Morning Report: Cody Garbrandt says Dominick Cruz wants to move to 145 pounds to avoid him

Cody Garbrandt is hungry.

The No. 8-ranked bantamweight in the UFC launched himself into title discussion with a sizzling knockout over undefeated prospect Thomas Almeida back in May. After that fight, Garbrandt, who trains at Uriah Faber's Team Alpha Male, joined in on the verbal sparring between Faber, Dominick Cruz, and T.J. Dillashaw as Faber was building up for his title shot against Cruz. After Cruz dominated Faber at UFC 199 to retain the belt, Faber began pitching Garbrandt for a title shot and Garbrandt has run with it. Last weekend, he continued to try and talk his way into a title fight when he went on Inside MMA on AXS TV and spoke about the current UFC bantamweight champion.

"Dominick Cruz can't knock anybody out. He's got grapes for hands...Dominick knows that I'm coming for him, like everyone. He's the champion so he has an X on his back but I'm definitely in his head and he knows he doesn't want to fight me. That's why he wants to move up, talk about moving up to [145] and fighting some other people. He's trying to either get out of the division or retire before he has to fight me."

Recently, Cruz indicated that he isn't particularly interested in fighting anyone at 135 right now, joining the increasing line of fighters in pursuit of big money superfights. Specifically, Cruz is targeting fights at 145 in pursuit of holding two titles. He mentioned Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor as opponents he would like to face. He also expressed an interest in rematching flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson if Johnson wants to pursue a superfight. Conspicuously absent from this list of potential opponents is rising star Garbrandt. But it isn't Cruz's refusal to acknowledge him that makes "No Love" dislike Cruz; it's his style.

"I just think the guy's a dork.... I don't like his style. I feel like he's a point fighter, he goes in there trying to point and take everyone to decisions. He doesn't go in there and be a true fighter. He goes in there and just tries to out point people. This is the fight game. We come out here for finishes."

Cruz wasn't the only fighter to face the ire of Garbrandt though. Garbrandt also took the time to respond to former teammate T.J. Dillashaw who opined that should Garbrandt fight Cruz, Cruz would beat him up.

"T.J. too. He can get it too. T.J., Dominick, all those guys can get it. They talk sh*t but they know the real truth. They know I'm the lion in this division and I'm coming to eat them all."

Garbrandt faces Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 202, Aug. 20 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Should he win that fight, then maybe we will see if his trash talking pays dividends.

5 MUST-READ STORIES

201. UFC 201 happened this weekend so here are the results in case you missed it.

WSOF 32. WSOF 32 also happened this weekend and here are its results.

Never scared. Karolina Kowalkiewicz believes that Joanna Jedrzejczyk is scared of her.

Waiting game. Julianna Pena says the UFC is waiting on Ronda before offering her a title shot.

Unfair. Wilson Reis thinks that TUF 24 winners getting a title shot is unfair.

EXTRA CREDIT READING

Tragedy. Christina Newland discusses Johann Trollmann, the German Sinti boxing champion persecuted by Nazi Germany.

MEDIA STEW

That new promo for Diaz vs. McGregor 2.

And Cro Cop released a promo for the Rizin GP.

Paulie Malignaggi is pro-USADA.

Conor rolling with Kavanagh.

RFA 41 highlights/

LISTEN UP

Beatdown After the Bell

6th Round

The homie Chamatkar Sandhu kicked off a podcast with another MMA journalistic luminary Simon Head. Peep it.

TWEETS

And new.

#ANDNEW #UFC welterweight champion of the world @TWooodley!!! #UFC201 @fasthandsproductions @ufc @afflictionclothing @dudewipes @dobbstireauto @maileestl @phokingqui @skyzonestl @barclaypoole @mistahari @dinthomas @dukeroufus @roufusport @americantopteam @attevolution @sanabul @imran.22 #RiteHite #SportTurf

A video posted by Tyron Woodley (@twooodley) on Jul 30, 2016 at 10:39pm PDT

Cool to see Michael Moorer at the fights.

Michael Moorer here for the fights, great meeting him and talking the fight game pic.twitter.com/67nmatKXaJ

— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) July 30, 2016

The biggest problem with FS2.

So....what stream is everyone using to watch the prelims? No FS2

— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) July 31, 2016

Scoggins went in on McCall for not accepting the fight despite, you know, the fact that Scoggins didn't even kind of come close to making weight. And McCall was actually really cool to him about the miss too.

Name me a real fighter who has pulled out because his opponent was a couple pounds heavierpic.twitter.com/mUc9JMLcS3

— Justin (@ScogginsFlow) July 31, 2016

You know the saying, pick on someone your own size? Calling someone a punk when you massively outweigh them isn't doing that.

@d1a2w3 @schmidty209 I couldn't make 125..IM SORRY but that PUNK would not fight. Those are 2 separate issues.

— Justin (@ScogginsFlow) July 31, 2016

Is this accepting the consequences?

I couldn't cut anymore and I accept the consequences of my actions. But I didn't bitch out of the fight...pic.twitter.com/8BTWqdrfxE

— Justin (@ScogginsFlow) July 30, 2016

I guess 80% would be better than 0 that's for sure.

He could've still fought me, he rejected taking 20% of my purse and giving the fans the fight https://t.co/QAfzxcKzbA

— Justin (@ScogginsFlow) July 31, 2016

Zingano and Cormier exchanging via Twitter.

You dodged a bullet  https://t.co/VsQxpSdvUW

— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) July 30, 2016

Who ya got?

I'll smack @bisping around anytime. Next time we work I'll take him to gym and smack him around and film ithttps://t.co/oVsxR1oIey

— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) July 30, 2016

I hope they don't rush Megan Anderson into this.

Ask her if she's ready for that fight next @arielhelwani @MMAFighting @ufc knows none of the girls at 135 want to make a superfight at 140

— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) July 30, 2016

Cold world.

@RusHammerMMA @joe_silva_ufc you will not last a round, believe me when I say this, your Conor's rent boy

— Marc Diakiese (@Marc_Diakiese) July 30, 2016

Better pack some heat.

.@Marc_Diakiese @joe_silva_ufc *you're* This lesson is free, next one will cost you a broken jaw!!!

— Artem Lobov (@RusHammerMMA) July 30, 2016

Great Fun last night at @ufc 201 got to hang with @Unclecreepymma @AliciaNicole79 & Atlanta's Own@DwightHoward DDP pic.twitter.com/EAnkHxzAFt

— Diamond Dallas Page (@RealDDP) July 31, 2016

As fan of this sport I want to see me vs anyone of these guys. @josealdojunior @TheNotoriousMMA@FrankieEdgar #maxforgold #thetimeisnow @ufc

— Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) July 31, 2016

I'm for it.

For the record, everyone keeps saying I should fight @frankieedgar in NYC next. I would love that challenge.#maxforgold @ufc

— Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) July 31, 2016

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

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FINAL THOUGHTS

My UFC 201 experience was amazing, and I just wanted to thank everyone for all the kind words. And of course, an especially large thank you to Ariel, Casey, and Esther for including me and being so unbelievably kind and helpful to my rookie ass. They are the best people, and I am incredibly grateful for everything.

And another week begins y'all. Hope you make it a good one. See you tomorrow.

If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.