Cody Garbrandt implies he’s not retiring in first statement after UFC 329 knockout loss

Cody Garbrandt suggested he will continue his MMA career following a brutal knockout loss to Adrian Yanez at UFC 329 on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The former bantamweight champion was stopped in the opening round of the bout, marking his third defeat in his last four fights. Though Garbrandt removed his gloves mid-octagon after the loss, he addressed the setback via Instagram on Tuesday with a message about perseverance. "There are moments in life when hope fades, and the weight of endless problems makes the path unclear," he wrote. "But remember this — you only lose when you choose to give up. Let your struggles be your fuel, not your downfall. Don't let the storm break you. Let it strengthen your will to rise and keep fighting." The post appeared to signal his intent to remain active despite mounting losses.

Garbrandt, 35, made a meteoric rise through the UFC ranks after his 2015 debut, winning his first five bouts before claiming the bantamweight title with a decision victory over Dominick Cruz at UFC 207 in December 2016. Since capturing gold, however, his trajectory has stalled considerably. Over his next 12 fights, Garbrandt managed just four wins, leaving his once-promising championship run looking increasingly distant. He did return to the win column in March at UFC 326, securing a decision over Xiao Long in a bout marred by multiple low-blow fouls against his opponent. The Yanez loss represents another difficult chapter in what has become an unpredictable final phase of his career.