It has been a crazy week for the bantamweight division and its champion T.J. Dillashaw.
Where the reigning 135-pound king was slated to face former long-standing title holder Dominick Cruz in a highly anticipated bout sometime in 2015, those plans were scrapped in a big way when “The Dominator” announced he’d suffered yet another knee injury. It was undoubtedly a crushing blow for Cruz—who had recently ended a three-year layoff with a triumphant return at UFC 178 back in September—and the shake-up in the bantamweight title picture wouldn‘t stop there.
Several minutes after the Team Alliance representative broke the news of his injury, fellow contender Raphael Assuncao took to his Twitter account to announce he’d suffered a broken ankle in training and would also be out for an extended period of time. The Brazilian veteran is sitting on a seven-fight winning streak and has been campaigning for a title opportunity for the better part of the past two years. With Cruz out of the picture, the shot at Dillashaw‘s strap more than likely would have gone to him, but with the Atlanta-based fighter also on the sidelines, the entire championship picture went into a state of chaos.
Suddenly the MMA community erupted into a matchmaking frenzy as everyone from the champion’s longtime teammate and close friend Urijah Faber, in addition to a collection of several “super fights” with other divisional champions. Of all the potential matchups floating around the MMA universe, the one seemingly most compelling to fans was a possible showdown with his Team Alpha Male leader. Yet, while the “mentor versus protege” storyline would undoubtedly be a huge pull, and with Faber being the former poster boy for the lighter weight classes and Dillashaw being the leader of the “new school” of sorts, getting both fighters to agree to the bout would be a huge task for the UFC to accomplish.
If that scenario wasn’t an option, that would bump former champion and resurgent contender Renan Barao back to the front of the line. Dillashaw upset “The Baron” to claim the bantamweight throne back in May, and the two rivals were slated for an immediate rematch three months later at UFC 177, but the Nova Uniao representative had medical issues arise during his weight cut and was ultimately scratched from the bout and replaced by newcomer Joe Soto.
Even with the Brazilian striker’s recent submission victory over prospect Mitch Gagnon at Fight Night 58, Barao appeared to still be a few fights away from getting another shot to reclaim his title. Yet, that was before the injuries to Cruz and Assuncao were announced, and after a few strange turns Barao was back in the proverbial game.
With so much uncertainty on the road ahead and plenty of potential opponents floating about, E. Spencer Kyte from The Province’s Keyboard Kimura caught up to Dillashaw to get his thoughts on the options he’s facing and who he’d like to see standing across from him inside the Octagon. One person he has in mind is current flyweight champion and noted pound-for-pound great Demetrious Johnson. Dillashaw would love a clash between champions, and he wouldn‘t mind mixing it up with another current title holder as well.
That’d be awesome. That’s a big fight, same as me and Aldo – Champion versus Champion. That’s pretty cool. That’s something that is pretty awesome and you don’t really see it happening, so I wouldn’t turn that down either.
I said fighting Aldo as something that I would love to do when I saw him fight Mendes because I knew I could beat him. I would love to get that opportunity. I don’t know that it would be given to me because I haven’t fought at 145, but I know I can beat the guy. If it were me choosing and with the goal that I have set for myself of holding two belts, that would be the way that I want to go. I don’t know if it’s likely though.
While facing either the current 125-pound or 145-pound champions would be appealing to Dillashaw, one fight that isn’t going to be an option is the rumored tilt with Faber. Despite the broader appeal with the fanbase and the UFC surely wanting to put it together, Dillashaw simply isn’t willing to trade leather with the man who played such a crucial part in his entry into mixed martial arts.
The main focus I thought of was that I don’t want to fight Urijah and I know that’s something they’re going to push. That was my first thing. It’s different if it was something where I’ve trained with the guy a couple times or I’ve had a couple camps here, but I spend every day of training here at Team Alpha Male, so that would be a tough thing for me to do.
The only reason why I’m fighting is because of him; he talked me into it. I was going to go to school.
This of course leaves the most obvious option in his weight class as a rematch with Barao. And with all the turmoil and eventual letdown the former champion caused the last time they had a contract to compete inside the cage, Dillashaw isn’t very keen on Barao getting another shot at his title so quickly.
I don’t mind fighting Barao again because to me it looks like an even easier fight. I didn’t think he looked very good his last fight. For being the killer that he was, I see me demolishing him again. Sure it’s another payday and there would be some hype behind it, but I don’t think he deserves a title shot.
I didn’t feel like he deserved a rematch to begin with, but they gave it to him and he didn’t make weight. Now he had a performance with Mitch Gagnon that didn’t look very good. I don’t mind fighting the guy, but I don’t feel like I’m going to build my name up any higher by beating him up again.
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
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