Garbrandt hints at UFC future after knockout loss to Yanez at UFC 329

Cody Garbrandt has signalled he intends to keep fighting after suffering a first-round knockout loss to Adrian Yanez at UFC 329 on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The former bantamweight champion was stopped in a wild opening round, his third defeat in his last four outings. Garbrandt removed his gloves in the centre of the octagon following the finish, a gesture that drew attention, though no formal announcement followed.

On Tuesday evening, Garbrandt posted a statement on Instagram that stopped well short of a retirement declaration. “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 35-year-old remains one of the most recognisable names in the bantamweight division, having burst onto the UFC scene in 2015 with five consecutive wins before defeating Dominick Cruz for the title at UFC 207 in December 2016. That championship reign proved to be the high-water mark of his career; since then, Garbrandt has won just four of his next 12 appearances.

His most recent victory came in March at UFC 326, where he earned a decision against Xiao Long after multiple points were deducted from Long for low blows. The win had offered some momentum heading into the Yanez fight, making Saturday’s stoppage a significant setback.

Garbrandt has not addressed the glove removal directly, and no statement from his management or the UFC has clarified its meaning. His Instagram post, however, reads as a deliberate signal that his career is not over.