Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw is not a happy man as he thought he would be fighting for the bantamweight title next. Dillashaw lost the title to current UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz earlier this year, and after picking up a win, he was the clear favorite to get the next title shot. However, that will not the be case as Cruz and top prospect Cody Garbrandt are going to fight as they will co-main event UFC 207 on December 30th at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Dillashaw told FanSided in a recent interview that he thinks it’s a fight that ruins the sport’s reputation.
“It’s a mockery – it’s a mockery of the sport,” Dillashaw said. “The sport should be about the best guys on the planet (fighting each other). What’s the point of having rankings (if they don’t factor into matchups)?”
According to Dillashaw, Conor McGregor is responsible for the UFC’s revamped matchmaking process but doesn’t blame McGregor personally.
“More power to the guys that can get away with making tons of money talking trash like Conor McGregor — he’s smart, he’s doing a good job — but it’s unfortunate what it’s doing to the rest of the sport. I want this shit to be real; not about the sideshow promotion.”
Dillashaw, who beat Raphael Assuncao earlier this year, doesn’t blame Garbrandt either for the UFC’s decision.
‘No Love’ has emerged as one of the UFC’s finest prospects and has developed a reputation as the division’s knockout artist. The Team Alpha Male fighter has been gunning for Cruz since his first-round KO of Thomas Almeida at UFC Fight Night 88 and has developed a healthy rivalry with the current champion.
At the end of the day, Dillashaw blames both the UFC and Cruz for putting the matchup together.
“Nothing against Cody Garbrandt; it’s not his fault,” Dillashaw said. “All of us should be pushing for the title — that’s the ultimate goal — but I blame Dominick Cruz and the UFC for letting this happen. I really don’t understand why the UFC is letting Dominick Cruz pick the fights he wants.”
Dillashaw should know that it’s likely he will get the winner of Cruz – Garbrandt and fight for the title that he once held.
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