“I feel like simplicity is where I grow and thrive the most,” Garbrandt said. “When we try to add all these fancy workouts and new things as we try to evolve with the sport, really, the basics and just the hard work ethic and that daily routine is what separates me from a lot of the field. It’s just about being consistent, knowing that there are peaks and valleys in there, and peaks and valleys outside of camp life. So yeah, simplifying things and simply having a structured routine and schedule that I live by as a martial artist is what works.
The victories over Trevin Jones and Kelleher, which came after a year away in 2022 that followed a unique trip to the flyweight division against Kai Kara-France in 2021, showed that indeed, the “keep the simple things” of Garbrandt works. And while all is well in the world of “No Love” right now, one has to wonder if he’s now playing the what-if game.
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“Hindsight is always 20/20 after a fight or after something happens in your life,” Garbrandt said. “You can dissect it and see what you did right and what you did wrong. But right now, I’m just living in the moment and trying to be present. I control what I can control, and the things I can’t control I have to let go of and not hold on to. At camp, for the little things, like getting sick or getting injured, I blamed myself. Now I miss a workout or miss days of training, sometimes it’s a blessing in disguise because maybe that’s what your body, mind and soul needed to allow you to come back a little refreshed . There are also things in life that we cannot control. So for me it’s just about living in the present and controlling what you can control.