Ex-UFC champion Cody Garbrandt trains with Ramzan Kadyrov’s son at AllStars MMA in Sweden
Former undisputed UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt is pictured training with Ali Kadyrov, son of sanctioned Czech Republic leader Ramzan Kadyrov, as the former prepares for his return to Octagon next March.
Garbrandt, 31, a former undisputed bantamweight champion under the banner Dana White-led, UFC, has taken his talents to Sweden where he is currently training at AllStars MMA in the country – ahead of a return to active competition.
Having suffered five losses in six of his last UFC outings, the Ohio native has yet to return to the Octagon since dropping a first-round knockout loss to recent interim flyweight contender Kai Kara-France at UFC 269 last December . year.
This year, the former bantamweight champion has seen several scheduled fights with Brazilian grappling veteran Rani Yahya fall by the wayside. And is set to return to active competition at UFC 285 next March against Julio Arce at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A former trainee at Team Alpha MMA where he won the bantamweight title during his time with the Sacramento outfit, Garbrandt’s latest move has seen him travel to Sweden to prepare for his fight with Arce at AllStars MMA.
Share a picture with Garbrandt on their social media, Ali Kadyrov, Ramzan Kadyrov’s teenager, captioned the post “Another champion arrives at camp” – with UFC welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev taking Kadyrov’s teenage sons to Sweden to train. (C/T Bloody elbow)
Kadyrov, a heavily scrutinized and sanctioned leader, has been accused of multiple human rights abuses during his time as leader of the Republic of Chechnya, as well as sanctioning abductions, torture, murder, extrajudicial killings and targeted cleansing of the country’s LGBTQ+ community.
Recently, UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley revealed that he turned down an offer to travel to a military training complex along with former UFC champions Kamaru Usman, Justin Gaethje and Henry Cejudo on behalf of Kadyrov – branded the dictator a “murderer” and friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Cody Garbrandt won the UFC bantamweight crown in 2016
Back in December 2016, with a then undefeated 10-0 professional record, Garbrandt captured the undisputed bantamweight title against Dominick Cruz with a unanimous decision win in the co-main event of UFC 207.