Did Cody Garbrandt win All-State honors as a football player?
Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt boasts one of the most skilled fighters on the UFC roster. Apart from his wrestling and boxing credentials, 'No Love' also played football before venturing into MMA.
Growing up in Uhrichsville, California, Cody Garbrandt participated in many sporting events to channel his aggression into something productive. Courtesy of his natural gifts, Garbrandt excelled at every sport with ease.
During his junior season, Cody Garbrandt played football and won All-State honors as a linebacker for the Claymont Mustangs Football team. Subsequently, Garbrandt also became a Senior National All-American in 2010. Garbrandt's high school stats are listed at Maxpreps.com.
Since Garbrandt was more intrigued by combat sports, the former NCAA Division Two wrestler focused on his wrestling and boxing career in his senior year. Garbrandt eventually amassed a stellar record of 32-0 as an amateur boxer.
The 32-year-old's ferocious fighting style earned him the monicker 'No Love' during his amateur career. In 2012, the Team Alpha Male member kicked off his pro-MMA career after dropping out of Notre Dame College in Cleveland, Ohio.
Three years later, Garbrandt entered the UFC octagon and secured a TKO win over Marcus Brimage. He has been a staple of the UFC roster since then.
Cody Garbrandt is set to take on Brian Kelleher next
Garbrandt's UFC career started on a high note as he secured back-to-back knockout wins in the bantamweight division, which was not a common occurrence back in the day. The impressive resume earned him a shot at the former champion Dominick Cruz and 'No Love' dethroned the bantamweight great with a dominant performance at UFC 207.
Unfortunately, the title win turned out to be the last big achievement of the Team Alpha Male standout. He went on a 2-5 skid afterward and lost four of those bouts via T/KO. Garbrandt also tried his hand in the flyweight division and faced Kai-Kara France in his divisional debut at UFC 269. However, a devastating knockout loss foiled his plans to make a run for the 125-pound title.
Garbrandt got back in the win column with a unanimous decision win over Trevin Jones at UFC 285. The newest member of UFC's matchmaking machinery, Joe Reeves, showed confidence in Garbrandt's abilities when he joined the team earlier this year. Reeves booked the former bantamweight champion against Brian Kelleher as his first matchmaking assignment.