Cody "No Love" Garbrandt has always been a walking canvas. From the grenades on his neck to the massive back piece that looks like it belongs in a museum of ancient warfare, he’s never been shy about the needle. But lately, the conversation around Cody isn't just about his knockout power or his return to the bantamweight win column. It’s about the ink on his face. Specifically, that sword.
Honestly, the Cody Garbrandt new tattoo—a vertical sword slicing right through his right eye—sent the MMA corner of the internet into a total meltdown. You've seen the comments. People are asking if he lost a bet. Others are saying it’s a "low-tier DC villain" look. But if you know Cody, you know nothing he does is for the sake of being "subtle." This is a guy who got a UFC belt tattooed on his waist before he even fought for one. He’s always been all-in.
Why the Face Tattoo Matters Right Now
It’s easy to look at a face tattoo and judge it as a mid-life crisis or a distraction. But for a fighter like Cody, tattoos are basically a diary of his mental state. He recently opened up about a 14-month layoff and his journey through therapy, admitting that he had to reconstruct himself from the ground up.
The sword isn't just random "truck stop" art, despite what the Reddit threads might say. It’s a symbol of the "double-edged" nature of his career. You have a guy who reached the absolute pinnacle of the sport by dismantling Dominick Cruz in one of the greatest performances in UFC history. Then, he hit a skid that would have retired most men. The sword represents that edge—the fine line between being the sharpest weapon in the cage and getting cut yourself.
The Details: Who Inked the Sword?
Cody has a long-standing relationship with Nic Westfall at The Skull Museum. If you remember his back piece—the one with the gladiator and the intricate shading—that was Westfall’s work. It took about 25 hours. While the face sword is much smaller, it’s far more controversial because of its placement.
- Placement: Vertically over the right eye.
- Design: A traditional, straight-edged sword.
- Visual Impact: It creates a "split" look on his face, emphasizing the combatant persona.
People have pointed out that it looks slightly off-center or misaligned. Some fans even joked it was inspired by Dan Hooker’s nose (a bit harsh, maybe?). But when Cody is in the Octagon, the shadows and the movement make it look like a war paint stripe. It's aggressive. It's meant to be.
The Back Piece: A Reminder of the Scale
To understand the new face ink, you have to look at the work that came before it. Cody’s back is entirely covered in a masterpiece that many consider the best in the UFC. It features a gladiator and wraps all the way around to his jaw.
"The most painful part was the lower back," Cody once mentioned to TMZ. "Especially after stem cell treatments."
That back piece didn't cost him a dime. It was a trade—an advertisement for the artist every time Cody turns his back to the camera during a weigh-in. The face tattoo follows that same logic of high visibility. In a sport where branding is everything, Cody is making sure you can't look at him without seeing the "warrior" aesthetic he’s cultivated since he was a teenager in Ohio.
Fighting Through the Noise
There’s a lot of talk about whether the tattoos are a distraction. At UFC Atlanta and leading up to his more recent bouts, the media spent more time asking about the Cody Garbrandt new tattoo than his training camp at Team Alpha Male.
But here's the thing: Cody has always fought better when he’s "in character."
He’s a high-emotional-variance fighter. When he’s feeling himself, he’s untouchable. When he’s distracted, he gets caught. If the sword makes him feel like a weapon, then it’s doing its job. He’s looking for that "Deus da Guerra" energy again. He wants to be the guy who doesn't just win but dominates the highlight reels.
Misconceptions About the "Symmetry"
A big critique online is the lack of symmetry. Most fighters with face tattoos, like Sean O'Malley, go for a scattered or balanced look. Cody went for a singular, bold line on one side.
Is it "douchey"? That’s subjective. Is it "prison-style"? Not even close. The line work on the sword is incredibly clean if you look at the high-res shots from the UFC photographers. It’s professional grade, even if the concept is divisive.
What This Means for His Career
Cody is currently in a "win now" phase. He’s 33. He’s younger than some of the top contenders like Merab Dvalishvili, but he has more "miles" on his chin. Every tattoo he adds seems to be a layer of armor.
He's dealt with:
- Severe bouts of COVID-19 that affected his cardio.
- Multiple knockout losses that forced a change in his defensive style.
- The pressure of being a former "golden boy" of the division.
The sword is his way of saying he’s still here. He’s not going back to a "normal" life. There is no "Plan B" for a guy with a sword on his face. It’s the ultimate "burn the boats" move.
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Real Talk: The Fan Reaction
The fans are split. Half of them think he’s ruining his marketability. The other half thinks it’s the hardest look in the bantamweight division.
"He’s morphing into a different person," one fan wrote on X. But Cody’s response has basically been a shrug. He’s busy. He’s training. He’s raising his son. He’s living the life of a professional prize fighter who happens to like getting poked with needles for hours on end.
How to Follow Cody’s Ink Journey
If you want to stay updated on what he’s getting next—because let’s be real, there’s still a little bit of skin left—you’ve gotta follow the source.
- Instagram: Check his stories for "The Skull Museum" tags. That’s where the fresh red ink usually shows up first.
- UFC Embedded: These vlogs always catch the tattoos in high definition during the weight cuts.
- Post-Fight Pressers: This is where he actually explains the why behind the art.
The sword might not be the last face tattoo we see on Cody Garbrandt. As long as he’s fighting, he’s going to keep expressing that internal struggle through external art. Love it or hate it, you’re talking about it. And in the fight business, that’s half the battle won already.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Research the Artist: If you like the style (even if you hate the face placement), look up Nic Westfall. His realism work is actually world-class.
- Watch the Old Fights: Go back and watch Cody vs. Cruz at UFC 207. Compare that "clean-cut" Cody to the current version. The evolution is wild.
- Ignore the "Misalignment" Rumors: Most "off-center" complaints come from 2D photos. Human faces aren't flat; tattoos wrap around bone structure.
- Stay Tuned for UFC 326: Cody is slated to fight Xiao Long. Watch how the tattoo looks under the bright arena lights—that's the environment it was designed for.