Earlier this year, a bout between former teammates Urijah Faber and TJ Dillashaw seemed to be a very realistic possibility after Dillashaw left Faber’s Team Alpha Male. Now, however, the former bantamweight champion is no longer interested in a scrap with “The California Kid”.
In recent months, Faber has lost two consecutive bouts, one to reigning champ Dominick Cruz last June, and one to Jimmie Rivera earlier this month. Prior to their bout, Rivera had been ranked No. 12, although he scored a dominant decision victory over the highly-ranked Faber.
Due to his recent performances, Dillashaw simply feels as if Faber hasn’t gotten any better over the last few years:
“After he got dominated by a number 12, it doesn’t make sense for me to drop down and fight Urijah,” T.J. said to Inside MMA’s Ron Kruck yesterday. “For one, I don’t wanna beat the guy up. It’s not worth my time. Urijah hasn’t gotten any better in the last – I don’t know how many years. He’s kinda stuck in his ways.”
Faber isn’t the only Team Alpha Male member who Dillashaw has strung up a rivalry of sorts with, as No. 5-ranked Cody “No Love” Garbrandt has also mentioned the ex-champion’s name. In fact, both men are in the running for the next title shot, although Dillashaw doesn’t feel as if “No Love” should be:
“It just doesn’t make sense,” Dillashaw said. “It shouldn’t happen, that’s for sure. He beats the No. 11 ranked fighter and then gets the title fight. How does that make sense when I’m ranked #1….I walked through #2. How does he leapfrog me to get a title shot?”
After losing a closely fought decision to Cruz last January, Dillashaw rebounded with a victory over Raphael Assuncao at July 9’s UFC 200. Who would you like to see him fight next?
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