Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt is facing current champion TJ Dillashaw for the gold in the main event of UFC 227.
A Twitter user by the name of Borrachinha Depot has posted the following images of some unsavory tweets from Garbrandt in the past, where the former champion uses the “n word.”
Cody Garbrandt might want to delete some of his old tweets. #UFC227 pic.twitter.com/pEqZhlJAaS
— Borrachinha Depot (@FullContactMTWF) August 1, 2018
Garbrandt would address these postings, mainly saying it was the way he grew up back in the day.
“First and foremost, it shouldn’t be embarrasing,” Garbrandt told MMA Junkie. “I’m going to be a man and address it once, and that’s it. It’s lyrics. I grew up hanging out with blacks, Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, selling drugs. That’s a street word we would always say. It wasn’t like I was using derogatory words toward anyone. That’s how we grew up. It was kind of normal. That’s it. It’s a learning experience for a lot of people to not use that word in this day an age.”
It should be noted that Garbrandt made the Twitter posts about five years ago, meaning the former bantamweight champion was approximately 22 years old when they were posted.
The bantamweight star is now looking towards more positive things instead of focusing on past negativity.
“Everyone’s just trying to figure out some negativity,” he said. “I’m so positive, and I have great things going on this week. Nothing’s deterring me from my focus. That’s that. It’s the last time I’ll address this question. And I’m actually done with this interview with you, as well.”
UFC 227 takes place on Saturday, August 4 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California with TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
