TJ Dillashaw News
WATCH | UFC lightweight King Green confronts TJ Dillashaw over Anthony Smith comments
BJ Penn Staff - February 18, 2025
UFC lightweight King Green is going to bat for Anthony Smith following some harsh criticism from former bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw. During a 2024 appearance on the JAXXON podcast, Dillashaw questioned “Lionheart” Smith’s heart, claiming he “gives up” in his fights.
Dominick Cruz reveals T.J. Dillashaw reached out to offer support following career-ending injury: "I was shocked"
Josh Evanoff - February 17, 2025
Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz received support from an unlikely foe after announcing his retirement. ‘The Dominator’ was set to make one final walk to the cage this weekend in the co-main event of UFC Seattle. Over two years after being knocked out by Marlon Vera, Dominick Cruz signed a deal to face Rob Font. Ahead of the bout, the former champion confirmed it would be his last. With a lifetime of injuries and approaching his 40th birthday, the decision made sense.
TJ Dillashaw explains why Cody Garbrandt is the toughest matchup for Merab Dvalishvili
Cole Shelton - January 27, 2025
TJ Dillashaw believes Cody Garbrandt is the toughest matchup at bantamweight for champion Merab Dvalishvili. Garbrandt is a former UFC bantamweight champion but is unranked. However, his former rival Dillashaw thinks the former champ would pose a lot of problems for Dvalishvili due to his skill set.
TJ Dillashaw claims the UFC “put like $6 million” into marketing Cody Garbrandt as the next Conor McGregor
Harry Kettle - November 9, 2024
Former UFC champion TJ Dillashaw has claimed that the promotion poured millions into marketing Cody Garbrandt as the next big thing. As we know, Cody Garbrandt has proven to be one of the biggest ‘what ifs’ in MMA history. Following on from his iconic UFC bantamweight championship win over Dominick Cruz, the expectation was that he’d go on to become one of the biggest stars in the promotion.
TJ Dillashaw criticizes Jose Aldo's strategy for Mario Bautista fight at UFC 307
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 11, 2024
TJ Dillashaw is baffled by Jose Aldo’s strategy against Mario Bautista. Aldo and Bautista shared the Octagon on the main card of UFC 307. Aldo was hoping to defeat another rising prospect and eventually earn another title fight. Instead, Bautista scored a split decision victory.
TJ Dillashaw praises Merab Dvalishvili for making Sean O’Malley look "weak" at UFC 306
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 22, 2024
TJ Dillashaw believes Merab Dvalisvili made Sean O’Malley look weak in their UFC 306 title fight. Dvalishvili put forth a stellar performance against “Suga.” His pressure and wrestling gave O’Malley problems throughout the fight. When the score totals were read, it was Dvalishvili who had his hand raised via unanimous decision, securing the UFC bantamweight title in the process.
Sean O’Malley warned by former UFC champion about facing top 5 bantamweight: "I think he pieces Sean up"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 20, 2024
One former UFC bantamweight champion has warned Sean O’Malley to stay clear from a certain 135-pound contender. O’Malley won’t have to worry about future opponents at the moment. The “Suga” show will be going under the knife following his UFC 306 loss to Merab Dvalishvili. O’Malley claims he suffered a torn labrum 10 weeks before losing the UFC Bantamweight Championship.
TJ Dillashaw explains why he believes Cory Sandhgaen would "piece up" Sean O'Malley
Cole Shelton - September 19, 2024
Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw believes Cory Sandhagen would beat Sean O’Malley with relative ease. Dillashaw used to train with Sandhagen and even fought him. Although Dillashaw did get the better of Sandhagen, winning a decision, he doesn’t think O’Malley matches up well with him. Instead, he thinks Sandhagen would piece up ‘Suga’ if they ended up fighting.
Former UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw ends talk of rumored return: "I'm f*cking done"
Josh Evanoff - July 9, 2024
Don’t expect to see former bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw back in the UFC anytime soon. The 38-year-old has been retired for almost two years now. In October 2022, T.J. Dillashaw attempted to win bantamweight gold for the third time against then-champion Aljamain Sterling. However, the former titleholder had a very tough training camp. While Dillashaw had shoulder injuries in the past, the issues became much worse in training for ‘The Funk Master’.
