If ever there was a ‘that’s why they play the games’ moment, it was this. T.J. Dillashaw, a late fill-in, an eight-to-one underdog, styling over one of the world’s best; a fight no one expected to be close, growing more and more lopsided with each passing round; a barrage of grace and balance and footwork, theater drawing from the absurd rather than the expected, until the American ended an era prematurely with one final, unfathomable rush of violence.
And then… tears. Tears from the coach capturing gold on his last night. Tears from the teammates who could never quite get there.
T.J. Dillashaw is your new UFC bantamweight champion, ladies and gentlemen. This sport, man… it’s wild.
Sacramento-California-USA We have a world champion!! @TJDillashaw #newchamp reppin! Can we get some love!! @ufc @TeamAlphaMale #anglescamp
— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) May 25, 2014
TEAM ALPHA MALE.
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) May 25, 2014
We did it!! #teamalphamale #UFC173 http://t.co/uYQoS87vvV
— Chris Holdsworth (@holdsworth135) May 25, 2014
Yesssss !!!!!! @TJDillashaw is the champion of the fucking world. !!!!!! I love you
— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) May 25, 2014
TEAM ALPHA MALE BABY!!!!!! @TJDillashaw just put on a clinic in that cage!! That was textbook!!!!
— chad mendes (@chadmendes) May 25, 2014
SO FUCKING SICK!!!! @TJDillashaw @TeamAlphaMale
— Danny Castillo (@lastcall155) May 25, 2014
How can I not give it up to @TJDillashaw That was a bad a$$ performance. #Respect
— Gilbert Melendez (@GilbertMelendez) May 25, 2014
25 head kicks later & we have a new champion! Congrats to @TJDillashaw! The underdog wins again #newchamp #UFC173
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) May 25, 2014
Performance of the year @TJDillashaw #UFC173
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) May 25, 2014
Dillashaws movement was a work of art. If someone put on ice skates and did the exact same thing, they’d take gold.
— russell doane (@RussellDoane135) May 25, 2014
Wow, incredible performance, what a great team, not an ounce of jealousy in Urijah’s eyes, these guys are a real brotherhood, good for them
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) May 25, 2014
@UrijahFaber you were right !!!
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) May 25, 2014
Speed kills that is all #UFC173
— Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) May 25, 2014
C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S @TJDillashaw @TeamAlphaMale @UrijahFaber @holdsworth135 @JoeJitsu @jbmma155 @chadmendes #alphamale #newchamp
— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) May 25, 2014
I was too impressed to even tweet thru that whole main event dillashaw looked incredible from beginning to end tho
— John Moraga (@chicanojohn) May 25, 2014
@TJDillashaw is a PROBLEM!!!!! My homeboy @TheDomin8r is a problem solver tho, remember that!
— John Moraga (@chicanojohn) May 25, 2014
Probly the most inspirational fight ever. Sometimes thy will is done and you just go through the motions to make it reality. @ufc
— Charlie Brenneman (@SpaniardMMA) May 25, 2014
Someone can can make a complete @TJDillashaw highlight video by just putting some badass music to that fight. @ufc #UFC173
— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) May 25, 2014
Holy shit! Eating my words about @TJDillashaw … Well done sir. Alpha male finally has a bride! Fucking amazing domination
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) May 25, 2014
Aint nobody bullet proof…everyone is human!
— Jon SuperSaiyan Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) May 25, 2014
I’ve always been a fan, @dc_mma @TJDillashaw congrats
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) May 25, 2014
Unfuckinreal, bro! TJ Dillashaw just layeth the smatcketh down for four rounds and then finished a man who hadn’t lost in 10 years…wowwwww
— Matt Bessette (@ManglerBJJ) May 25, 2014
Does this mean @TJDillashaw is p4p the best now #ufc173
— Junior Hernandez (@86_JRHernandez) May 25, 2014
Just seeing the results now my phone died. Big congrats @TJDillashaw on getting that belt.Can’t wait to see the fight heard it was Awesome!
