The highly anticipated showdown at UFC Vegas 100 has taken a massive blow! Scheduled to take place on November 9 at the UFC Apex, a welterweight clash between Neil Magny and Carlos Prates headlines the card. However, all eyes were on the co-main event where former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt was set to return to action to take on former LFA bantamweight king Miles Johns.

‘No Love’ last stepped into the Octagon at UFC 300, where he came up short against Deiveson Figueiredo as he lost the bout via submission. While MMA fans were hoping to see an action-packed matchup between two elite bantamweights for the co-main event, it looks like fate had other plans. So, what exactly happened?

Cody Garbrandt’s withdrawal from UFC Vegas 100 leaves Miles Johns without an opponent 

Cody Garbrandt, the former bantamweight champion, reportedly will be out of his scheduled co-main event fight against rising star Miles Johns on November 9th. Initially, BJPenn.com reported the update and Championship Rounds later shared it on Instagram. At the time of writing, no other information is available as to why Garbrandt withdrew from the bout other than “undisclosed reasons”.

For Garbrandt, this was supposed to be a shot at redemption. ‘No Love’ was on the comeback trail after suffering a submission loss to Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300, which broke his recent two-fight win streak. The former champ’s career has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows since he claimed the bantamweight belt in 2016 with a stunning performance against Dominick Cruz.

In 2017, Garbrandt’s reign took a hit when TJ Dillashaw dethroned him at UFC 217, and a rematch a year later only cemented the loss. Attempts to find his footing again have been shaky. Even a move to flyweight in 2021 didn’t change his fortune, ending with a tough TKO loss to Kai Kara-France.

Miles Johns, meanwhile, was ready to seize this moment — the biggest fight of his career. Riding a four-fight unbeaten streak, Johns was eager to test his mettle against a former champion. A victory over Garbrandt would have catapulted him to new heights. Now, it remains to be seen if Johns will offer a short-notice opponent as a replacement or if they reschedule him to face Cody Garbrandt at a later date.

But for ‘No Love’ this withdrawal is even more significant as this was the final fight on his UFC contract and he’d made it clear what his plans are for the future!

Garbrandt keen to re-sign with the UFC but claims “money talks”  

After a career of breathtaking highs and humbling lows, the focus remains for Cody Garbrandt to secure a future in the sport he loves. Speaking on a recent appearance on the Jaxxon Podcast, ‘No Love’ confessed that he’s got a solid relationship with CEO Dana White and is hoping for a deal that keeps him right where he feels he belongs.

Garbrandt stated, “(I’m) still going through some things with the UFC. This is my last fight on the contract, so (I’ve) got to get together with them and see what we can come up with. I’d love to (re-sign). I love the UFC – I think especially where the sport is going.”

But, of course, the fighter in him knows he’s worth what the contract offers, and he’s not afraid to see how his value stacks up further sharing, “Obviously, UFC is the premier league to fight in. But, you know, money talks.”

For ‘No Love’, the UFC Vegas 100 fight was more than a chance to redeem his career; it was a pivotal moment in his relationship with the UFC. Now, his future remains uncertain, hovering somewhere between his hopes of re-signing and the reality of “money talks.” Will the UFC re-sign Cody Garbrandt to a new contract when he returns? Or will he take his talents somewhere else? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!