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T.J. Dillashaw distances himself from retirement following UFC 280 loss: ‘There’s no way I go out like that’

Former two-time undisputed UFC bantamweight champion, T.J. Dillashaw has insisted he will not be calling time on his professional mixed martial arts career, despite suffering a one-sided second round ground strikes TKO loss to division champion, Aljamain Sterling at UFC 280 last weekend. Angels Camp veteran, Dillashaw co-headlined the promotion’s pay-per-view event against Uniondale native, […]

Angels Camp veteran, Dillashaw co-headlined the promotion’s pay-per-view event against Uniondale native, Sterling, attempting to become the first three-time bantamweight titleholder in the promotion’s antiquity.

However, en route to his eventual second round ground strikes TKO loss to Sterling, T.J. Dillashaw twice suffered a dislocation to his left shoulder – detailing during his post-fight interview with UFC color commentator, Daniel Cormier how he had entered the fight with the pre-existing injury.

Preparing for the championship battle since the beginning of May this year, Dillashaw claimed that at the end of April, he initially suffered the injury, before dislocating his shoulder up to 20 separate times throughout his camp.

Informing referee, Marc Goddard that his shoulder would likely dislocate during the fight at some stage, Dillashaw was allowed to compete regardless, urging Goddard to allow him continue to compete even if he suffered dislocation inside the Octagon.

Tipped to weigh up his future in the sport given his age and championship challenge loss, T.J. Dillashaw, who underwent reconstructive surgery to address a knee injury suffered in his split decision win over Cory Sandhagen in July of last year, insisted he would not be bowing out of the sport in that fashion.

“Sparring was f*cking awesome,” T.J. Dillashaw told ESPN post-UFC 280. “I was doing great in camp against high-level guys, The Juan Archuletas, the Cub Swansons, guys we were bringing in. I was on point, man. I really was looking really good. I was in insane shape. Because of the shoulder situation, I had been working harder on my physical therapy and working on strengthening up my shoulder.”

“The way I felt and the things that were going on, obviously it got worse the closer I got to the fight, but man, I was on point – because of me having one arm and that changed my game plan up, but I was so focused on the combos I can hit with my right hand and kicks that I felt amazing.”

T.J. Dillashaw plans triumphant return from shoulder injury

Undergoing surgical procedures to address injuries to both shoulders during his time away from the Octagon between 2019 and last year, Dillashaw is expected to go under the knife again – likely sidelining him for a period of a year or more.

“I don’t feel that my ability has gone anywhere, maybe a little bit of want,” T.J. Dillashaw explained. “This sport is a tough one, and then all the bullsh*t I go through here and there kills a little bit of the fire, but I think my competitive edge will always drive me. So I’m not done. You guys will see me again. There’s no way I’d go out like that, and if I come back, I’ll get back to the top.” (Transcribed by Yahoo! Sports)

Dillashaw Responds To Criticism For Hiding Shoulder Injury

Former two-time bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw has hit back after coming under fire for his decision to fight at UFC 280. At last weekend’s pay-per-view, Dillashaw was hoping to secure his place in the history books by beginning a third reign…

Continue Reading Dillashaw Responds To Criticism For Hiding Shoulder Injury at MMA News.

Islam Makhachev dedicates UFC title win to the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov in touching tribute

Newly crowned undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has dedicated his championship victory at UFC 280 earlier this month to the late former head coach of his, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, explaining how he wished he could have placed the title round the waist of the late sambo specialist. Headlining UFC 280 last weekend against former undisputed […]

Headlining UFC 280 last weekend against former undisputed titleholder, Charles Oliveira, Makhachev managed to lock up a stunning second round arm-triangle submission victory against the Brazilian – minting himself as the undisputed lightweight champion.

Islam Makhachev dedicates title victory to the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov

Guided through a camp which is said to have cost in the region of $1,000,000 by American Kickboxing Academy head coach, Javier Mendez, and the undefeated former lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makchahev dedicated his win over Oliveira to Khabib’s late father, Abdulamanap.

“My coach was the first to believe in me when I first came to the gym and did not even think of becoming a fighter,” Islam Makhachev posted on Instagram, accompanied by a picture of himself alongside Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, and Khabib Nurmagomedov. “I wasn’t special, I wasn’t different from the rest and throughout my career he believed in me and told me that I would be a champion, that I just needed to practice.”

“And today, when i became a champion, I would really like to put this belt on my coach, in the Octagon,” Islam Makhachev continued. “If you were by my side, it would have been a more meaningful victory for me. May the Almighty grant you the highest rank of Paradise coach.” (Translated by Google Translate)

Expected to make his first attempted defense of his lightweight crown next year, Dagestan grappling ace, Makhachev is touted to make a visit to Perth, Australia atop a UFC 284 pay-per-view card in February – drawing undisputed featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski in a champion versus champion superfight.

