New and again UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw knocked out Cody Garbrandt on Saturday night, and wisely used the moment to explain what’s next. He wants to drop to 135 and challenge Demetrious Johnson. The UFC tried to put the fight together previously, but ‘Mighty’ balked and opted to fight Ray Borg instead, setting a new league record for title defenses, and cementing him in the minds of many as the best pound for pound fighter in the sport.
Johnson argued Dillashaw would have to earn his way up in the division, but with Dillashaw now a champion too, the argument breaks down.
Demetrious can’t run from this one, said Dillashaw, as transcribed by Steven Marrocco and Ken Hathaway for MMAjunkie. This one’s too big. [Johnson] broke his record. He got to pad himself and break his record. Now, let’s make some money.
He’s talking about how he wants those seven-figure fights – well, this is it. Step up, be a man of your word, and let’s get this fight going.
Garbrandt wants a rematch, but as the fight ending was clear and without controversy, he will not get one. However, questions remain about a superfight fight, including will Johnson get the $2 million he wants to fight Dillashaw, and can a ripped Dillashaw make 125?
The reason why I look so lean at 135 is the way I work, said Dillashaw. I put muscle on to be at 135. I’m not a big 135er. I walk around at 150, but I stack on, and I stay lean. I kept my diet since ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’ I’ve been on a new diet with a new strength and conditioning coach, and he keeps the muscle on me, because that’s what I need.
When I go to 125, we’re going to have to lean that down. It is a lifestyle change.
White was asked if he was confident Dillashaw can make the cut.
It’s not up to me to feel confident about it, said White. It’s him. Does he feel confident he can make that weight, and he was very confident when I talked to him that he could do it.
White was also asked about Johnson’s asking price. That one got a no.
He’s a partner in the pay-per-view, said White. Let’s see what your pay-per-view does. You’re a partner. Let’s see what you make.
Listen, you can’t be in a position where you’re like, ‘I want $2 million, f*** you, I don’t care what you make. I don’t care how much this thing sells. I just want $2 million.’ Go tell your boss you want $2 million. You don’t give a f*** what it costs him. See what he says.
That kind of pointedly blunt language is not usually the beginning of a successful negotiation, but it works for Dana White. Expect a superfight between Johnson and Dillashaw, with T.J. having the opportunity to become just the fifth fighter in league history to hold a belt in two divisions. The fourth happened Saturday night, as GSP took the middleweight belt from Michael Bisping.
