Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt returns to action at UFC 329, where he will face Adrian Yanez. Garbrandt is coming off a victory over Chinese prospect Long Xiao in March.
Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt is headed back to the octagon this weekend, as he is booked to meet Adrian Yanez at UFC 329 on July 11.
Garbrandt, known as "No Love," carries a 15-7 record into the bout and enters on a positive note following a victory over Xiao Long in March. The 34-year-old Ohio native trains out of Team Alpha Male and stands five-foot-eight with a 65-inch reach. A former 135-pound title holder, Garbrandt has averaged 2.88 significant strikes per minute across his career, complemented by nearly one takedown attempted per 15 minutes.
Yanez, 32, brings a record of 17-6-1 and represents Metro Fight Club out of the United States. The orthodox striker stands five-foot-seven with a 70-inch reach advantage over Garbrandt and is one of the more active volume strikers in the division, landing 5.96 significant strikes per minute at 41 percent accuracy. His game is built almost entirely around his hands, as his takedown and submission numbers sit at zero.
Why it matters
- Garbrandt is a former champion trying to re-establish himself as a contender at bantamweight, and a win over a proven finisher like Yanez would strengthen that case considerably.
- Yanez's significant reach advantage of five inches could be a meaningful factor in the standup exchanges.
- Both fighters are orthodox strikers who prefer to keep the fight on the feet, setting up a striking-heavy contest with little expected grappling.
- The outcome carries real ranking implications in a bantamweight division that remains one of the UFC's most competitive.
Saturday, July 11, 2026
