Midnight Mania! TJ Dillashaw Out to Ruin Cody Garbrandt’s Career

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There is truly ‘No Love’ lost between former Team Alpha Male training partners TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt. Garbrandt clearly reg…

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

There is truly ‘No Love’ lost between former Team Alpha Male training partners TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt. Garbrandt clearly regarded Dillashaw following his striking coach Duane Ludwig to Colorado as a betrayal, and made his feelings known before their first bout. That fight, which was decided on a knife edge of reflex and fast-twitch punches, saw Garbrandt rock Dillashaw at the end of the first round before TJ put Garbrandt away in the second and roared in his face he stood, the thousand-yard stare in Cody’s eyes telling of unlooked for loss and stunned grief.

Garbrandt will get the chance to redeem himself with a rematch August 4th at UFC 227. But Dillashaw doesn’t plan on letting him back onto the bantamweight throne. He regards this fight as no different from any other. Via BloodyElbow.com:

“You kind of prepare the same for every fight,” he said. “You add a few tricks to try and keep your opponents guessing, but that’s about it. I love rematches, though. I’ve always done great in rematches. The more I can figure out my opponent the better and I’m going to know Cody like the back of my hand. It’s going to be a good night for me.”

Dillashaw has only lost once since first winning the title against Barao, a debated split decision against Dominick Cruz. Clearly, he is doing something right with his preparation. While a loss would reverse his achievement, Dillashaw sees the immediate rematch as an opportunity to put Garbrandt in his rear-view mirror once and for all.

“He knows I’m the better fighter,” chirped Dillashaw. “He’ll pump himself up. He’ll talk; that he’s great, that he’s better, and all this stuff, but he knows. He knows the truth. I’m the better all around fighter. I’m the smarter fighter. And this is a bad situation for him, to go right back into a rematch for the title.”

Dillashaw doesn’t have any qualms about what he is planning on doing to his old teammate.

“I’m going to ruin his career,” said Dillashaw, while switching his convivial tone to one that was dead serious. “I’m going to ruin his career at this weight class. He’s already getting his second shot, he should have worried about getting better, but I don’t know if he really can. I don’t know if he’s that smart of a fighter, but I plan on ruining his career at 135.”

Many mixed martial artists refuse to talk shit before a fight because of the unpredictability. Dillashaw acknowledges that, but believes his confidence is well-founded.

“This sport’s crazy, obviously anything can happen,” continued Dillashaw, with more levity. “You’ve always got to be ready for it and be nervous for that fight, but he doesn’t have a chance. I’ll be ready for anything he can bring to the table. You’ve always got to expect the toughest fight, but he doesn’t have a chance.”

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