Garbrandt: I couldn’t afford to withdraw from last fight
Cody Garbrandt: “You’re thinking you made it, you’re a world champion and you’ve got all this f@$%ing money but we’re not, man.”
Most fighters would fight for free, but many couldn’t. Cody Garbrandt had a pregnant wife and a mortgage, and he pulled out of a fight with T.J. Dillashaw due to back issues. The fight was rescheduled and when medical issues flared up again, he couldn’t afford to pull out a second time. Garbrandt was knocked out in Round 2.
The two have a rematch in the main event of UFC 227 at Staples Center on Saturday night. During a recent media luncheon, Garbrandt cautioned he dies not want to take away from Dillashaw’s win, but did want to explain what happened.
My money thing, I never wanted to have my motivation to be money,” said Garbrandt as transcribed by Dave Doyle for MMA Fighting. “That’s not why I got into this sport, I got into it to be a world champion.”
What can I do? I pulled out of the [first scheduled] fight. I had a wife that was pregnant. I fought Dominick Cruz for $200,000 a year before that. I’m trying to buy a house, I’m trying to get insurance, all the things you’re thinking you made it, you’re a world champion and you’ve got all this f***ing money but we’re not, man. I understand you have to build your way up to it and it’s good, but, I couldn’t pull out.
Two weeks before the fight, I had to go to Vegas and get eight epidurals shot in my back so I could heal up and go to the fight week in New York. don’t regret anything. I’m blessed, being able to be here with now. And I’m healthy and that’s the thing, I’m so excited to be here and speak to you guys, I’m excited to be getting into the Octagon.
You have to live life and now I have to take care of my family. That’s why you see all these fighters who want these money fights. You can’t blame them. They go in there and literally take years off our life. For what, $40,000? $50,000, some of these fighters are coming in 10 and 10 so, what, if they get their ass beat and make what, $10,000? It’s crazy, man. You’ve got NHL players and MLB players making millions and millions and millions and we’re the fastest growing sport in the world. Something’s gotta change.
Garbrandt lost the last fight at UFC 217, but said he was well compensated.
The pay-per-view did good at Madison Square, so I’m happy,” he said. “I’ve some investments, I’ve got good people in my life managing my money. All I’ve got to do is win at the end of the day and the checks keep coming in.”