TJ Dillashaw believes Cory Sandhagen will become UFC champion if he gets past Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC on ABC 7: “He’d beat O’Malley all day”
Harry Kettle - June 7, 2024
Former UFC fighter TJ Dillashaw believes Cory Sandhagen will go on to become UFC champion if he gets past Umar Nurmagomedov. For the longest time now, Cory Sandhagen has been viewed as a future world champion in the UFC. Of course, he’s suffered some setbacks along the way as we know – but he’s still an incredible fighter. Now, he’s set to face another tough test on his way to the top as he prepares to battle Umar Nurmagomedov.
Former UFC champion T.J. Dillashaw seemingly hints at comeback: "The future is bright"
Josh Evanoff - May 10, 2024
Former UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw could seemingly be on the way back. The 38-year-old has been out of action since a title fight with Aljamain Sterling at UFC 280 in October 2022. That fight ended a yearlong layoff for T.J. Dillashaw, and he didn’t enter it in the best condition. Just minutes into that bout with ‘The Funk Master’, the former champion had his shoulder dislocated.
TJ Dillashaw reacts to Cody Garbrandt’s submission loss to Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300: “I hate to see a fighter lose his confidence”
Harry Kettle - April 19, 2024
TJ Dillashaw has given his thoughts on Cody Garbrandt’s submission defeat to Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300. Last weekend, Cody Garbrandt went head to head with Deiveson Figueiredo in a highly-anticipated bantamweight collision. Unfortunately for Cody, it didn’t go his way, as he fell to a comprehensive submission loss.
T.J. Dillashaw admits that retirement could be temporary: "I'm still the best guy in the weight class"
Josh Evanoff - August 8, 2023
Former UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw will likely be back if all goes well. The 37-year-old last competed at UFC 280 against Aljamain Sterling last Fall. The fight was T.J. Dillashaw’s first in over a year, missing time after a win over Cory Sandhagen due to injury. Prior to that win over ‘The Sandman’, the former champion famously missed over two years of his career due to failing a drug test.
TJ Dillashaw admits he's having a hard time dealing with retirement: "I'm to good to hang ‘em up"
Cole Shelton - April 12, 2023
TJ Dillashaw is having a hard time processing that his fighting career is over. Dillashaw announced his retirement from MMA following his UFC 280 TKO loss to Aljamain Sterling for the bantamweight title. Early into the fight, Dillashaw dislocated his shoulder, and having to go under the knife again, he knew his career was over.
Cory Sandhagen disappointed TJ Dillashaw fought Aljamain Sterling injured and held up the division: "I think that he showed a giant lack of compassion"
Cole Shelton - January 5, 2023
Cory Sandhagen was frustrated to see TJ Dillashaw fight Aljamain Sterling for the belt when he was clearly injured. In the co-main event of UFC 280, Sterling was looking to defend his belt for the second time when he faced Dillashaw in a fight many fans were looking forward to. Yet, right away, Dillashaw popped his shoulder out multiple times and lost by second-round TKO.
Former UFC champion TJ Dillashaw not ruling out an eventual return to fighting: “We’ll see how successful things turn out for me outside the cage”
Harry Kettle - December 16, 2022
TJ Dillashaw has given his thoughts on a possible return to mixed martial arts following his retirement earlier this month. Back in October at UFC 280, TJ Dillashaw fought for the UFC bantamweight title. His aim was to win the gold for the third time, but ultimately, he fell short as a result of a nasty shoulder injury. As a result, Aljamain Sterling is still the king at 135 pounds.
Cody Garbrandt and Aljamain Sterling react to the news that former rival TJ Dillashaw retired from MMA: "Can't compete like a real man"
Cole Shelton - December 6, 2022
Cody Garbrandt and Aljamain Sterling have both given their thoughts on TJ Dillashaw retiring from MMA. Garbrandt and Dillashaw were longtime teammates at Team Alpha Male but the two later became rivals when ‘Killashaw’ left the gym. The pair ended up coaching against one another on TUF and fought twice in the Octagon for the bantamweight strap. Dillashaw won both of those contests, becoming the new champ and then defending the belt.
Former UFC champion TJ Dillashaw retires from MMA following recent shoulder surgery
Chris Taylor - December 5, 2022
Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw has decided to call it a career according to his manager Tiki Ghosn. Dillashaw (17-5 MMA) most recently competed at October’s UFC 280 event in Abu Dhabi, where he challenged Aljamain Sterling for the promotions 135lbs title. The bout proved to be a one-sided contest, as ‘Killashaw’ had his shoulder pop out early in the opening round and was never able to recover from the injury. ‘Funkmaster‘ was able to take the fight to the floor with relative ease and proceeded to ground and pound Dillashaw to a second-round TKO victory.