Cody Garbrandt has endured rather a lot throughout his life.
Growing up poor in a small city about 90 minutes outdoors of Cleveland, the now 34-year-old veteran didn’t precisely have many benefits, and a whole lot of the household surrounding him didn’t at all times set the greatest instance. Garbrandt ultimately found his manner by way of athletics, primarily in wrestling, the place he was an Ohio state champion, however even that didn’t supply him a complete escape till he finally turned his focus to MMA.
He reached the highest heights when he turned UFC champion in 2016, however 11 months later, that dream turned a nightmare after he misplaced the belt, and he’s gone simply 3-7 in his previous 10 fights. But as Garbrandt approaches his return to motion at UFC 326 on Saturday, he says he’s finally found peace amid all the chaos that at all times outlined his life.
“I truly believe fighting saved my life,” Garbrandt mentioned throughout UFC 326 media day. “I have a lot of friends that are no longer with us, that are dead or hooked on drugs or in prison for life. I come from that. My uncles and my father have been in and out of prison their whole entire lives. Fighting saved my life, gave me a purpose. Inside of the chaos, inside of the octagon, I feel at home. I feel at peace.
“I think because the way that I grew up surrounded by chaos my whole life. Surrounded by violence. Surrounded by a lot of negative things that I’m able to turn into a positive. When I go inside of the octagon, I’m just free. When I’m confident and healthy, there’s no other place I want to be than locked in the cage and fighting for opportunity to catapult into a better position in life. That’s where I’m at now.”
Becoming a UFC champion is meant to be a life-changing second for a fighter, however surprisingly, Garbrandt virtually felt like successful the belt put him on a downward spiral each personally and professionally.
It took him a while to understand that he was surrounding himself with the unsuitable individuals, and it price him dearly.
“A lot changed [after becoming champion],” Garbrandt mentioned. “A lot of people around me. I went from unranked to world champion in the same year. There’s people that I didn’t know that was in my circle. Just for what you did, what you had.”
Add to that, Garbrandt simply turned so used to the volatility that continually swirled round him that it felt regular to him.
“I always felt like I needed some kind of chaos in my life to feel alive,” Garbrandt mentioned. “Because since I was a kid, my life has been full of chaos. When things are going good, you’re like something is going to happen. You have that in the back of your mind.”
So what modified that allowed Garbrandt to quiet these demons inside his head? It actually got here right down to perspective.
“I’m winning at life,” Garbrandt mentioned. “I’ve got an amazing son that turns 8 next week. I’ve got a daughter that’s two months [old]. My life’s good. I have no chaos. I grew up my whole life in chaos. This has been a great camp where I haven’t had any of that. I’ve just been solely focused on the day-to-day. Training, and when I leave the training gym, I come out, and I’m a father. I’m changing diapers and feeding my baby bottles and helping my son with school, dropping him off, and staying busy with his extracurricular activities as well.
“So yeah, it’s just about balancing. Finding that balance in life. Never being too stressed out about a fight and worrying about ‘what if’ and what could happen. Just taking it day by day and really enjoying what I’ve been blessed with. Two beautiful children, an amazing woman that takes care of us, and really turned my house into a home. I’m just at a good spot in my life, and I haven’t been there in a long time. That goes into having a great camp and being healthy and being excited, and I don’t know the last time I’ve been excited for a fight. It’s been quite some time.”
On paper, Garbrandt has rather a lot driving on his efficiency on Saturday after a two-fight dropping skid, however he’s taking a extra optimistic strategy to his matchup towards Xiao Long.
Garbrandt says he’s staying centered on having fun with himself, having enjoyable in the battle, and along with his head in the proper house forward of UFC 326, he expects the outcomes to comply with.
“I feel like I’m blessed,” Garbrandt mentioned. “I get to go out here and fight. I get to go out here and live a dream that a kid had growing up that would do anything to be in this position, no matter what where I was at in my career. I feel like I’m living on borrowed time, just taking it one day at a time, and just so thankful to be here. I truly am. I love fighting for the UFC.”
