Unbeaten Cody Garbrandt puts contenders on notice

Cody Garbrandt’s spectacular performance in the Ultimate Fighting Championship main event at Mandalay Bay on Sunday had the mixed martial arts world buzzing about his potential as the sport’s next big star.

The unbeaten 24-year-old wasn’t part of that group after his first-round knockout of Thomas Almeida.

“I don’t look at it like that,” Garbrandt said at the post-fight news conference. “I’m going to stay humble and keep training. It was just a win. It was just another man placed in front of me on my crusade to the title.”

It’s easy to see where the hype comes from. Garbrandt brings rare power to the bantamweight division. He is 9-0 as a professional with eight knockouts, seven in the first round. He is supremely confident in his finishing ability, with good reason.

Garbrandt also is marketable and appears set to truly break out after knocking out the previously unbeaten Almeida on Fox Sports 1. Garbrandt, who trains at Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, California, said he’s prepared for the spotlight.

“I’m ready for whatever the sport gives me, good or bad,” he said. “This sport will give you the highest highs and the lowest lows, so I’m ready for whatever comes at me.”

The first step is breaking through in the rankings. Garbrandt undoubtedly will crack the top 15 of the UFC’s official divisional rankings at 135 pounds for the first time.

“I deserve some respect,” Garbrandt said. “That’s a 21-0 guy (Almeida) that had run through everybody. I knocked him out in less than three minutes. Let me get at least in the top 10 and get a shot at these top guys. That’s who I want to fight.

“The higher the caliber of opponent, the more I shine.”

While Garbrandt refused to suggest any names as his next opponent, he was specific about a date and location. He wants to fight Sept. 10 at UFC 203 in Cleveland, the organization’s first event in the market. Garbrandt grew up in Uhrichsville, Ohio, about 80 miles south of Cleveland.

“It’s an hour and 20 minutes from my hometown,” he said. “I’d like to dance with someone there in the Quicken Loans Arena. Whoever it is the UFC wants to give me, I’m more than ready for.

“But strap those boots on tight because I’m going to knock you out of them.”

There are options for Garbrandt’s next fight. Former teammate and former champion T.J. Dillashaw may earn a title shot with a victory over Raphael Assuncao at UFC 200 in July, but his feud with TAM could set up an intriguing storyline for a fight against Garbrandt.

A more logical option could be a fight with Las Vegan Bryan Caraway, who upset contender Aljamain Sterling on Sunday.

Garbrandt’s fine with any opponent, as long as it’s in Cleveland — and hopes fans there will still be celebrating a Cavaliers NBA championship.

WERDUM LOOKS TO BOUNCE BACK

A second major heavyweight fight was added to UFC 203 in Cleveland, as former champ Fabricio Werdum will return to action to face contender Ben Rothwell, the organization announced Sunday.

The card was announced last week with new heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic defending the title for the first time in his hometown against Alistair Overeem.

Miocic took the belt with a first-round knockout of Werdum on May 14 in Brazil. Rothwell had a four-fight winning streak snapped with an April loss to former champ Junior dos Santos by unanimous decision.

No other UFC 203 matchups have been announced.

CACERES FINALIZES UFC 199 CARD

Former “The Ultimate Fighter” contestant Alex Caceres will step in for BJ Penn to face featherweight Cole Miller at UFC 199 in Inglewood, California, on Saturday.

Penn was scheduled to come out of retirement, but was pulled from the fight last week after he was flagged for a potential violation of the organization’s anti-doping policy, having acknowledged use of an IV.

Caceres snapped a three-fight losing streak with a unanimous decision over Masio Fullen in January.

UFC 199 is headlined by Luke Rockhold defending the middleweight title against Michael Bisping, himself a late replacement for injured Chris Weidman. Dominick Cruz will risk the bantamweight title against Urijah Faber.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj