Stann: TJ made right move, gotta be selfish in MMA

UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw recently left his original fight gym, Team Alpha Male, for Colorado’s Elevation MMA. Trainer Duane ‘Bang’ Ludwig’s gym is physically close to Elevation which was a factor in the move. Further, Elevation is sponsored by Muscle Pharm, who offered Dillashaw an out of competition sponsorship to train there.

Team Alpha Male founder Urijah Faber likened the move to walking away from family. However, retired UFC light heavyweight and current color commentator Brian Stann weighed in on the switch, and said it made sense.

“I think that T.J.’s making the right decision, and here’s why,” said Stann on Sirius XM radio, as transcribed by David St. Martin for MMA Fighting. “First and foremost in this sport you’ve got to be selfish. It’s something that held me back a little bit in my career and at the end of the day this is about how much money you can make over the longest period of time you can do it. If T.J. Dillashaw feels like that is the better environment for him to go to and make as much money as he can and maximizes opportunities then he’s got to do it, whether it hurts some friends’ feelings or not. His family and paying his bills to take care of his family come first, ahead of all else.”

“The only mistake I think T.J. made, and I believe he said this just to soften the blow to his Team Alpha Male brothers, was saying, ‘Hey, they’re paying me good money to train there.’ I think that was a mistake. That puts Elevation Fight Team in a really tough position when more people want to come to that gym. They’re are going to start to be questions, ‘Hey, how come this guy is making money. If you’re paying him to train here then why aren’t I getting the same thing?’

“It sets a tough precedent. I think that’s a mistake where [Dillashaw] kind of put his new coaches in a little bit of a disadvantage as they recruit more people in. Other than that, I agree with the decision any time a fighter does something they believe is what’s best for them.”

“At the end of the day this isn’t a team sport. He could always go back to Alpha Male and help any of those guys train for a fight. He can and he’ll probably do that, so it doesn’t mean he’s severing his relationship. If that’s what he believes is best for his career, that’s what he needs to do.”

Faber however said flatly that Dillashaw was not welcome to come in an coach his friends at TAM. This was confirmed by Dillashaw who told Ariel Helwani “I’m not allowed to show my face at Alpha Male, which is kind of crazy to me.”