Cody Garbrandt is still set to face John Lineker after the Brazilian recovers from dengue fever that kept him out of Sunday night fight in Pittsburgh.
After not facing Lineker on Sunday, Garbrandt has confirmed that he will still be his next bout after he recovers from his illness. There were reports emerging that now Garbrandt could look elsewhere for his next opponent but he has rebuffed those claims and has confirmed that his next opponent will be John Lineker.
Lineker’s sickness forced him off the reckoning and he was replaced by Augusto Mendes, the submission specialists. He accepted the fight with just 6 days left but Garbrandt easily won the fight against him. He put Mendes away with an amazing first round TKO. It was Garbrandt’s third win since joining UFC a year ago.
Garbrandt was in utter control of the game the entire time and made full use of his powerful hands to put Mendes at bay. Medes for looking to avoid knockout strikes all game long but it was only a matter of time until Garbrandt found his in. After finding a home, Garbrandt beautifully deployed a left-right combination which blew Mendes away. And with two vicious punches in a row, he floored Mendes with rather ease. He was almost celebrating his victory but the referee indicated that the game is still on, forcing Garbrandt to jump in again and deliver a couple of more blows before the referee called it over.
After the victory of Mendes, Garbrandt told reporters that he has talked with UFC executives and it has been assured to him that he is still set to take on Lineker as soon as the Brazilian gets the clearance from the medical team.
“We just talked to (Sean) Shelby and (Lorenzo) Fertitta and (John) Lineker’s my next bout as soon as he gets healthy and goes and gets cleared from another blood test,” Garbrandt revealed at the post-fight press conference.
“Whenever that’s done, whenever it’s going to be put together I’m ready for it. I’d like to fight March 5, but he isn’t going to be healthy by then.”
“As soon as John heals from his illness,” Garbrandt said when asked how soon he wants to fight again. “I’ve got an ass whooping to give him.”
Although no exact date has been given for the return of Lineker, but it is expected that he will take a total of couple of more weeks. Dengue fever last from 10 to 15 days and if get back to full fitness in time, UFC could re-book the fight between Garbrandt and Lineker for one of the coming cards ahead of this summer.
Garbrandt is not worried by the delay in fight against Lineker as he has been assured over and over again by the UFC bosses that he will play him sooner rather than later. He is not waiting for the Brazilian to get back to full fitness. He is waiting for the official date to meet Lineker in the Octagon.
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