UFC bantamweight Cody Garbrandt has revealed the surprising motivation behind his new face tattoo, and it’s not what fans might expect from the former champion.
During a recent media appearance ahead of UFC Atlanta, Garbrandt explained that his facial ink wasn’t part of a carefully considered plan or deep personal statement, but rather a spontaneous decision made to escape the pain of another tattoo session.
“Yeah, I just love artwork, you know, tattoos,” Garbrandt explained. “Actually, I was getting my armpit done and it was hurting a little bit.”
What happened next showcases the impulsive nature that has defined much of Garbrandt’s career both inside and outside the octagon.
“So I was like, trying to like cop out to my tattoo artist,” he continued. “I was like, ‘Let’s put one on the face.’ So I went to the face and did it and just to give me some time to not have like a cissy on the armpit.”
The face tattoo, which has drawn significant attention on social media, was ultimately embraced by Garbrandt with his characteristic all-or-nothing attitude. “We put the face tattoo on and just went with it. Full send. F*ck it,” he stated.
This unexpected addition to Garbrandt’s appearance comes as the former UFC bantamweight champion prepares for his upcoming bout against Raoni Barcelos at UFC Atlanta on June 14. The fight represents an important opportunity for Garbrandt to bounce back after his submission loss to Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300 in April.
Prior to that defeat, Garbrandt had built momentum with a two-fight winning streak in 2023, including an impressive first-round knockout of Brian Kelleher at UFC 296.
His opponent, Barcelos, enters the matchup following a dominant upset victory over previously undefeated prospect Payton Talbott in January. The bout serves as a critical test for Garbrandt’s hopes of climbing back into title contention in the competitive bantamweight division.
The UFC Atlanta card, headlined by former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman facing Joaquin Buckley, now features twelve scheduled bouts including Garbrandt’s contest.