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) May 25, 2014
Lol I will root for my friends bc I believe in them. They may not be the favorite but It’s ok to be the underdog . Congrats @TJDillashaw
— Nam Phan (@NamPhanMMA) May 25, 2014
All you gotta Do is Believe in Yourself.. @TJDillashaw @ufc Champion Motivated
— Dustin Ortiz (@DustinOrtizMMA) May 25, 2014
Wow I didn’t expect Tj to beat barao, none the less dominate him, and in the striking department. Very impressive. Congrats Tj
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) May 25, 2014
Great performance tonight @TJDillashaw hats off to you!
— Tyson Griffin (@TysonGriffin) May 25, 2014
I had that feeling that @TJDillashaw would pull it off @ufc
— Ray Borg (@tazmex18) May 25, 2014
Holy fuck deserved that shit ! Looked amazing congrats to team alpha male and @TJDillashaw new champ ! #UFC173
— Sergio Pettis (@sergiopettis) May 25, 2014
Congrats to @TJDillashaw … Absolutely dominant over one of the best in the world. Very impressive. #tuf14 #UFC173
— BrutalJohnnyBedford (@BrutalBedford) May 25, 2014
Wow what a crazy upset win from TJ he had the best night of his life
— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) May 25, 2014
#RenanBarao #phenix #novauniao4ever #thebestteam
— Leonardo Santos (@LeoSantosbjj) May 25, 2014
Nothin short of an amazing performance by @TJDillashaw outstanding class act and effort!
— Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) May 25, 2014
Congrats @TJDillashaw great performance!
— Erik Jon Koch (@NEWBREED04) May 25, 2014
Woooooooooow! Best performance I’ve ever seen. I agree with Joe
— Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) May 25, 2014
Congrats to @TJDillashaw so awesome! #earnedthatshit
— Scott jorgensen (@Scottjorgensen) May 25, 2014
How AWESOME was that!!!!!!!!!
— Dana White (@danawhite) May 25, 2014
Damn! awesome fight. @TJDillashaw #UFC173
— Chris Cariaso (@chriscariasomma) May 25, 2014
What a glorious moment, hands down the greatest I’ve ever seen in ALL sports. Congrats champ @TJDillashaw
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) May 25, 2014
Dillashaw was a perfect example of @DUANEBANGCOM striking. left hand immediate left headkick. What a performance @ufc
— Thomas E Watson (@TomKongWatson) May 25, 2014
MMA: even the best don’t always win
— Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) May 25, 2014
Oh what a day @ufc
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) May 25, 2014
Sad about barão !! Noite ruim pro brasil , fuck !!
— RICARDO TIRLONI (@TirloniMMA) May 25, 2014
Wow @TJDillashaw amazing fight! Congrats :)) #BELIEVE #SmileandBelieve
— Jessica Aguilar (@jagatt) May 25, 2014
Saw this happening back on TUF live unbelievable performance @TJDillashaw hard work pays off brother #newchamp #killashaw @TeamAlphaMale
— Joe Proctor (@JoeProctor) May 25, 2014
@TJDillashaw MAAAN!! What an awesome job man congrats pal. You tha man
— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) May 25, 2014
I’m lovin the Cruz footwork
— Daniel Straus (@DanielStraus) May 25, 2014
That was the performance of a lifetime. Dillishaw’s striking was on another level Gutted for barao. Such a great champion.
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) May 25, 2014
Veni, vidi, TJ… Big congrats @TJDillashaw who looked beyond amazing tonight @ufc . #UFC173 #Matrix
— Akira Corassani (@AkiraCorassani) May 25, 2014
Thats how you beat the bookies and cement your name in history! #UFC173 #ufc173 #ANDNEW!
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMasterAljO) May 25, 2014
Wow @tjdillashaw made me a fan tonight @UFC @Lunarpages @alienwaremma @fearthefighter @dynamicfastener http://t.co/y23c1v2VsZ
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) May 25, 2014
#wrestlingistakingover 6 out of 8 champs have wresting as background Johnson, Dillashaw, Hendricks, Weidman, Jones, Velasquez @ufc
— Mark Muñoz (@mark_munoz) May 25, 2014
Amazing performance from TJ!!! but just to be fair I believe that Barao had an off night
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) May 25, 2014
Ugh…irritated that TJ is gonna win! @TheDomin8r needs to get his ass back ASAP!
