Cody Garbrandt Floats Idea of Flyweight Title Clash With Deiveson Figueiredo

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC

A one-time UFC bantamweight titleholder, Cody 'No Love' Garbrandt - has set sights on a drop to 125-pounds and a new flyweight excursion, opposite recently minted undisputed gold holder, Deiveson Figueiredo.

The Ohio puncher snapped a devastating three-fight knockout skid in June, stopping longtime bantamweight contender, Raphael Assunção - with a klaxon beating Knockout of the Year candidate opposite the Brazilian. Just a month removed from the outing, Garbrandt looks to follow through on pre-existing blueprints to test flyweight waters.

In an interview with ESPN reporter, Brett Okamoto - the 29-year-old revealed he had spoken to UFC president, Dana White during the promotion leader's trip to Yas Island, and after some deliberating spoke of his intentions to meet with Figueiredo - preceding as the division's number-one contender.

"As far as I know, Garbrandt said when asked if he's the number-one contender. "I don't have a contract in hand, I'm waiting on that. I talked to Dana (White) when he was on 'Fight Island' and he said, 'I'll work on it. I just got done working out and I weigh 145-pounds. I don't cut weight to fight at 135(-pounds). I can be very dangerous (at flyweight) and at 135(-pounds)."

A move to flyweight for Garbrandt - would mark his first appearance at 125-pounds under the promotion's banner. In ten Octagon appearances, Garbrandt has remained a bantamweight staple and has competed as high as featherweight in just his second professional outing.

Rising to Octagon prominence, the Team Alpha MMA and Mark Henry product earned a title opportunity against two-time champion, Dominick Cruz back in December 2016 - with a stunning first-round finish of Thomas Almeida. In a majorly one-sided win, Garbrandt took the title with a dominant five-round unanimous decision.

Faltering in his first championship defence, an overly emotional Garbrandt dropped a second-round knockout to former teammate and bitter enemy, T.J. Dillashaw - before losing to the Duane Ludwig trainee in an immediate rematch. Capping off a three-fight losing run, Garbrandt once again abandoned a gameplan and suffered his third consecutive knockout defeat in a matchup alongside Pedro Munhoz at UFC 235 last March.

For Brazilian power-puncher, Figueiredo - following his second straight stoppage of Joseph Benavidez, the 32-year-old earmarked his intentions to lodge multiple title defences at 125-pounds, with contenders such as Brandon Moreno, Alex Perez, and Askar Askarov chomping at the bit to stand opposite the Pará native in his first attempted defence.