UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson is widely considered to be the best pound for pound fighter in the league. However, he never had the Frazier to his Ali, the Micky Ward to his Arturo Gatti, the great opponent elevates him impossibly high.
A superfight vs. bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw could have done it, and was spoken of for many, many months. There was speculation that the fight might take place at UFC 226 on July 7. That event is currently headlined by heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic vs. light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier. And it was rumored that 226 would also have women’s featherweight champ Cris Cyborg vs. bantamweight champ Amanda Nunes. That would be the superest superfights in MMA history.
However, the well-connected Lance Pugmire for the LA Times reports that UFC president Dana White says that TJ vs. DJ it’s not happening.
“It was never made,” texted White. “Plus, D.J. is hurt and out for a while.”
White is reportedly looking for an alternative defense for Dillashaw. Nunes defends her title vs. Raquel Pennington at UFC 224 on May 12, so fighting July 7 is unlikely. And DJ vs. TJ is off.
Or it is?
White has sometimes called fights off as a negotiating tactic. So let’s hope. Let’s hope neither DC nor Miocic get hurt. Let’s hope White and DJ come to terms. Let’s hope Nunes or Pennington wins so easily, with so little media pressure, that another fight vs. the best female fighter in history makes sense.
Hey, a guy can hope.
