Don’t let the storm break you. Let it strengthen your will to rise and keep fighting.”
The message quickly fueled speculation that the former bantamweight champion intends to return for at least one more fight.
Cody Garbrandt entered UFC 329 looking to build momentum after a controversial victory over Xiao Long at UFC 326 earlier this year. While he got his hand raised in that contest, multiple point deductions against Long for repeated low blows overshadowed the win.
Unfortunately for Garbrandt, he was unable to carry that momentum into his matchup with Yanez, who looked sharper and faster throughout their brief encounter.
The loss continues a difficult stretch for the 35-year-old former champion, who has struggled to recapture the form that once made him one of the UFC’s brightest stars.
Garbrandt burst onto the UFC scene in 2015 and quickly established himself as a top contender. He won his first 10 professional fights and delivered one of the most memorable performances in bantamweight history when he defeated Dominick Cruz to capture the UFC title at UFC 207 in December 2016.
The victory over Cruz cemented Cody Garbrandt as one of the sport’s elite talents. However, his reign proved short-lived.
Garbrandt lost the bantamweight title to TJ Dillashaw in his first title defense before falling again in their rematch at UFC 227. Since then, consistency has remained elusive for the former champion.
Over his last several appearances, Garbrandt has alternated between victories and defeats, with wins over fighters such as Trevin Jones, Brian Kelleher, and Xiao Long mixed in with a string of tough losses.His most recent defeat leaves him with just four wins in his last 13 UFC outings.
Despite those struggles, Garbrandt’s latest message suggests he is not ready to close the chapter on his fighting career.
For now, the future remains uncertain, but if his words are any indication, Cody Garbrandt still believes he has more left to prove inside the Octagon.
“Don’t let the storm break you,” Garbrandt wrote. “Let it strengthen your will to rise and keep fighting.”
Those words may offer the clearest indication yet that the former UFC bantamweight champion intends to keep chasing one more opportunity under the UFC banner.
