CHICAGO — T.J. Dillashaw has finally put one of the two fighters who has been on his mind for quite some time in his rear-view mirror. The UFC bantamweight champion’s victory over former champ Renan Barao on Saturday night at United Center was every bit as dominant as their first fight last year.
But Dominick Cruz still looms.
“I mean, it’s so hard for me to think about anyone else,” Dillashaw said at the UFC on FOX 16 post-fight press conference. “I’ve been thinking about Renan Barao for over a year and a half. But we’ve got guys like Dominick Cruz and Raphael Assuncao. They’re both great fighters but they’re hurt now. Whenever they come back, I don’t know what the plan is, but I’d like to see either one of those guys. I don’t know. I’m not sure.”
Still, while Dillashaw has solidified his claim on the championship, he knows that Cruz is the biggest name out there. Cruz was bantamweight champion dating back to the title’s WEC days and never actually lost the title in the ring. Rather, it’s been a string of injuries which kept him out of action and forced him to relinquish the belt.
“That’s the biggest fight,” Dillashaw said. “That’s what’s going to make my name the biggest at this weight class, fighting Cruz as soon as he’s able to come back.”
While the fight seems a stylistic mirror-image matchup, Dillashaw feels power will be the difference if and when the fight eventually happens.
“He’s a very elusive, high-paced fighter as well,” Dillashaw said. “I just don’t think he has the power behind his punches. You know, I don’t think he has the devastating threat that he can impose on someone. I see myself definitely winning that fight.”