Coach Justin Buchholz Thinks Cody Garbrandt Didn’t Train Properly That Failed Him At UFC 227
Former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt was unsuccessful in his pursuit of reclaiming the title, suffered a first-round TKO loss to TJ Dillashaw at UFC 227.
Garbrandt had controlled the things in the midway of first-round where he hurt Dillashaw with a big right hand. The fight changed for good when both fighters were throwing caution to the wind and uncorking several big rights hands. Dillashaw walks backward instantly following the effect of the blow, Garbrandt was badly hurt and fell to his rear. Cody walks back on his feet.
Garbrandt’s chin failed first as Dillashaw was throwing punches from all angles and floored Garbrandt a second time and landed a series of hard punches from behind, ‘No Love’ regain his feet alongside cage, but that knee to face was the finishing of the fight, then Herb referee stepped in to wave things off.
In their first meeting, Dillashaw ended Garbrandt’s title reign last November at UFC 217 via second-round KO.
Former Team Alpha Male coach Buchholz Speaking to the Slip ’n Dip podcast recently, where he offered his assessment on Dillashaw vs. Cody’s game last weekend. Also claimed Garbrandt’s didn’t receive the level of training he had when ‘No Love’ won the title from Dominick Cruz in 2016. (Via MMAFighting)
“I feel like Cody…to reach the level that he was when he won the belt…he was the best martial artist on the planet then because of the amount of training and work he did and it showed in his performance,” said Buchholz.
“I feel like he hasn’t been able to reach that level again. I feel like he has all the talent. T.J. doesn’t have his number at all, but with proper training it’s anyone’s game.”
Coach Buchholz also suggested his conditioning could have played a considerable role in his loss at staple center in California.
“T.J. was saying that Cody drops his left hand when he throws his right hand, that’s the shot he caught him with. Well, it was the same hand, but it was a completely different punch. In the first fight, T.J. landed the right hook from southpaw,” he explained.
“In the fight last night, he just hit him with a right hand. He just rolled with the right and came back with the right, he did a lot of boxing for this fight and he was prepared for that inside fight range, he knew when Cody was throwing hard he would be exposed and he was right, it was pretty masterful game plan.
“I feel like Cody Garbrandt properly conditioned is…because the hands down are something he got away with for a long time because of his speed and his reflexes. I feel like that’s based a lot on conditioning as well. To be able to know where you’re heads at and to be able to have reflexes the more tired you get. I think the defensive thing is a technical issue for sure, but it’s also a training issue; a cardio issue.”
Dillashaw who’s sitting at the top of the bantamweight throne but may not be able to stamp himself as the greatest bantamweight in UFC history without defeating former two-time champion Dominick Cruz, who defeated Dillashaw via disputed split-decision back in 2015. Coach Buchholz believes Dillashaw should rematch Cruz to determine who is the greatest 135-pounder.
“[Dillashaw] has a good claim of being the greatest 135er to ever do it, but that’s still held by Dominick Cruz. If he has that rematch with Dominick Cruz, the winner of that is the best.”
Do you agree with coach Buchholz’s opinion that Cody Garbrandt’s unfit training was a contributing factor in his loss at UFC 227?
