Tag: T.J. Dillashaw

Cody Garbrandt unsure on ending rivalry with T.J. Dillashaw ahead of UFC 296: ‘there’s always going to be an asterisk’

Cody Garbrandt unsure on rivalry with T.J. Dillashaw UFC 296 there's always going to be an asteriskFormer undisputed bantamweight champion, Cody Garbrandt has claimed he’s unsure if he’ll ever share a similar sentiment to former…

Cody Garbrandt unsure on rivalry with T.J. Dillashaw UFC 296 there's always going to be an asterisk

Former undisputed bantamweight champion, Cody Garbrandt has claimed he’s unsure if he’ll ever share a similar sentiment to former teammate, Urijah Faber and end his long-standing rift with former two-time foe and former titleholder, T.J. Dillashaw, claiming there will always been an “asterisk” beside the veteran’s name.

Garbrandt, a former undisputed bantamweight champion, makes his return to the Octagon tonight at UFC 296 in Las Vegas, attempting to turn in a two-fight winning run for the first time since his 2016 title winning run – as he takes on Brian Kelleher in a bantamweight clash.

As for Dillashaw, the Angels Camp native briefly made his return to the Octagon in October of last year, attempting to become the first three-time bantamweight champion in promtoional history, before a lingering shoulder injury resulted in a one-sided second round TKO loss to Aljamain Sterling.

Cody Garbrandt addresses T.J. Dillashaw rivalry 

Sharing his thoughts on a potential squashing of a long-standing and heated rivalry with former Team Alpha MMA training partner, Dillashaw, Garbrandt appeared less interested in doing so than former teammate, Faber.

“I mean, it is what it is, T.J. (Dillashaw) is no longer in the UFC, you see with his career and towards the end of it, and that’s the reason why,” Cody Garbrandt told ESPN ahead of UFC 296. “The substances that he was taking, his body wasn’t able to uphold and good for him, hats off to him for what he was able to do. But, you know, there’s always going to be an asterisk and there should be an asterisk throughout his name and whatever he’s done in his career.”

“I know wholeheartedly that I can go through my whole UFC career and not ever had to take any performance-enhancing drug and just believe in my abilities,” Cody Garbrandt continued. (H/T MMA News)

Ex-Champion T.J. Dillashaw vows to make UFC return if shoulder heals: ‘I’m still the best guy in the weight class’

T.J. Dillashaw plans to return to UFC if shoulder heals I'm still the best in the weight classFormer two-time undisputed bantamweight champion, T.J. Dillashaw has revealed that he still hopes to make a return to the UFC, despite his recent retirement from active competition amid his devastating shoulder injury – claiming he is still currently the best bantamweight the promotion has to offer. Dillashaw, a former two-time undisputed bantamweight champion under the […]

T.J. Dillashaw plans to return to UFC if shoulder heals I'm still the best in the weight class

Former two-time undisputed bantamweight champion, T.J. Dillashaw has revealed that he still hopes to make a return to the UFC, despite his recent retirement from active competition amid his devastating shoulder injury – claiming he is still currently the best bantamweight the promotion has to offer.

Dillashaw, a former two-time undisputed bantamweight champion under the banner of the UFC, most recently co-headlined UFC 280 back in October of last year in Abu Dhabi, UAE, suffering a one-sided second round ground strikes TKO loss to current titleholder, Aljamain Sterling – with his shoulder separating and dislocating throughout the opening and second round.

Prior to that, Dillashaw, who was slapped with a two-year retroactive suspension after testing positive for erythropoietin (EPO) after a 2019 flyweight title challenge loss to Henry Cejudo. 

Making his return from a lengthy suspension, Angels Camp native, Dillashaw managed to earn his title charge against Sterling with a close split decision win over recent UFC Nashville headliner, Cory Sandhagen back in July 2021. 

And confirming his retirement from active competition following his ground strikes TKO loss to Uniondale native, Sterling, Dillashaw revealed he had yet to receive medical clearance to return to competition after undergoing shoulder surgery.

T.J. Dillashaw still plans UFC return if he gets medical clearance

However, according to the Bang Muay Thai striker, a return would most definitely be on the cards for him if he can finally land clearance.

“I didn’t want to retire,” T.J. Dillashaw said during an appearance on Jaxxon Podcast. “It’s been a real bitter thing. It’s been hard for me to be around the sport recently like even helping my training partner Juan Archuleta fighting in Japan in RIZIN for the belt. It’s been heard for me to wrap my head around being in the sport at the same time being focused out of it. Also, my career just kind of panned out the way it did towards the end – really just bitter, you know?”

“I’m hoping – every doctor I’ve met, they’re all specialists on my shoulder, they’re all telling me they can’t put me back good enough to be able to fight again,” T.J. Dillashaw explained. “Doctors aren’t always right but I have to have a super-extensive shoulder surgery. What I’m waiting on right now are some cadaver parts. I need a cadaver shoulder head bone.”

And despite his one-sided loss to Serra-Longo MMA staple, Sterling, Dillashaw maintains he is still far ahead of his bantamweight peers.

“I know that I’m still the best guy in the weight class, by far,” T.J. Dillashaw explained. “For the sport to be taken from me the way that it was, it just doesn’t sit well with me… If the shoulder’s good, man, definitely I have to get back in there. I can’t let it go out the way it did.” (Transcribed by MMA Fighting)

Would you like to see T.J. Dillashaw make a return to the UFC?

