TJ Dillashaw News

Tom Taylor - January 9, 2017

Late last month, on the main card of UFC 207, TJ Dillashaw defeated John Lineker, and seemed to secure himself a shot at the winner of the card’s bantamweight title fight as he did so. In that bantamweight title fight, his former training partner Cody Garbrandt shocked the world by upsetting Dominick Cruz. During an appearance on Monday’s episode of the MMA Hour, Dillashaw weighed in on Garbrandt’s masterful performance, and despite what is often reported as a strained relationship between them, was quite complimentary his former training partner.

Scott Hernandez - January 6, 2017

Leading up to UFC 207, the feud between former Team Alpha Male teammates Cody Garbrandt and TJ Dillashaw was reignited as the two men, who were both fighting on the UFC 207 card, took to social media to rekindle an old feud just hours before their scheduled scraps on pay-per view. Dillashaw took to social media to take some verbal jabs at the challenger, mocking him by saying that he made ‘No Love’ cry during practice when they were teammates. Despite the fact that he had the biggest fight of his life coming up in just a few hours, Garbrandt was quick to fire back, stating that his coach Justin Buchholz had footage of Garbrandt knocking out Dillashaw in training.

Tom Taylor - January 6, 2017

Last Friday, on the main card of UFC 207, TJ Dillashaw coach Duane Ludwig watched his star pupil score a lopsided win over John Lineker, the bantamweight division’s number-two ranked fighter. Logic would suggest that with this win, Dillashaw guaranteed himself at the UFC bantamweight title he once owned, which is now held by Cody Garbrandt. The widely applauded TJ Dillashaw coach, however, isn’t sure what the future holds. While he hopes his fighter will get the next shot at gold, he is far from trusting of the UFC’s current matchmaking strategy.

Tom Taylor - January 6, 2017

After his UFC 207 defeat of Dominick Cruz, new UFC bantamweight champ Cody Garbrandt claimed that he’d like to fight current featherweight champ Jose Aldo next. Given that Garbrandt’s fighting Aldo would deprive TJ Dillashaw of the bantamweight title shot he’s so clearly earned, this assertion was met with some criticism. Luckily for Dillashaw, Garbrandt has backtracked a bit, saying he’d happily defend the title against him.

Scott Hernandez - December 31, 2016

Friday night in the co-main event of UFC 207, undefeated bantamweight prospect Cody Garbrandt stepped into the Octagon and put on the performance of a lifetime as he picked apart bantamweight kingpin Dominick Cruz, dropping the champ several times throughout the fight en route to a unanimous decision win to claim the UFC bantamweight championship.

Scott Hernandez - December 30, 2016

In the main event of the UFC 207 prelims, top ranked UFC welterweight Neil Magny returned to the win column as he picked up a unanimous decision win over former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks. Leading up to the fight, Hendricks once again missed weight, and revealed that he would be moving up to middleweight. Unfortunately for the former welterweight champ, when he moves up to middleweight he will be doing so in the midst of a 3-fight losing streak that has seen him go winless over the course of 2016.

Tom Taylor - December 30, 2016

Later tonight, on the main card of UFC 207, former bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw will take on streaking contender John Lineker. The winner of this compelling scrap is likely to be the next man in line for the winner of the card’s co-main event: a bantamweight title showdown between champion Dominick Cruz and challenger Cody Garbrandt. If Garbrandt springs the upset and becomes the division’s new champion, don’t expect him to be especially worried about his first challenge. In advance of his fight with Cruz, he’s referred to both Dillashaw and Lineker as “easy fights.”

Tom Taylor - December 30, 2016

Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw is the owner of one of the most unique fighting styles in MMA. As such, he is an extremely difficult opponent to prepare for. Tailoring a game plan for his specialized blend of footwork, head movement, and takedowns is an undeniably stark challenge. Dillashaw’s UFC 207 opponent John Lineker, however, is not particularly panicked about this challenge. In a recent interview with MMAJunkie.com, he shed some light on his very simple strategy for Dillashaw. In his last fight, which saw him narrowly defeat John Dodson, Lineker said he spent too much time chasing his opponent. Against Dillashaw, he plans to avoid doing this, thereby forcing Dillashaw to come to him. From there, he can get to work with his absurd punching power.

Scott Hernandez - December 28, 2016

Earlier this month, former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw was one of several high-profile UFC fighters who emerged as part of the MMA Athletes Association. In addition to Dillashaw, former UFC welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, and top ranked fighters Donald Cerrone and Tim Kennedy all announced their involvement.

