The former UFC bantamweight champion isn’t happy about Urijah Faber getting his trilogy fight with Dominick Cruz at UFC 199.
T.J. Dillashaw was expecting an immediate rematch with Dominick Cruz after losing his bantamweight title to “The Dominator” at UFC Fight Night 81. It came as a surprise then, when former teammate and friend Urijah Faber was announced as Cruz’ opponent for UFC 199.
Dillashaw, who picked up promotional gold after dismantling Renan Barao in 2014, engaged in a back-and-forth scrap with Cruz but lost via split decision. The Ultimate Fighter 14 finalist doesn’t believe Faber deserves another title shot, as he revealed to ESPN.com on Thursday.
“I flew to Las Vegas and met with [UFC CEO] Lorenzo Fertitta to plead my case,” Dillashaw said. “They entertained the idea of an immediate rematch. They said they’d let me know in two weeks — then I found out on social media Faber got the fight.
“I’m pretty pissed. Faber isn’t deserving. The only way this guy has stayed relevant during the last year is talking s— about me. It’s unfortunate everything has become more about entertainment than sport. I just had a very competitive fight with Cruz. I don’t think Faber has a chance. I hope he does win, but it’s all about giving him his last title shot now. I think the UFC feels they can’t give him another fight before then and expect him to win.”
“The California Kid” last fought at UFC 194, where he picked up a hard-fought unanimous decision over Frankie Saenz. Faber has a rivalry with Cruz dating back to when he submitted the two-promotion champ at WEC 26 in 2007. Cruz tied things up at UFC 132 and has targeted Faber and Team Alpha Male with trash talk since his acquisition of the belt.
Although Cruz vs. Faber III is slated for UFC 199, Dillashaw vows to stay in fighting shape in case one of the bantamweights pulls out.
“I’m going to be ready and in shape if one of those guys gets hurt,” Dillashaw said. “One of them is old and one of them is constantly hurt, so, you know, I’ve got a good chance.”
Dominick Cruz is expected to defend the BW title against Urijah Faber for the co-main event of UFC 199 — headlined by a middleweight championship fight between Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman — at The Forum in Inglewood, California on June 4th.