Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt STUNS Brian Kelleher with a first-round walk-off knockout before calling out Deiveson Figueiredo in Las Vegas
- Garbrandt won the bantamweight title in 2016 before winning one of his next six
- With Saturday's win, he improved his record to 14-5 with 11 knockouts
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Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt scored his second straight victory by knocking out Brian Kelleher in the first round at UFC 296.
The fight started back and forth with Kelleher using leg kicks on the former champion. However, Garbrandt's forward pressure and combinations began to break through Kelleher's defense as he headed for the early finish.
He staggered and chased Kelleher into an exchange before landing a clean right hook in the center of the Octagon.
Kelleher fell face first and Garbrandt walked away when referee Mark Goddard stopped the fight at 3:42.
On a trip back to the title picture, the 32-year-old called for a fight against former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo.
Cody Garbrandt scored a first-round walk-off knockout against Brian Kelleher at UFC 296
Garbrandt called out Deiveson Figueiredo after the fast finish in his second straight win
“This fight is long overdue.” Garbrandt said. “You're in my division now. So in April or May it would be a great fight with you, Deiveson Figueiredo.”
“I'm going back there, I'll stay busy in 2024,” he added.
Garbrandt won the bantamweight title in 2016 in a dominant performance against Dominic Cruz. He first captured the title as an undefeated, 11-0, fighter.
Two subsequent losses to former teammate TJ Dillashaw then led to him winning only one of his next six fights. Garbrandt returned to the win column in March by defeating Trevin Jones.
With Saturday's win, he moves to a 14-5 record with 11 knockouts.