Adrian Yanez thinks it was inevitable that he and Cody Garbrandt would end up fighting.
Yanez (17-6-1 MMA, 6-3-1 UFC) takes on former bantamweight champion Garbrandt (15-7 MMA, 10-7 UFC) on the UFC 329 prelims July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Paramount+).
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Yanez noticed that after every fight of his, people play fantasy matchmaker by booking him against Garbrandt. Now, he finally gets an opportunity to throw down with the former UFC champ.
“I’m very excited,” Yanez told MMA Junkie Radio. “It’s something I know the fans have always kind of pitted me against him for a while. Every single time after a fight’s done or whatever, either when Cody fights or I fight, we’re both getting tagged, like this is the next matchup that should happen. So to me, I’m excited for the fans. For myself, I’m excited I get to fight a former world champion. I get to test my skills against a guy who was at that top level before.”
Garbrandt has shown inconsistencies since dethroning Dominick Cruz to claim the UFC title in December 2016. He now finds himself having won three of his past five fights where he’s occasionally shown a more tamed approach. That tamed approach doesn’t come early though, and Yanez is wary of it.
“IQ wise, it would be smart to do it (wrestle), but honestly for me, it goes against everything I kind of stand for,” Yanez said. “I like being a fan-friendly fighter. I like being able to show that I am the better fighter on the feet, and people have always pitted my boxing with his boxing a lot. It’s almost like I have a point to prove. I’m going to do it with smoothness, I’m going to do it with technique, and if the shot’s there, I’m taking it.
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“There’s no and, ifs, or buts about that. I’m ready for everything. We’re prepared to take this fight everywhere. … We know he likes to start off hot in the first round. We also see he kind of slowed down where the confidence level doesn’t get there as the fight goes on. For me, it’s stay tight, stay disciplined and the fight should be won.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 329’s Adrian Yanez almost has ‘a point to prove’ against Cody Garbrandt
