MMA Fans will be feasting on the much anticipated UFC 202 event this weekend. Social media is on fire with Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor coverage. But beyond the bright spotlight of the main event, there are plenty of other great fights on the 202 card. One such fight will feature Takeya Mizugaki and Cody “No Love” Garbrandt. While McGregor is clearly one of the UFC’s biggest stars, Garbrandt is showing early signs of being on the same rise in career trajectory. With an impressive start to his UFC career, his next several moves could be critical. Part of his future success, will lie in avoiding the pitfall that UFC stars such as Ronda Rousey and McGregor have recently made: not taking their current opponents seriously enough.
Cody Garbrandt Must Not Overlook Takeya Mizugaki
The Rising Star and the Veteran
Garbrandt trains out of Sacramento, CA with Team Alpha Male and Urijah Faber. He has been a breath of fresh air for his team following the drama of TJ Dillishaw’s departure to Elevation Fight Team in Colorado. Currently, Garbrandt is the eighth ranked bantam weight contender. He brings a successful wrestling background and a focus in boxing that includes very dangerous hands. He is very likely the hardest hitter in the bantam weight division. In his short time in the UFC, Garbrandt has made quick work of his opponents. Most notably, a very impressive first round TKO of Thomas Almeida who was 21-0 at the time. A win this weekend at UFC 202, could propel him to title contention in the near future.
Mizugaki will provide Garbrandt with a new kind of challenge. The UFC vet brings a 21-9-2 record. He is likely the most experienced fighter Garbrandt has faced to date in the UFC. Mizugaki also focuses on boxing as his primary fighting style. He will occasionally throw kicks and he is very competent in grappling. However, he uses it primarily for defense won’t aggressively pursue the take down. Once you get him to the ground, Mizugaki can be controlled and submitted.
The Outcome Seems Clear, Right?
On paper, this fight seems to favor Garbrandt in many ways. His primary goal is getting an early knock out. Mizugaki’s preference to stand and box plays right into Garbrandt’s strength. Mizugaki’s lack of offensive grappling will also remove Garbrandt’s need to be cautious with his distance. This will allow him to find his opening and tee off at will. Vegas seems to agree, Garbrandt is the odds on heavy favorite in this fight. But so were Rousey and McGregor.
Garbrandt is showing recent signs of possibly stepping into a similar pitfall of his own this weekend. Search him on Google, or scan his social media posts over the past several weeks, and you will find a common theme. He appears to be completely consumed with current bantam weight title holder Dominic Cruz. Yes, it gets his name out there, and yes, the UFC loves the viewership that drama stirs up. But one has to search much longer to find coverage of him talking about his opponent in Mizugaki this weekend. There’s no doubt his camp has prepared for Mizugaki, and trying to guess where his mind is at heading into the fight is a waste of time. But in judging where his attention currently seems to be, those hoping to see Garbrandt continue his rise through the UFC ranks know that he cannot afford to overlook his current opponent.
No Shortage of Words
Not one to disappoint lovers of drama outside the octagon, Garbrandt has offered plenty of thoughts on Cruz in the past couple of weeks. Following Cruz’s victory at UFC 199, Garbrandt was already making claims that Cruz needed to keep the belt polished up for him. He’s claimed that Cruz will lose everything if he dares accept a fight with him. Garbrandt stated that Cruz is at the top of his bantam weight hit list, and that he has fought Cruz a million times in his head. To add the cherry on top, he added that Cruz must have a crush on him and is simply trying to ride off his hype.
There is little doubt that beyond McGregor/Diaz or Jones/Cormier, we might be brewing up the next great rivalry in the UFC. Garbrandt recently promised that he will make for a much better McGregor to the UFC. The first step to that goal for Garbrandt however, lies in staying focused on Mizugaki, and not Cruz. Not yet at least.