Tom Taylor - December 27, 2016

This Friday, the UFC will return to beautiful Las Vegas, Nevada with UFC 207. In the co-main event of the evening, we’ll see reining bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz attempt to defend his title against dangerous challenger Cody Garbrandt. Earlier on the main card, we’ll witness another high-stakes bantamweight scrap, as former champion TJ Dillashaw takes on stone-fisted former flyweight John Lineker. The winner of this fight, it would seem, is the obvious next opponent for the winner of the card’s Cruz vs. Garbrandt co-main event battle. As it turns out, however, this is not necessarily certain. In UFC 207’s episode of The Watch List, UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby explained that while the winner of Dillashaw vs. Lineker is certainly a frontrunner for the next bantamweight title shot, the presence of other contenders like Jimmie Rivera, Bryan Caraway and John Dodson in the division means nothing is certain.

Tom Taylor - December 23, 2016

In one week’s time, in the co-main event of UFC 207, bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will attempt to defend his title against undefeated challenged Cody Garbrandt. Though Garbrandt has yet to beat a top-5 opponent, his incredible punching power and sizzling beef with the champ have most members of the MMA community pretty excited for their fight. That does not include former bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw, who recently weighed in on Garbrandt’s title shot in an interview with Fox Sports. “Really it’s all just kind of bullsh*t,” Dillashaw said of Cruz’ bout with Garbrandt. “It makes no sense at all how they give the No. 8 guy, who skips over seven guys to get a title shot. It’s kind of whatever the UFC wants to do and they’re letting Dominick Cruz hand select his fights right now.”

Chris Taylor - December 18, 2016

Former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber retired from the sport of mixed martials arts last night, this following his dominant UFC on FOX 22 victory over Brad Pickett, which took place in front of Faber`s hometown crowd in Sacramento, California. Shortly after earning the decisive victory, Faber`s former teammate and protégé TJ Dillashaw reached out to his former coach and mentor with the following message.

Tom Taylor - November 21, 2016

  #Repost @duanebangcom ・・・ BMT Hook slip drill with My Ninja @TJDillashaw @LudwigMMA thank you coach @kurtsouthern

Chris Taylor - November 2, 2016

We now know that UFC 207 will be co-headlined by a men’s bantamweight title fight between reigning champion Dominick Cruz and streaking challenger Cody Garbrandt. Well, as it turns out, this co-main event won’t be the only high profile men’s bantamweight scrap on the December 30 card, as a bout between former champion TJ Dillashaw and stone fisted contender John Lineker was just made official for the event. T.J. Dillashaw vs. John Lineker official for UFC 207! Boom!#UFC207

Tom Taylor - November 2, 2016

We now know that UFC 207 will be co-headlined by a men’s bantamweight title fight between reigning champion Dominick Cruz and streaking challenger Cody Garbrandt. Well, as it turns out, this co-main event won’t be the only high profile men’s bantamweight scrap on the December 30 card. According to a report from ESPN.com, a bout between former champion TJ Dillashaw and stone fisted contender John Lineker is also in the works for the event. Sources close to both competitors have apparently confirmed that the fight is nearly finalized. If this fight is indeed booked, it’ll be a nice consolation prize for Dillashaw, who has been ceaselessly campaigning for a rematch with Cruz. The two talented bantamweights first met in January of this year. On that night, Cruz walked away with a hard-fought split decision win, and the bantamweight belt. Since that razor close loss to Cruz, Dillashaw has rebounded nicely with a dominant decision win over former foil Rafael Assuncao on the undercard of UFC 200.

Scott Hernandez - October 31, 2016

Duane “Bang” Ludwig has reinvented himself as a world-class striking coach after a long and storied mixed martial arts career of his own. These days, “Bang” is the former bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw’s lead striking coach, who has ramped up Dillashaw’s striking immensely. Ludwig was largely credited at improving the striking for all of Team Alpha Male before leaving alongside Dillashaw in what many perceived to be a kind of mutiny.

Scott Hernandez - October 29, 2016

Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw is coming off a dominant performance against Raphael Assuncao at UFC 200 back in July, avenging his 2013 split decision loss to Assuncao as he cemented his place at the top of the bantamweight division. Following the win over Assuncao, which returned Dillashaw to the win column after he dropped a controversial split decision to Dominick Cruz at ‘UFC Fight Night: Boston’ in early January, there was some speculation as to whether or not he would be getting a rematch with Dominick Cruz for the bantamweight championship.

Russell Ess - October 27, 2016

Current number one UFC ranked bantamweight TJ Dillashaw is more than upset over the recently announced bantamweight title fight between champion Dominick Cruz and number 6 UFC ranked contender Cody Garbrandt. Dillashaw is looking to rematch Cruz after the two fought a close five-round title fight at UFC Fight Night 81 back in January where Cruz walked away with the belt by judge’s split decision. Now with the bantamweight title fight between Cruz and Garbrandt taking place at UFC 207, Dillashaw is simply baffled seeing Cruz in the position he feels he should rightfully be in.