Sean O’Malley Scoffs At “Robbery” Label On UFC 280 Win

UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley has given his thoughts on his close split decision win over Petr Yan at UFC 280. O’Malley earned a 29-28 decision on two of the judges’ scorecards to knock down the former champion Yan. While t…

Continue Reading Sean O’Malley Scoffs At “Robbery” Label On UFC 280 Win at MMA News.

Video – Islam Makhachev meets Dagestan President, father during parade following UFC 280 title triumph

Celebrating his undisputed UFC lightweight title victory over former titleholder, Charles Oliveira over the course of the weekend, newly minted kingpin, Islam Makhachev shared his success alongside his father, as well as the Head of the Republic of Dagestan, Sergey Melikov. Taking main event status at UFC 280 last Saturday in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Makhachev […]

Taking main event status at UFC 280 last Saturday in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Makhachev managed to land American Kickboxing Academy their second undisputed UFC lightweight crown courtesy of a second round arm-triangle submission win over Oliveira – following in the footsteps of coach and teammate, Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Islam Makhachev returned to his native Dagestan for a championship parade

Embarking on a parade in his native Dagestan, Islam Makhachev met with his father as well as the aforenoted Head of the Republic, Melikov – as a large crowd gather to congratulate the new undisputed UFC lightweight gold holder.

“Salam Alaikum everybody,” islam Makhachev said. “I’d like to thank everybody who came here to greet and support me. Later we will eat together. There we can talk and take pictures.

Off the back of his dominant title success against Sao Paulo grappler, Oliveira, Makhachev already appears to have the first challenger to his undisputed lightweight crown on the horizon, in the form of undisputed featherweight best, Alexander Volkanovski.

Joining Makhachev in the Octagon following his title success, the pair appeared to agree on a champion versus champion clash at UFC 284 next February in Perth, Australia – with the organization slated to return to the RAC Arena.

Providing a prediction for the fight with Volkanovski, Makhachev’s coach and training partner, Khabib touted his student and teammate to land another submission win as part of a streaking run at 155lbs.

“Let him prepare this,” Khabib Nurmagomedov said. “Clinch wrestling, like freestyle wrestling, Greco Roman. Grappling, Thai clinch, left hand. (Alexander) Volkanovski, we respect you, but we’re gonna take your place, brother.”

“You are pound-for-pund number one right now, but Islam (Makhachev) want to be on your side,” Khabib said. “You have to prepare. Clinch, lot of knees. He’s gonna eat a lot of knees. He’s gonna take all his energy, take him down, and he’s gonna choke him out. This is what I think. This is the way how I see how’s fight gonna go.”

Joe Rogan touts Islam Makhachev after UFC 280 win: ‘He is the f*cking truth, he’s on another level’

UFC color commentator, Joe Rogan has showered praise on newly minted undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, following the Dagestan native’s second round arm-triangle submission win over former division titleholder, Charles Oliveira last weekend in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Taking main honors at UFC 280 in the Middle East on ‘Fight Island’, Makhachev, under the tutelage […]

Taking main honors at UFC 280 in the Middle East on ‘Fight Island’, Makhachev, under the tutelage of Javier Mendez and former undisputed lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov – turned in a dominant, one-sided second round submission win over Oliveira to clinch the vacant crown.

Dropping Oliveira in the second frame prior to the finish, Islam Makhachev countered a kick attempt from the Brazilian with a left straight, before firing home with a crushing right hook.

Immediately jumping into Oliveira’s half guard, Islam Makhachev sought out an arm-triangle, leapt to side control and forced a submission win. Off the back of the championship victory, Makahchev is now expected to attempt his first title defense in February of next year in Perth, Australia against featherweight titleholder, Alexander Volkanovski.

Joe Rogan heaps praise on new champion, Islam Makhachev

Sharing his thoughts on the Russian’s victory over Oliveira, long-time UFC color commentator, Rogan heaped praise on the former.

“Watching Islam (Makhachev) and Charles Oliveira, that was – what a fight that was,” Joe Rogan said on his podcast. “Islam Makhachev must have the most incredible squeeze, his squeeze must be out of this world. Because, you see how quick Charles tapped once he clamped that on him. I mean, whoof.”

“That dude is on another level,” Rogan said of Makhachev. “I mean, I am – he is the truth. I was always impressed with him, but I mean, I was saying, leading up to him getting a shot at the world title, he’s the boogeyman of that division (lightweight). He’s the guy that everyone was saying, he’s the most dominant of all the contenders. And then when he tapped (Drew) Dober, that was a big one, when he tapped Dan Hooker, that was a big one too.”

“It’s like the way he’s tapping these guys, who are these world class fighters, he’s just f*cking running through them,” Rogan said. “But the fact that he got on Oliveira and mounted him, and then submitted him with an arm-triangle, head and arm choke like that. He submitted the guy with the most submissions in the history of the sport [the UFC]. And the way he did it, he’s so f*cking methodical and dominant – and Oliveira tested him, I mean he got out of bad positions in the first round, got back up to his feet, hit him with some good shots. But Makhachev, he’s the f*cking truth.”