Cody Garbrandt vs. Trevin Jones Prediction: No first-round stoppage here

Former UFC Bantamweight Cody Garbrandt says he is feeling very good now and focused on turning his career around as he faces replacement Trevin Jones in the featured preliminary Bantamweight duel at UFC 285. The two Americans will battle in Las Vegas on Saturday’s prelims bout at the T-Mobile arena. Cody Garbrandt is on a two-fight skid while Trevin Jones is on a three-match losing skid. Garbrandt is a clear favorite of the oddsmakers. We preview the fighters and make expert predictions on the outcome.

A former amateur wrestler and boxer, Cody Garbrandt made his UFC debut in January 2015 at UFC 182. By December 2016, he had become the UFC Bantamweight champion defeating Dominick Cruz on December 30, 2016, at UFC 207. Cody Garbrandt won the fight by unanimous decision after knocking Cruz down twice and nearly finishing him in the fourth round. Since that glorious December night, “No Love” has gone 1-5, lost the title, lost his challenge for the title, got a couple of bonus awards, moved down to Flyweight, and back up to Bantamweight with only one solitary win to show. On the personal front, he had also faced challenges. Now he says he is back and still has the passion and hunger to fight for laurels. The 31-year-old last fought in December 2021, losing to Kai Kara-France in his Flyweight debut.

Jones has one win in five UFC fights with his debut win in the promotion later overturned for testing positive for Marijuana. The 2020 bout against Timur Valiev earned him a Performance of the Night award after winning via TKO in the second round, completing a comeback after almost getting finished in the first round. It was memorable because Trevin Jones took the fight with two days notice. The 32-year-old southpaw says he’s focused on fighting the best version of Cody Garbrandt and will knock him out with his power. Jones's last fight was a unanimous loss to Raoni Barcelos in October 2022 in a one-sided fight.

The oddsmakers have gone with Garbrandt to win. But with both fighters in a huge slump, the fight will be won by the more motivated fighter and maybe a lucky shot. Jones has been talking big about knocking out Garbrandt if he tries to wrestle. Looking at Jones’s resume, he has a sudden KO in there because of his ability to catch people flush in the chin from a losing position. He has done it against Timur Valiev and Mario Bautista and the possibility was even referenced by Garbrandt in the presser. While Garbrandt is watchful of a sudden strike from Jones, his inactivity is a huge concern. He has not fought since December 2021. With Garbrandt attesting to his improved mental and physical health, we are tempted to think that the former Champ - who is the younger of the two fighters - will make the much-needed turnaround in his career. However, we think going for the over 1. 5 rounds is the best bet here.

• Over 1.5 rounds at 1.616 odds on Coinplay
• Over 2.5 rounds at 2.36 odds on 1xbet
• W1 by KO/TKO or submission 2.05 odds on Bet 365