Looking to build on his win over Trevin Jones at UFC 285 in March, former bantamweight world champion Cody Garbrandt returned to the Octagon at UFC 296 looking for a second-straight W over slick submission specialist Brian ‘Boom’ Kelleher.
Round 1
Both fighters get the action started right away, trading combinations, but Kelleher puts Garbrandt on his bicycle early with a couple of nasty calf kicks to Garbrandt’s lead leg. Garbrandt circles the cage and fires a calf kick of his own. Garbrandt steps in and delivers a right hand, but eats another calf kick. Kelleher closes the distance and clinches with Garbrandt against the fence two minutes into the opening round.
Garbrandt breaks away and returns to the center before pressure forward and looking to land. Kelleher goes back to attacking the leg as Garbrandt ducks under, clinches, and pushes Kelleher to the cage wall. They break and Kelleher moves in, but it’s Garbrandt who rushes in, throwing a barrage of strikes that catches Kelleher and puts him on wobbly legs.
Chasing down Kelleher, Garbrandt uncorks a right hand that sends Kelleher crashing to the canvas face first. The referee quickly steps in and calls for the stoppage before any further damage can be done.
Official Result: Cody Garbrandt def. Brian Kelleher via KO (strikes) at 3:42 of Round 1.
Check Out Highlights From Cody Garbrandt vs. Brian Kelleher at UFC 296 Below:
CODY GARBRANDT GETS THE KNOCKOUT 💥
Stream #UFC296 on ESPN2 and ESPN+ 🍿 https://t.co/R7p1InbYK6 pic.twitter.com/G3jcFUWAJ4
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 17, 2023
CODY GARBRANDT KNOCKS OUT BRIAN KELLEHER 😱@Cody_NoLove gets the first round finish at #UFC296! pic.twitter.com/yx3KipGWgt
— UFC (@ufc) December 17, 2023
