Garbrandt on track to face Lineker in next fight

Getting another win under his belt was nice, but Cody Garbrandt is still focused on a matchup with John Lineker.

The two were originally set to square off this past Sunday at UFC Fight Night 83. Lineker bowed out with a case of dengue fever, however, leaving Garbrandt to face replacement Augusto Mendes. The undefeated Garbrandt dispatched Mendes with ease in the first round.

At the post-fight press conference, Garbrandt explained he spoke to matchmaker Sean Shelby and executive Lorenzo Fertitta about re-booking the Lineker fight.

"We just talked to Shelby and Fertitta, and Lineker's my next bout as soon as he gets healthy and goes and gets cleared for another blood test," said Garbrandt, according to Damon Martin of FOXSports.com. "Whenever that's done, whenever it's going to be put together I'm ready for it. I'd like to fight March 5 (at UFC 196), but he isn't going to be healthy by then."

Lineker is a former top-five flyweight who was forced to move up to the 135-pound division after failing to make the 125-pound limit on multiple occasions. He thrilled fans last September in his bantamweight debut, a submission win over Francisco Rivera.