The new UFC Batamweight champion, Cody Garbrandt (11-0), adds his name to the ever growing list of opponents waiting for Conor McGregor for when he returns from his hiatus.
After successfully dethroning Dominick Cruz, Garbrandt has three opponents locked in the cross hairs. The Team Alpha Male fighter revealed his 'hit list' via Twitter on Wednesday. It reads, in order, TJ Dillashaw, José Aldo and Conor McGregor (21-3) - all of whom have held UFC gold in recent years.
The two respective fighters have had history in the past as they clashed with one another on the set of the 'The Ultimate Fighter 22' in 2015. At the time, Conor McGregor labelled TJ Dillashaw a "snake in the grass" - who was a member of Faber's Team Alpha Male gym at the time.
Subsequently, Garbrandt confronted McGregor as he pushed the Irishman before members of each team attempted to bring calm to the situation. It was 'handbags' in all honesty but in an industry where drama reigns supreme, we can expect the incident to be used as cannon fodder in the future.
Speaking to TMZ, Cody Garbrandt recalled the altercation between himself and Conor McGregor during the reality TV show;
Now there’s a new hit list — it’s TJ next, then Jose Aldo and then Conor McGregor. I think he’s great for the sport but there was beef with me and him on 'The Ultimate Fighter'. That was real shit.
People want to say that was just me just trying to get camera time. No, when you ask me to fight I’m going fuckin' fight you.
If someone pushes me, they’re getting knocked out. They’re going to get in a fight.
Whether or not he has every intention of checking off each name on the 'hit list' remains to be seen but a fight with McGregor at the moment seems quite unlikely, given the weight difference of 20 pounds.
Garbrandt is scheduled to return to the set of 'The Ultimate Fighter' in a coaching role against TJ Dillashaw (17-3) before they will eventually fight for the UFC bantamweight title later this year.
