Latest news with #Dillashaw
USA Today
17-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
T.J. Dillashaw admits he was 'delusionally optimistic' he'd knock out Aljamain Sterling
T.J. Dillashaw admits he was 'delusionally optimistic' he'd knock out Aljamain Sterling T.J. Dillashaw was adamant he could reclaim the UFC bantamweight title while compromised in what ended up being his final fight. Dillashaw (17-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) took a risk by going into his October 2022 title fight against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 280 injured. The risk didn't pay off as his shoulder popped out during the fight, and he was finished by Round 2 TKO. The former two-time UFC bantamweight champion ended up retiring after lingering issues with his shoulder. In hindsight, many would have regretted taking that fight injured but not Dillashaw. "I was fighting a guy that I felt like I could still beat with the arm that I had," Dillashaw said on the "JAXXON Podcast." "I felt like I could have knocked him out. Yeah, dude, (with one arm). His striking is complete garbage." Dillashaw explains why he never considered pulling out. "I know I'm going to have to have shoulder surgery, so I'm going to be out for another year-and-a-half," Dillashaw said. "I'm 36 years old. It's kind of like, this might be my last f*cking shot. Ends up, yes, it was because my shoulder was so bad. So it's like, why am I going to pass up this opportunity? "Might be my last shot ever to be a three-time world champion, get my belt back. (The odds) were f*cking awesome. I'm delusionally optimistic, but I really believe that's also what got me to the belt. I believed in myself so much that I was able to push through so much negativity and get to the top."
USA Today
29-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
T.J. Dillashaw touts ex-rival as UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili's toughest test
T.J. Dillashaw has an unpopular opinion on UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili's hardest fight. Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) retained his bantamweight title when he outlasted Umar Nurmagomedov (18-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in the UFC 311 co-main event. Former champion Dillashaw sees Dvalishvili ruling over the 135-pound division for a while. However, he did surprisingly pick former foe Cody Garbrandt (14-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) as potentially the champion's sternest test – despite 'No Love' having lost three of his past five. 'I would like to see Garbrandt fight him eventually once Garbrandt gets a couple of wins back under his belt,' Dillashaw said on the 'JAXXON PODCAST.' 'Garbrandt can wrestle, dude. When I trained with Garbrandt a lot, he's so f*cking fast. 'He's like a cat on his feet. He's hard to take down, and as soon as he gets his confidence back, he hits like a truck, he's faster than – I think he could do really good if he can get a run going, believing in himself, he could be a threat.' Dillashaw, who finished Garbrandt in back-to-back title fights, explains the reasoning behind his pick and what it will take to dethrone Dvalishvili. 'You've got to find someone who's got the wrestling,' Dillashaw continued. 'Why Umar is such a threat is because Umar can wrestle. To beat Merab, you've got to wrestle because you know he's going to shoot, he's going to shoot, he's going to shoot, and then you got to be able to outstrike him. He's got good striking skills, but he's not like a striker. So, that's why I say someone like Garbrandt.'
