Cody Garbrandt Net Worth 2024: UFC Champion's Fortune Revealed

Early Life and Background

Cody Garbrandt was born on July 7, 1991, in Uhrichsville, Ohio. a small town that also produced internet entrepreneur Scott DeLong. Growing up was far from easy for the future MMA star. He and his brother Zach were raised solely by their mother, as their father struggled with drug addiction and spent most of his life incarcerated. Despite these challenging circumstances, Cody found an outlet in athletics during his time at Claymont High School. He excelled in both football and wrestling, capturing the Ohio state wrestling championship as a freshman in 2007 by defeating Zach Neibert with a 4-2 decision, and finishing as the runner-up the following year. His prowess on the football field earned him All-State honors as a linebacker during his junior year. Rather than continuing with wrestling, Cody convinced his mother to let him pursue boxing seriously, and he quickly made his mark by winning the ABA Junior boxing championship in both 2007 and 2008. Over six years as an amateur boxer, he compiled an impressive undefeated record of 32-0.

Career and Breakthrough

Despite stepping away from organized wrestling during his final two years of high school, Garbrandt competed at the national tournament as a senior and secured fifth place, earning All-American honors. He received recruitment interest from several NCAA Division I programs including Rutgers and Penn State, ultimately choosing to attend Michigan State. However, academic issues led him to transfer to Division II Newberry College before dropping out entirely. He completed coal miner training and worked in the mines before recommitting to his passion for mixed martial arts. Garbrandt made his professional MMA debut in December 2012, defeating Charles Kessinger, and continued building his record while competing in various promotions. He moved from Ohio to Sacramento, California, to train at the renowned Team Alpha Male gym, which would become instrumental in his development as a fighter. After compiling a 6-2 record as an amateur, he went pro and began climbing the UFC ranks with victories over Marcus Brimage and Henry Briones in 2015. The following year saw him emerge as a true contender, defeating Augusto Mendes, Thomas Almeida (earning Performance of the Night), and Takeya Mizugaki before facing Dominick Cruz at UFC 207 in December 2016. In a stunning upset, Garbrandt handed Cruz his first loss in a decade to capture the UFC Bantamweight Championship, improving his perfect record to 11-0 with nine knockouts. His reign was short-lived, however, as he lost the belt to T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 217 in November 2017. Garbrandt continued competing at the highest level, defeating Raphael Assuncao with a second-round knockout at UFC 250 to earn another Performance of the Night bonus. In 2020, he made the decision to drop from bantamweight to flyweight, though his debut in the division against Kai Kara-France ended in a first-round TKO loss. His most recent bout came at the historic UFC 300 in 2024, where he faced Deiveson Figueredo and was defeated by submission in Round 2.

Personal Life

During his time competing with the MMA promotion Pinnacle FC, Cody met Danny Pimsanguan. The couple decided to tie the knot in July 2017, and their union produced a son named Kai Fisher Garbrandt. Unfortunately, their marriage eventually ended in divorce. Beyond his fighting career, Garbrandt has demonstrated his commitment to giving back through his deep connection with young leukemia survivor Maddux Maple, to whom he made a special promise that he fulfilled. In May 2018, he released his autobiography titled "The Pact," which chronicles his remarkable journey from overcoming childhood adversity and battling drugs to achieving his dream of becoming a UFC champion.

Net Worth and Income Sources

As of 2024, Cody Garbrandt has accumulated an estimated net worth of $1 million. His primary income has come from his successful career as a professional mixed martial artist in the UFC, where he earned fight purses, win bonuses, and performance bonuses for his spectacular knockouts. His victory over Thomas Almeida at UFC 199 and his knockout win against Raphael Assuncao at UFC 250 both earned him Performance of the Night bonuses. Beyond his fighting career, Garbrandt has leveraged his championship status and popular "No Love" persona for potential endorsement deals and promotional appearances. His autobiography sales and public appearances likely contribute to his overall earnings as well.