Cory Sandhagen: TJ Dillashaw “Doesn’t Care” About Other Fighters

Cory Sandhagen feels like T.J. Dillashaw showed his true colors when he decided to carry a serious shoulder injury into his latest bantamweight title fight. The 30-year-old previously fought Dillashaw when the pair served as the main event for a UFC Fi…

Cory Sandhagen feels like T.J. Dillashaw showed his true colors when he decided to carry a serious shoulder injury into his latest bantamweight title fight. The 30-year-old previously fought Dillashaw when the pair served as the main event for a UFC Fight Night in 2021. That was Dillashaw’s first fight since 2019 after serving a…

Continue Reading Cory Sandhagen: TJ Dillashaw “Doesn’t Care” About Other Fighters at MMA News.

Marlon Vera Casts Major Doubts On USADA Testing

Marlon Vera isn’t convinced that USADA’s testing methods are effectively preventing everyone on the UFC roster from using performance-enhancing drugs. The 30-year-old is currently the UFC’s #4-ranked bantamweight contender thanks to his current four-fi…

Marlon Vera isn’t convinced that USADA’s testing methods are effectively preventing everyone on the UFC roster from using performance-enhancing drugs. The 30-year-old is currently the UFC’s #4-ranked bantamweight contender thanks to his current four-fight winning streak. “Chito” previously put together a five-fight win streak where he finished all of his opponents in 2018/2019, but Vera’s…

Continue Reading Marlon Vera Casts Major Doubts On USADA Testing at MMA News.

Breaking – Ex-UFC champion T.J. Dillashaw informs UFC of immediate retirement from MMA

T.J. DillashawFormer two-time undisputed UFC bantamweight champion, T.J. Dillashaw, has notified the organization of his immediate retirement from active mixed martial arts competition, after recently undergoing surgery to address a shoulder injury. Dillashaw, a former two-time undisputed UFC bantamweight champion, most recently co-headlined UFC 280 back in October in Abu Dhabi, UAE – suffering a second […]

T.J. Dillashaw

Former two-time undisputed UFC bantamweight champion, T.J. Dillashaw, has notified the organization of his immediate retirement from active mixed martial arts competition, after recently undergoing surgery to address a shoulder injury.

Dillashaw, a former two-time undisputed UFC bantamweight champion, most recently co-headlined UFC 280 back in October in Abu Dhabi, UAE – suffering a second round ground strikes knockout loss to defending champion, Aljamain Sterling.

During the bout, Dillashaw dislocated his shoulder on multiple occasions throughout the opening and second round prior to the finish, before confirming how the issue had begun earlier this year during the beginning of his fight camp.

The Angels Camp native was removed from the official UFC Fans Ranking pool this Monday night, with speculation regarding his fighting future rife as a result.

And according to an initial report from ESPN associate producer, Michael Wonsover, Dillashaw has informed the UFC of his intention to retire from professional mixed martial arts with immediate effect.

“BREAKING: T.J. Dillashaw has notified the UFC of his retirement,” Wonsover tweeted. “Dillashaw went 1-1 after serving a 2-year suspension from 2019-2021.”

A follow-up report from Ariel Helwani as per Dillashaw’s manager, Tiki Ghosn, confirmed how a subsequent consultation with the surgeon who addressed T.J. Dillashaw’s shoulder, and the potential need for a second surgical procedure has led the Californian to call time on his professional mixed martial arts career. 

Dillashaw, 36, retires from the sport boasting a 17-5 professional record, bowing out following his title challenger loss to Uniondale native, Sterling.

T.J. Dillashaw’s first title reign began back in 2014

In his most recent professional victory, Dillashaw landed a close, split decision win over Cory Sandhagen in July of last year.

First clinching the undisputed bantamweight title with an upset knockout win over Renan Barao in May 2014, Dillashaw would begin his second term as champion with a 2017 knockout win over former teammate, Cody Garbrandt.

Dillashaw holds other professional wins over the likes of Joe Soto, Raphael Assuncao, and John Lineker.

T.J. Dillashaw explains why he decided to fight Aljamain Sterling with his shoulder injury: ‘I’m going to bet on myself, even with one arm’

T.J. DillashawT.J. Dillashaw isn’t backing down from his stance, as he believes he could have beaten Aljamain Sterling even with his injured shoulder. Dillashaw claimed that his shoulder had popped out of the socket multiple times in the lead to his title fight against Sterling. He even said he felt bad for holding up the division […]

T.J. Dillashaw

T.J. Dillashaw isn’t backing down from his stance, as he believes he could have beaten Aljamain Sterling even with his injured shoulder.

Dillashaw claimed that his shoulder had popped out of the socket multiple times in the lead to his title fight against Sterling. He even said he felt bad for holding up the division by taking the fight. He was afraid if he didn’t take the fight and got surgery on his shoulder, he wouldn’t get the fight when he turned from injury.

Dillashaw ended up being dominated in his bout against Sterling, as he was able to out grapple the former champion. Dillashaw’s shoulder popped out of the socket and Sterling went for blood int he second round. He took him down and finished the fight with devastating strikes from the top position.

T.J. Dillashaw still believes he had the perfect style to defeat the “beatable” Sterling

Dillashaw was interviewed on “The MMA Hour” when he sounded off on Sterling.

“I took a gamble. I could’ve sat out and gotten surgery, but when I come back, who knows if I’m going to get a title shot right away,” Dillashaw said to Ariel Helwani. “There’s no guarantee you get a title fight when you come back. There’s a lot of options I’m weighing out of me getting this fight and it’s a guy who’s very beatable, I think he’s the most beatable champion. People are going to give me sh*t for saying that, but that’s my belief. I think he’s got some big holes in his game and I matched up well with him. I’m going to roll them dice, I’m going to bet on myself, even with one arm.”

Sterling has already said he would run the fight back if the UFC would want to schedule it again after Dillashaw has surgery. However there are many bantamweight fighters that may be more deserving of a title fight before Dillashaw gets another.