— War Machine (@WarMachine170) May 25, 2014
Any fighter out there that wants to be a truly elite fighter & champion, let me refer you to a perfect guy to watch in @TJDillashaw
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) May 25, 2014
DANIEL CORMIER VS. DAN HENDERSON
I will never make fun of @dc_mma‘s height ever again at Fox. Pretty scared of him now. #UFC173
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) May 25, 2014
Cormier by domination. That’s a scary dude Johnny
— Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) May 25, 2014
Good work tonight @dc_mma but hit me if u want to learn more jitz
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) May 25, 2014
And you know I got nothing to say about @dc_mma performance except where you at @JonnyBones let him have his shot!
— Tyson Griffin (@TysonGriffin) May 25, 2014
Cormier hit hendo with the F-5!
— russell doane (@RussellDoane135) May 25, 2014
WHO THE FUCK THROWS PEOPLE IN THE AIR LIKE THAT?? #UFC173
— Josh Samman (@JoshSamman) May 25, 2014
That was one of the sickest 10 seconds in MMA wrestling history! #UFC173
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) May 25, 2014
If you wanna make someone fly and don’t have a moon door u can always hit up Daniel Cormier, I guess. #UFC173
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) May 25, 2014
Its like watching your dad get beat up. @ufc #UFC173
— Ramsey Nijem (@RamseyNijem) May 25, 2014
Im thinking @dc_mma would give @JonnyBones more of a challenge than @AlexTheMauler in a rematch, don’t u @danawhite after watching that
— Steven Siler (@Stevesiler) May 25, 2014
The waitress asked how I wanted my hash browns, instead of saying smothered, I said Cormiered !!!! #UFC173
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) May 25, 2014
Damn! Hendo is an animal! DC is just something else! #UFC173
— Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) May 25, 2014
I don’t cuss very often but in this situation I feel the need to let the world know that @danhendo is one of the FUCKING GREATEST!!!
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) May 25, 2014
I knew Henderson was going to go to sleep like a G ! #UFC173 #notap
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) May 25, 2014
Cormier with a domination. Still happy hendo didn’t take major damage.
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) May 25, 2014
DC is going to get charges pressed against for beating up the elderly like this #nodisrespect toughest dude around
— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) May 25, 2014
That was a statement by @dc_mma #UFC173
— Sergio Pettis (@sergiopettis) May 25, 2014
Congratulations Cormier, you just beat a 43 year old middleweight. #UFC173
— Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) May 25, 2014
Cormier made a big statement tonight & makes a potential fight with Bones very interesting. How can you not love Hendo tho. #Legend #UFC173
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) May 25, 2014
The chance to share a cage with one of my true heroes is an experience I will treasure forever.… http://t.co/DAGUPtIRn8
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) May 25, 2014
“Maybe I shouldn’t have gave him that chicken”
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) May 25, 2014
ROBBIE LAWLER VS. JAKE ELLENBERGER
Lawler staying fresh in everyone’s mind with another great performance. He’s got a champions heart.
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) May 25, 2014
I seriously think Lawler will win the title w this attitude. #O.G #UFC173
— Alptekin Ozkilic (@alpozkilicmma) May 25, 2014
Fucking Beast!!! Because of you @Ruthless_RL I’m going to @thepancakehouse tomorrow to celebrate. Thanks homie! #UFC173 we earned it.
— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) May 25, 2014
Great fight IQ. @Ruthless_RL #UFC173
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) May 25, 2014
Hey remember 2 months ago @ufc offered me jake ellenburger fight but he turned it down and they asked me to keep it quiet #idontgiveafuck
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) May 25, 2014
See what happens when you don’t focus on your opponent you get Knocked the F out by @Ruthless_RL @ufc @danawhite @AmericanTopTeam #attnation
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) May 25, 2014
Congrats to @ruthless_rl great pressure, good finish
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) May 25, 2014
Robbie L looked great but I’m still on the #GiveMattBrownHisTitleShot train. #UFC173
— Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) May 25, 2014
@Ruthless_RL is the man what a performance and fight !!! Since Elite XC days
— Wilson Reis (@wilsonreis7) May 25, 2014
Congratulations to Robbie Lawler great Win
— Hector Lombard (@HectorLombard) May 25, 2014
@Ruthless_RL the fuckin man! Elenberger is no joke.
