Dillashaw: Main goal is a superfight

UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw appeared recently on Submission Radio, for a wide-ranging interview.

Former division champion Renan Barao recently accused Dillashaw of being a joker not a champion, but the champion didn’t take the bait.

I really didn’t think too much,” said Dillashaw. “I mean obviously he has to come back with something to stay relevant. If I’m not a champion, then he just got dominated by someone that he doesn’t think is a champion. That’s kind of funny to me as well. So I think he’s just trying to stay relevant, act like he’s got a shot in this fight and talk as much crap as possible, you know which I don’t mind because it’s going to hype it up more for me.

Barao passed out while cutting weight on weigh in day at UFC 177 last year, and Dillashaw was asked if he feared a repeat.

I mean I really, really hope not,” he said. “I don’t think he will because of the fact that, I think it would just…the UFC would….you know it would be a bad look for him with the UFC and it would hinder his career forever. I think If he does it again, you know I think it’s just a lack of being a professional and not making the weight, and doing it to the extreme that he had to do it to pass out [on] the day of weigh ins. You know you’re not doing it the right way if that’s how it has to go, or you’re just cutting too much weight.

Barao’s Nova Uniao camp made a decision last year to start trash talking, and during a recent media stare down, it was in effect, with Barao telling Dillashaw he was going to “kick his ass.”

It’s kinda funny because I’ve never seen it from him,” said Dillashaw. “And now that I’ve beat him, he’s got something to prove, and I think it’s going to hinder his performance in the long run. I mean if he’s going to come out and fight with anger, or the fact that he’s having to disguise being nervous, you know, one of the two. I don’t know what it is, but he’s definitely changed who he was. I’ve never seen him talk crap before in any kind of staredowns or in the media, and now I put him in that place which, you know to me it’s nothing but a confidence builder for me. And I do recall him actually saying something in the stare down when we were in Montreal for ticket sales. We were doing media day and obviously I don’t speak Portuguese, so I don’t know what he said, but obviously I knew he said something.

Dillashaw expects the rematch to go the same, but is not counting on it.

I gotta expect a different fight, but you know I’m thinking it’s going to be the same, but I gotta prepare for a different Renan Barao,” he said. “I mean he’s maybe changed some things up, which I’ve been calculating myself and watching my fight and thinking of what his game plan is going to be to try and beat me and being ready for it. I can’t underestimate how he’s going to be. I gotta expect the hardest fight, five round war. And if goes my way easily again then so be it, but I’m going to prepare for the worst.

Finishing him in the third round. I’m going to finish him. Probably TKO once again.

Dillashaw also addressed the issues of the year, including the Reebok Deal, Jon Jones.

You know it’s tough, especially for some guys that had some big contracts with other sponsors that are losing lots and lots of money,” he said. “You know and for guys like me, say if I wasn’t the champion I’d only be getting paid 5000 dollars a fight. You know which is pretty ridiculous. And I do like the fact that we’re going to have a uniform deal, and that we’re all going to be wearing the same kind of stuff and looking more like other professional sports, but yeah I do agree that I think the pay’s a little light on all aspects. Not only just for the champion, but for everyone. I mean getting into the UFC and fighting on TV, I feel like sponsor-wise and endorsements, you should be making more than they’re paying.

To Jones he offered a degree of understanding, rather than criticism

Oh man, super unfortunate,” said Dillashaw accurately. “I hope he can get his life together and get back out there. You know, it sucks. I’ve always told everyone that I’m kind of glad that I was as old as I am when I won the belt. You know because I’ve had to do a lot of growing up myself, and I think Jon Jones came into stardom while he was still growing up, and I’m sure that’s pretty hard to handle, and it’s real unfortunate. I really do hope he can clean up and get his act together and come back, because he was a great champion, pound for pound the best fighter in the world. It’s real unfortunate to see someone go out that way.

The champion also offered his prediction on Aldo vs. McGregor.

I think it’s going to be a really close fight actually,” he said. “I think Aldo is the better all around fighter and that he’s the one that can beat more guys in the weight class, but I think that McGregor has a style to match up against Aldo. Aldo’s always been known to stay on his feet even though he’s got a good decent ground game. I feel that McGregor has got the right distance, he’s a big 145 pounder. I like that he’s a southpaw against Aldo. I think that’s what’s going to give him a lot of trouble and it’s going to be a close fight. I’m predicting that Aldo is going to tough it out. He’s been in those wars so he’s going to know how to continue to push and beat him, but it’s going to be close. I mean McGregor is bringing a lot of confidence to the table and the right kind of style to beat Aldo.

Should McGregor win, Dillashaw relishes a superfight.

I would love to do a champion vs. champion fight,” he said. “That’s like my next goal. The goal was to become best in the world in my weight class and I’ve done it. I need to obviously stay dominant and hold my belt and continue to do so, but I would love to in the future fight champion vs. champion and go up a weight class and do that. That’s my main goal now.

Obviously I’m going to believe in myself and I’m going to win that fight. I feel that I can hold my own with him striking. I know that he’s a big 145 pounder so his reach will give me a little bit of trouble, but you know, to work my way in and use my wrestling pedigree. I think I’d be able to wear him out and keep him guessing and I would win that fight against McGregor or Aldo.

Whoever is going to win the fight, I would beat either of them.

TJ Dillashgaw fight Renan Barao at UFC on Fox 16: Dillashaw vs. Barão 2 on July 25, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois.