If you didn’t know already, Dominick Cruz and Cody Garbrandt aren’t too fond of each other. The two have been trading insults all year, culminating in well-publicized verbal sparring session during the UFC on FOX: Sacramento event recently. But though the two will fight each other for the UFC bantamweight championship on Friday, that doesn’t mean the trash talking is going to stop.

In a recent interview on the Fight Society podcast, Garbrandt renewed his attacks on Cruz ahead of their title fight, saying Cruz already has one foot out the door of his MMA career.

“He’s got that job at FOX, good for him, he’s a good commentator. But he’s getting ready for the next chapter of his life, it’s evident. He knows. He knows that he is getting ready for the next chapter of his life without the belt. When you’re thinking of that already and you’ve got a savage in front of you like myself, that’s been grinding to take this from you, grinding so hungry - There’s that saying, the wolf at the bottom of the mountain is more hungry than the wolf at the top.

“He just can’t fathom that I went from unranked to fighting him in the same year. I went from unranked to world champion. He’s about to lose it all. He’s feelings the pressure. He’s talking all this s**t, he knows that his time is up. He’s already getting ready. You see his posts about how he didn’t need the belt, he realized he didn’t need the belt to be happy, so he’s getting ready for that next step. I can applaud him for that, he’s getting ready to step down and give me my belt. He kept it polished for me this whole year. I’m very thankful for that. He took care of it and I can’t wait to give it to Maddox.”

Garbrandt has had a great year. A well-regarded prospect entering 2016, Garbrandt rattled off three first round knockouts this year to vault himself into the bantamweight rankings and his trash trash talk with Cruz garnered enough fan attention to jump him to the head of the line for the next title shot. But it wasn’t just Garbrandt calling out Cruz, Cruz took a particular interest in trashing Garbrandt as well. After Garbrandt’s win at UFC 202, the pair almost got into it backstage and since their fight was announced, Cruz has been taking attacking Garbrandt on all manner of things, both professional and personal. Garbrandt maintains that the personal attacks are just a sign of Cruz’s own weakness.

“It’s insecurities man, insecurities. 100%. But dude, it’s funny. It’s like a shark when it smells blood and I smell blood all over that p**sy.

“I have one more man in my way. One more man that is a f**king busted up, crippled, decrepit old man trying to stand in my way... I am going to be world champion. You can put 10 Dominick Cruz’s in front of me, I’ll knock them all out. 10 out of 10.”

And that boast is something Garbrandt is willing to back up. When asked about the possibility of giving Cruz an immediate rematch should he win, Garbrandt says he’s more than happy to do so.

“I’ll give him his respect and give him a rematch, whoop his a** again, h*ll yeah! But that’s only if he asks for the rematch. I think he will. He’s too egotistical to do that. He’s too egotistical. I’ll definitely give him his rematch... Like I said, put 10 Dominick Cruz’s in front of me and I knock them out. Every one of them.”

Garbrandt challenges Cruz for the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 207, this Friday in Las Vegas Nevada.

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Prototype. John Lineker says fighting T.J. Dillashaw is the best way to prepare for Dominick Cruz.

MEDIA STEW

Embedded sans Ronda.

Countdown for 207.

Hardy and Gooden breakdown the main event.

Sounds like Urijah is closing the door on any possible returns.

Thug Rose diary.

Cruz is a damn savage on the mic.

Chael delves into USADA and Cyborg.

LISTEN UP

Anik and Flo.

JRE

TWEETS

Ronda makes an appearance!

JDS makes his picks.

Who ya got at #UFC207?! @Junior_Cigano gives his picks for the main and co-main event! pic.twitter.com/egrcCIGWoh — #UFC207 (@ufc) December 26, 2016

Not sure this fight makes a ton of sense.

Clay Guida- I'm a fan, but you're asking for an opponent and I've wanted this fight for years. It'll be an honor to make this fight happen. pic.twitter.com/nb8JGEUxOq — Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) December 27, 2016

LOL.

Joe Silva tryin' to flee our working relationship in the company car but I'm on him. pic.twitter.com/bsP2qm4Sug — Sean Shelby (@seanshelby) December 27, 2016

MMAAA.

Took a break for the holidays talking to fightings about @Themmaaa If I said I get back to you plan on talking early January. #Change — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) December 27, 2016

CM Punk getting shade in the WWE.

Chicago, Stephanie McMahon is NOT with the CM Punk chants tonight. #RAW pic.twitter.com/uC3j5ib6uh — derail. (@CainMcCoy) December 27, 2016

Just FYI.

If you are a retired or non-retired MMA fighter and want to work as an executive/celebrity body guard contact me or Gary Goodridge. — Mark Schultz (@MarkSchultzy) December 27, 2016

Glad it’s still frame.

#FearTheReturn #dec30 #rouseyvsnunes #ufc207 pic by @ewillphoto A photo posted by rondarousey (@rondarousey) on Dec 26, 2016 at 5:17pm PST

Not sure what the pink line is about.

Look at this fight math mixup... Thoughts??? @UFC #wmma #bantamweights #girlfights A photo posted by Cat Zingano (@alphacatzingano) on Dec 26, 2016 at 2:21pm PST

Woodley on the bag.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

N/A

TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2008: Rashad Evans won the UFC light heavyweight championship by knocking out Forrest Griffin at UFC 92. In the co-main event, Frank Mir became the interim heavyweight champion by stopping Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira with punches.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Be excellent to each other and party on dudes.

If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.