— Mike Brown (@mikebrownmma) May 25, 2014
Lawler is a freakin sicko! #UFC173
— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) May 25, 2014
Yeah baby!!!! Great fight Robbie lawler
— Daniel Straus (@DanielStraus) May 25, 2014
@Ruthless_RL for president!… or at least the number one contender spot. @ufc #UFC173
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) May 25, 2014
Man, Robbie Lawler can fight ….
— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) May 25, 2014
Thanks to all the fans!! What a @ufc fight card. Everyone came to fight.
— robbie lawler (@Ruthless_RL) May 25, 2014
TAKEYA MIZUGAKI VS. FRANCISCO RIVERA
Too little to late for Rivera. Mizugaki gets the win, but I don’t think that performance gets him in title talk #UFC173
— Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) May 25, 2014
Gotta respect anybody that throws haymakers from their knees #UFC173
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) May 25, 2014
Cisco vs Mizugaki FOTN?!
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) May 25, 2014
Japonese mma Fighters the are straight up gangster when it comes to stand and bang
— Wilson Reis (@wilsonreis7) May 25, 2014
I ve been a mizugaki fan since the #WEC
— Alptekin Ozkilic (@alpozkilicmma) May 25, 2014
#CiscoRivera is a beast.
— Daniel Straus (@DanielStraus) May 25, 2014
Sorry guys did again off to get x-ray I tried my hardest to finish @ufc hats off to takeya pic.twitter.com/kadhZNWsMX
— FranCisco Rivera (@CiscoRiveraUFC) May 25, 2014
WOWOWUFC173????? ??????????????????????? ?????? ????????????????????? ???????????
— ????tatsuya kawajiri (@CRUSHER_MMA) May 25, 2014
JAMES KRAUSE VS. JAMIE VARNER
What a warrior @jamievarner !
— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) May 25, 2014
Huge respect to @jamievarner fought with such heart considering his injured leg!
— michael (@bisping) May 25, 2014
How tough is @jamievarner? If anybody ever brings up the Cerrone eye poke is getting a haduken uppercut on site #UFC173
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) May 25, 2014
@jamievarner straight warrior..
— Yancy Medeiros (@ymedeiros) May 25, 2014
Mad respect for Jaime Varner 9 out of 10 fighters would have tapped right away!!!
— Abel Trujillo (@AbelTrujillo1) May 25, 2014
Dang that’s a horrible way to lose a fight I feel sorry for Varner
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) May 25, 2014
That was an incredible display of will and heart from Jamie Varner. #UFC173
— Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) May 25, 2014
Wishing Varner a speedy recovery, looked nasty! #UFC173
— Akira Corassani (@AkiraCorassani) May 25, 2014
U canr teach that. Varner s ankle was broke the whole time. Incredible #UFC173
— Alptekin Ozkilic (@alpozkilicmma) May 25, 2014
Jamie’s leg is broken. Such a Bad Ass!!!!
— Dana White (@danawhite) May 25, 2014
Props 2 @jamievarner 4 powering through that round w/what looks 2 B a broken ankle. #UFC173
— Dennis Bermudez (@MenaceBermudez) May 25, 2014
Jamie Varner you’re an animal. Congrats @TheJamesKrause!! #UFC173
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) May 25, 2014
Varner showing some amazing heart. That was a gutsy performance
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) May 25, 2014
Varner is a tough SOB
— Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) May 25, 2014
Not sure what just happened to Varner’s foot but it’s grossing me out. What a warrior he is though! #UFC173 @ufc
— Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) May 25, 2014
Varner is insane. Everyone here is out there seat grossed out and he is still fighting
— Chris Clements (@menaceclements) May 25, 2014
Varners leg is messed up bad. 90% of people would of gave up by now and called the fight. Varner staying in there with 1 leg
— Chris Clements (@menaceclements) May 25, 2014
Ref did a good job. I a fighter wants to fight through a broken bone that’s his business. We gonna stop fights for broken hand too? #UFC173
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) May 25, 2014
Two fractured bones and torn ligaments! I have to see a specialist next week. Thanks for the support!
— Jamie Varner (@jamievarner) May 25, 2014
Such an honor to fight a guy like @jamievarner. Sorry it ended the way it did buddy. I wish you a speedy recovery.
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) May 25, 2014