UFC bantamweight contender Cody Garbrandt is hoping that an impressive victory at next weekend’s UFC 202 event in Las Vegas will earn him a title shot against Dominick Cruz.

“He said he’s going to add to my concussion list,” Garbrandt said, referring to a recent Cruz interview with MMAjunkie. “That says to me like he’s going to try to go in there and kill me. He wants to do that, so I’m definitely going to make him eat every one of his words. He’s going to be eating through a straw for a couple of months after we fight.”

“No Love” will put his perfect 9-0 record on the line against veteran Takeya Mizugaki next weekend in Sin City. The fight will serve as the featured bout of the UFC 202 prelims.

Garbrandt explained how he feels that a victory over Mizugaki should put him ahead of former training partner TJ Dillashaw in the UFC bantamweight title picture:

“Raphael Assuncao was out for however long he was out, and T.J., he won the fight but didn’t really look impressive,” Garbrandt said. “I thought he just fought safe and fought to win. You put Raphael Assuncao in front of me, I knock him out. Same thing with T.J.

“(Cruz) got a title shot after beating Takeya, so why don’t I? I have had two straight first-round knockouts. I’m undefeated. I’m an exciting fighter. I’m the most talked about fighter in my division. I think that fight between me and Dominick stylistically is what people want to see. He knows that. … It’s hard to deny me. I’m going in there and knocking guys out and calling my shot and calling what round I’m knocking them out.”

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