Dean Garnett: Liverpool Legend Returns to Secure Featherweight Crown

Dean Garnett has made an impressive comeback in his mixed martial arts career, culminating in a fight for the Featherweight Championship at Hexagon MMA. After just seven months of returning to professional MMA competitions, Garnett is hungry and prepared to hunt down and protect the strap.

Garnett has been in the game for 16 years and his experience speaks from him. A Liverpool legend, fighter, gym owner and coach, Garnett believes in the power of a good winning strategy.

Fastest Knockout in the History of the Promotion

Garnett set a bold statement with the fastest knockout in the history of HEXAGONE MMA, a French mixed martial arts promotions, against Miguel Haro at HEXAGONE MMA 6, in just 20 seconds.

“I remember almost being a bit shocked and like confused that it was over and thinking what, what happened and it took me a minute to get my bearings and figure out how I got there. So yeah, I was expecting to get in and just take my time. I remember when my opponent like pushed me back to the cage thinking like, slow down, I just want to get warm and take my time and enjoy this. Um, or he just forced the issue. So caught him with a clean shot and I was just circling back to the center thinking, you know, I'm just going to fake and fake move about and I heard one of my cornermen shout he's hurt. So I thought he'd slipped. So as he was like getting back up, I just threw a three piece at him and that was him done.”

Featherweight Championship vs. Lucas Corbage

Garnett is coming up against a South American champion in Lucas Corbage. He’s been on the mats focused on Corbage for about 21 weeks now since the unfortunate fight cancellations. Corbage may have a strong BJJ background, but Garnett is confident that he is the Elusive Black Belt in MMA.

“We're both going to bring a lot of experience and knowledge and everything else like that. So, you know, it should be a bit of a chess match. I'm open and that's what I'm after really… he's obviously 11-1 on paper, he's a jiu jitsu black belt, I believe. He's got plenty of wins by finish. He's definitely aggressive and tries to finish people but I think, you know, I'm just a little bit of a different, more smooth operator than he is.”

And if that wasn’t thrilling enough, Garnett is also planning to test Corbage's striking strategy, looking to create openings when he exposes himself. Garnett prides himself on his experience and is looking to use a tighter strategy and defense to win the fight.

“Obviously it starts on the feet, doesn't it? So first, he's got to navigate past me striking, he's got to time a good takedown. And, you know, one thing that's very strong about my game is my wrestling and obviously being around the likes of Mo and KHK, so much just has only helped me the last few years, so absolutely not any concern about him taking me down. If I'm honest, I think he'd struggle. I don't think he'd be able to take me down, personally. But if he does, that's okay. There's a lot I can do off my back as well, so. Yeah, I, I, I think I'm still better than him when it comes to grappling, um, cause it's MMA. If you threw a gi on us, might be a different story, but certainly in MMA, you know, I'm the Black Belt.”

Future Plans

Garnett’s return came with a clear path and laser focused vision.

“I'm trying to take it one fight at a time, but there are, you know, hexagon's obviously a new promotion. There are bigger promotions in the world that pay bigger money and have bigger, even bigger platforms. I do believe that's the level I'm at, but first let's prove that to myself and to everyone else in the world in these next two fights with Hexagon and then we'll see what happens in 2024. But you know, the way things are going, I'm just happy fighting. I'm happy living out me, me passion and if, if I don't sign for one of them promotions next and I'm back with Hexagon fighting in some, you know, fantastic arenas, so yeah, that'll, I'll be, I'll be grateful for, for everything.”

And on sooner plans,

“I'll be fighting potentially Andy Deasy and Andrew Yerges, european Wrestling Champion, so it'll be great to get out there and get some work in. Let's get past Lucas Corbage this Friday. Let's get past him. A finish inside two rounds. Gonna be some sort of knockout or choke.”