Adrian Yanez is excited to get the chance to fight a former UFC champion.
Yanez is set to take on Cody Garbrandt on the prelims of UFC 329 in what should be a fan-friendly fight for however long it lasts. Yanez is coming off a draw with Ricky Simon in his last fight, but he believes the UFC is treating it like he won, as many fans felt like he got robbed by giving him Garbrandt on a Conor McGregor fight.
“That is what it felt like. I got to do media after the fight, and they treated me like I won,” Yanez said on Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com. “They got me and Cody Garbrandt now at International Fight Week, two heavy-handed guys who want to step in the middle of the Octagon and throw down. They know what they are doing because we both come to fight.”
Although Garbrandt has struggled since becoming the champion back in 2016, as he’s gone 4-7 since then, Yanez isn’t overlooking him.
Instead, Adrian Yanez knows Cody Garbrandt is still dangerous and has one-punch KO power, so he’s vieweing him as the world champion fighter that he once was.
Adrian Yanez eyes stoppage win at UFC 329
“Honestly, the people who he has lost to are really good, a couple of them have been champions,” Yanez said. “I still see him as a world championship type fighter, because he’s had that performance before and he’s capable of doing it again. So, I’ve been treating this as a world title fight in my head. He’s very dangerous; he can put you out with one shot. It’s going to be a fun fight for the fans.”
Although Yanez knows how dangerous Garbrandt is on his feet, he said he expects the former champion to try to grapple him. However, Yanez is confident in his wrestling defense that he’ll be able to keep it on the feet and score a KO win.
“I definitely think he’s going to shoot. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it,” Yanez said. “If I were on his team, that is what I would be telling him to do. For me, in my head, I’m preparing for it; I’m expecting him to wrestle. … I’m ready for war. Do I think it goes to the judges? No, I do think I’ll stop him before we get to the last bell.”
Should Yanez get the stoppage win at UFC 329, Yanez believes it’s the biggest win of his career. And he thinks it should set him up to get a ranked opponent next.
“Hopefully, it puts me near the top-15, and I can start working towards the rankings. My goal is to get into the top-five so I can contend for a belt.”
Do you think Adrian Yanez will beat Cody Garbrandt at UFC 329?
