Cody Garbrandt’s night at UFC Atlanta may have ended in disappointment, but his coach is saying that his journey isn’t over yet.
Once heralded as the future of the bantamweight division, Garbrandt’s meteoric rise in 2016—culminating in a flawless dismantling of Dominick Cruz—feels like a distant memory. That victory earned him the UFC gold, an undefeated record, and the praise of fans and pundits alike. But what followed has been a tumultuous journey through injuries, knockout losses, and a seeming inability to regain that once-untouchable form.
I have always, and will always be a fan of Cody Garbrandt no matter what 👊 a proper warrior inside and outside of the cage ⚔️ Nothing better than the time he absolutely styled on Dominick Cruz for 25 mins to earn bantamweight gold 🏆 what a performance 🔥#UFCAtlanta pic.twitter.com/VYlTBd4ejQ
— RedWolf🐺 (@RedWolfMMA) June 13, 2025
Plagued With Losses
His latest outing at UFC Atlanta on June 14, a unanimous decision loss to the unranked but dangerous Raoni Barcelos, adds to the once-fan-favorite’s bad luck. It’s not just the number of losses—seven in his last ten fights—it’s the narrative that accompanies them. Questions about his chin, confidence, and health issues become unavoidable. This is a former champion now on the fringe of the roster, struggling not just for victories, but for relevance.
Yet, amid the flood of voices suggesting retirement, one voice remains defiant: that of his coach, Billy Bigelow. In a post-fight message laced with loyalty and belief, Bigelow made it clear that the camp isn’t writing off “No Love” just yet. “Not our night in the office but nothing changes,” he declared. “@cody\_nolove will be back.”
First, that’s what a good coach is supposed to say. Second, you don’t make a decision after a loss period.
That said, it may be time for Cody to move on. He’s 33, and on a 3-7 loss skid, it’s time to hang it up for the sake of his own health.
He had a great run, but sometimes you must know when it’s time to go.
