Watch: Garbrandt blasts Kelleher to score walk-off KO at UFC 296
CODY GARBRANDT FLATLINES BRIAN KELLEHER EARLY #UFC296 pic.twitter.com/1fh7Zq3Ocd
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) December 17, 2023
Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt delivered a vintage performance at UFC 296 on Saturday night.
Garbrandt crumpled Brian Kelleher with a heavy right hand in the first round of their preliminary bout at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Here's a closer look at the punch that ended Kelleher's night:
CODY GARBRANDT WITH THE KO 💥 #UFC296 pic.twitter.com/7DYbZFVO3D
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) December 17, 2023
This was Garbrandt's first finish since 2020. The Team Alpha Male product has won two straight for the first time since beating Dominick Cruz for the 135-pound title in 2016.
After the fight, Garbrandt called out former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, who recently moved up to bantamweight. "No Love" said he wants to return to the Octagon in April or May.
Garbrandt snapped a two-fight losing streak in March with a unanimous decision victory over Trevin Jones.