On Wednesday, right as Cody Garbrandt was verbally sparring with T.J. Dillashaw about being ‘classless’, a series of old Garbrandt’s old Tweets resurfaced wherein the former bantamweight champion liberally used a racially charged epithet.

Initially, Garbrandt was unwilling to discuss the matter, putting it of as something that happened “when I was a teenager,” but yesterday, “No Love” addressed the controversy with MMAJunkie, explaining his mindset at the time.

“First and foremost, it shouldn’t be embarrassing,” Garbrandt said on Thursday. “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.”

Garbrandt, 27, put the controversy off to a relic from his youth but balked when it was noted that the dates on the tweet were from 2012, abruptly ending the interview.

“Everyone’s just trying to figure out some negativity,” Garbrandt 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.”

Garbrandt rematches T.J. Dillashaw this Saturday in the main event of UFC 227.

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MUST-READ STORIES

PFL. Check out the results you missed from last night’s PFL show.

He back. Nate Diaz to return from two-year absence vs. Dustin Poirier at UFC 230.

New rules. The ABC adopted some new policies for MMA.

No Love. T.J. Dillashaw: Cody Garbrandt got rematch, because he’s ‘willing to make a fool of himself.’

Spice of life. Henry Cejudo wishes Reebok would offer ‘variety’: ‘Give me my gold shorts back, man’.

Love. Demetrious Johnson says the true fans of MMA ‘love’ the UFC flyweight division.

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VIDEO STEW

Khabib on the Conor fight.

Do fighters want more weight classes?

No Love 3.

Aldo’s return.

DJ sticking to his guns.

TTTHS.

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LISTEN UP

The MMA Beat. The 200th(!) episode of The MMA Beat with a special guest.

Fights Gone By. Reveling in UFC Calgary and looking at the best of UFC 227.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Pumped about the big news.

Dana and Donald.

Looks like Colby got what he wanted after all.

May get announced today. Certainly being teased.

Something to keep an eye on.

Derrick Lewis isn’t holding it against Cody.

And Aljo doesn’t seem to be either.

Comeback season.

Call outs.

Aljamain with the question we’re all asking.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Virna Jandiroba (13-0) vs. Janaisa Morandin (10-1); Invicta FC 31, Sep 1.

Pearl Gonzalez (8-3) vs. Daiane Firmino (9-2); Invicta FC 31, Sep 1.

Volkan Oezdemir (15-2) vs. Anthony Smith (30-13); UFC Moncton, Oct. 27.

Nate Diaz (19-11) vs. Dustin Poirier (25-4, 1 NC); UFC 230, Nov. 3.

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TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2008: Carlos Condit stopped Hiromitsu Miura to defend his welterweight title at WEC 35. This event featured Steve Cantwell knocking out Brian Stann to win the light heavyweight title and Jamie Varner stopping Marcus Hicks to defend his lightweight belt.

2013: Chang Sung Jung suffered a shoulder injury in his title challenge against Jose Aldo at UFC 163. This event also featured the UFC debut of Amanda Nunes who stopped Sheila Gaff.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

I think Mighty Mouse’s decision to stay focused on his division will age very well. Winning a title in multiple weight classes is one hell of an accomplishment, but it’s also not as exclusive a club as it used to be. In the last three years, we’ve added three more people to the list. In the future, we will have a number on champ champs, and maybe even some champ champ champs but DJ’s record of title defenses is unlikely to be matched anytime soon. Just feels like one of those things we might be frustrated with now but in 15 years we’ll look back and be like, ‘Damn, that is honestly just incredible that he was able to have a stranglehold on the division for that long and never slip up once.’ Just my two cents.

Thanks for reading and see y’all on Monday.

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EXIT POLL

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If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let him know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram, and like us on Facebook.