Cody Garbrandt gave his UFC belt to an 11-year-old cancer survivor after beating Dominick Cruz in incredible MMA performance

Jordan Ellis

Mar 4

UFC star Cody Garbrandt was champion for just over a minute before he partook in perhaps the most wholesome MMA moment of all time.

'No Love' almost immediately gave his belt to Maddux Maple, an 11-year-old cancer survivor, who was a constant figure during his journey to the top of the sport.

Garbrandt celebrated his title win backstage with Maple

The two met six years prior in their shared hometown of Uhrichsville, Ohio. At the time Garbrandt was just one of many hopeful amateur MMA fighters, while Maddux was a five-year-old boy diagnosed with leukemia.

Garbrandt offered to donate proceeds from his next fight to the youngsters' medical costs and ever since the pair have shared an unbreakable bond.

Two years later Maddux got the news that his leukemia was in remission and by the end of 2016, Garbrandt was the UFC bantamweight champion.

The fight itself was undoubtedly the best performance of Garbrandt's career so far and one of the most impressive title-winning performances ever.

Dominick Cruz is the greatest 135lb fighter ever and he was made to look ordinary by Garbrandt, who at the time was just 25 years old and seemingly some way off his prime years.

Despite that, he outboxed Cruz over five rounds, dropping him on several occasions while dancing his way to a unanimous decision victory at UFC 207.

Maddux began his cancer battle 11 years ago

In one of the most wholesome moments in MMA history, Garbrandt interrupted his post-fight interview with commentator Joe Rogan to place his new belt around the waist of his young pal, whom he credits with transforming his life.

At the UFC 207, post-fight press conference, the new champion opened up about his relationship with Maddux and explained how he had inspired him to become a champion.

"I'm very thankful for this kid. He came into my life in unfortunate circumstances and most of you don't know, but he was battling leukemia at the age of five years old," Garbrandt said.

"I wouldn't be here without him. He gave my life redirection and purpose and in return, I fought with purpose and lived every day with more purpose.

Cruz barely landed a glove on Garbrandt all night

'No Love' taunted his opponent throughout the fight

"This kid was going through the fight of his life and had a smile on his face, and he never gave up, he didn't have a choice to give up. The things that I was doing in my life, I was really p****** my life away.

"I kept going down the wrong path, but I believe everything happens for a reason. As crazy as this might sound, he was really a turning point in my life."

Garbrandt claimed that it was the thought of his friend that helped him power through the tough training sessions and get over the finish line in the biggest fight of his life.

Garbrandt beat Cruz in 2017 to win the Bantamweight title

"He doesn't even understand how much he's helped me, how much I push in practice when I get tired when I feel like I can't go another round," he said.

"That fourth and fifth round, I remembered I had his dad send me a picture of him lying on the hospital bed with this port put in his chest in his early-onset battle with leukemia. I just looked at it [and thought about] how far he's come.

"What's ten more minutes, you know? What's ten more minutes to go out there and capture this for him? It wasn't just about me. I met him and it became our dream and our night, and now it's his night."

Maddux and Cody continue to be best buds

Garbrandt has struggled for form since his bantamweight title win.

The 31-year-old lost his title to his former teammate-turned bitter enemy, TJ Dillashaw, before losing their rematch in a similar fashion.

A drop down to flyweight ended in disaster for Garbrandt when he was knocked out in one round by Kai Kara-France at UFC 269.

After losing five of his past six fights, Garbrandt hopes to get his MMA career back on track when he takes on Trevin Jones at UFC 285 on Saturday night.