UFC 217 Fallout: What's next for Cody Garbrandt?

T.J. Dillashaw (left) lands an ultimately fighting changing head kick.
The shocks of a truly immaculate UFC 217 card continued in the co-main event of the evening, as the heavy handed Cody 'No Love' Garbrandt lost his UFC Bantamweight crown at the hands of fierce rival and former Team Alpha Male teammate T.J. Dillashaw. Despite almost starching Dillashaw in the final moments of the first round with a sweetly struck counter overhand right, Garbrandt got caught with an expertly disguised head kick mid way through the second round, and the now wobbly Sacramento striker entered an exchange with T.J. where he was clipped with a short right hook before being pounded out as Dillashaw became a two time 135lbs title holder. If you take an objective view on Cody as a mixed martial artist, it has be noted that despite his incredible one punch knockout power, he is quite one dimensional compared to a guy like T.J. With superior wrestling, footwork, movement and all round kickboxing, if Dillashaw in my opinion could allow himself to remain clam and collected and prevent himself from getting bated into a firefight, he would eventually pick the fight ending shot. So, can Cody bounce back from his first professional defeat to reinstate himself into the title picture?

Dominick Cruz rematch: Not many if any can step foot into the octagon and outsmart the incredible fight IQ of former Bantamweight kingpin Dominick Cruz, but when 'No Love' took on the 32 year-old at UFC 207, he handed the analyst his first defeat since a guillotine loss to Urijah Faber in 2007. Dropping Cruz three separate times throughout their five round contest, Garbrandt was expected by many to lay claim to the rest of the contenders in the division for the foreseeable future. Looking to recover from this defeat against wrestling sensation Jimmie Rivera at December's UFC 219, a convincing victory from the Arizona slicker may potentially set up a rematch with current champ Dillashaw, but certainly Garbrandt.

Jimmie Rivera meeting: If New Jersey hotshot Jimmie Rivera can overcome Dominick Cruz, it's going to be incredibly difficult for the UFC brass and matchmakers to deny him either a title fight with Dillashaw or an eliminator with Garbrandt. Cleverly dispatching the exciting striker Thomas Almeida in his most recent outing, the youngster is currently undefeated since his UFC bow in summer 2015, 'El Terror{s}' most eye catching win on his résumé came against former WEC Featherweight champ and UFC Hall of Fame inductee Urijah Faber. Arguably Rivera presents the most favourable match up compared to Cruz or an unlikely immediate rematch with T.J.

John Lineker barnburner: One of the most exciting match ups that could be made at Bantamweight right now would see Cody Garbrandt paired off against Brazil's John ''Hands of Stone'' Lineker. With a nickname like that, the tactic and danger presented by the 27 year-old Paraná native should be obvious. With 13 separate KO victories spanning his 37 fight career, Lineker may the only man at 135lbs who could match Cody in terms of legitimate one punch stopping power. With a granite chin and an aggressive pressing style, Lineker could realistically present some real trouble for the often regarded one dimensional 'No Love'. He could also prove to be the second to really test Cody's chin.

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