Bang: Faber never did much for T.J.
Bang: “I don’t think Faber ever did much for T.J. Dillashaw. If you want to put on a loyalty stamp, I felt like I’ve done a lot more than Urijah Faber has. That’s for sure.”
When Conor McGregor and Urijah Faber were opposing coaches on TUF 22, the Irishman repeatedly questioned Dillashaw’s loyalty to Team Alpha Male and Faber.
Dillashaw is “a snake in the grass” famously intoned McGregor.
Dillashaw started with the Faber-founded TAM, which brought in Duane ‘Bang’ Ludwig as a striking coach. When friction developed between Ludwig and Faber, the coach moved on to Elevation MMA in Colorado, and Dillashaw ultimately moved on with him.
Ludwig appeared recently on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, and took issue with McGregor’s characterization.
“As far as loyalty, what’s loyalty?” said Ludwig as transcribed by Marc Raimondi for MMA Fighting. “It’s making sure he’s always improving and doing what’s important for him. Not making sure he’s doing what’s important to other people. In this sport, you’ve gotta do what’s best for you. What’s best for him is to have high-level coaches making sure he’s improving each and every day. And that’s here in Colorado, not in Sacramento.”
“In my eyes, I don’t think Faber ever did much for T.J. If you want to put on a loyalty stamp, I felt like I’ve done a lot more than Faber has. That’s for sure.”
“I’m always gonna back T.J.’s decision. He’s gotten a lot better under my guidance and the coaches out here in Colorado than he ever did in Sacramento. Other than under my guidance.”
Dillashaw lost his bantamweight title Sunday night to Dominick Cruz. Prior to the fight, Faber said he hoped Dillashaw would win, as that is who he wants to fight more.
“I think Faber is calling for that fight because he wants to have another big-money payday,” said Ludwig. “He barely survived his last fight against a tough journeyman. Now he wants to fight one of the No. 1 fighters in the world? Get the f— out of here.
“It’s just a payday call, that’s all it is. And I get it. It’s all about money. He’s at the end of his career. He wants another payday fight. I don’t know if he wants to step away soon or what it is. He probably should step away. It’s not really good to get hit in the head that much. It’s not good for your brain.”
Cruz and Faber had both criticized Dillashaw widely leading up to the fight, but Dillashaw barely responded. Then Dillashaw was booed during the fight Sunday night, a first. Bang thinks the time to be “quiet and humble” is at an end for Dillashaw.
“If someone is gonna spout lies and talk s— you gotta put out the truth,” said Ludwig. “And the truth is gonna come out here soon.
(29:06 mark)
