T.J. Dillashaw vann som bekant bantamviktbältet av Cody Garbrandt via en teknisk knockout på UFC 217 – Bisping vs. St-Pierre, som gick av stapeln den fjärde november. Tidigare hade Dillashaw och Garbrandt coachat emot varandra på TUF 25.
Via FloCombat har Dillashaw uttalat sig om matchen och att det var trevligt att tysta Garbrandt:
Getting the finish, getting the win is the most important thing. I almost would have preferred to beat his ass for five rounds. To really prove that I was the better fighter and finish him in the fifth round like I do in some of my fights, later in the championship rounds to really prove a point. But, obviously I’m going to take advantage of stopping fights.
I think I have the most finishes in bantamweight history now. It’s because of my killer instinct. I’m always going for it.
Garbrandt var intresserad av en returmatch men Dillashaw anser inte att Garbrandt förtjänar en returmatch:
He definitely doesn’t deserve a rematch. He never actually defended his belt. In my mind, you’re not even really a champion until you defend your belt. He never ever once defended it, and he got knocked out in the second round. I lost a split decision against [Dominick] Cruz when the owners of the UFC told me they thought I won the fight. You tell me how that makes sense. No, he’s going to have to build his way back up.
He is good enough [to earn another title shot], but he does have holes in his game and I think I’ve proved that now. I also don’t believe he has a chin. I think a lot of people are scared of his power, and there are some guys in the weight class that can hang with [him]. It’s going to be a tough road. He’s definitely good enough to do it, but it’s going to be tough.
Dillashaw har redan nästa mål i sikte och det är att ta sig an den omutbare Demetrious Johnson:
I’m coming for Demetrious Johnson. It’s the fight that makes sense right now. It’s the fight that the fans want to see. It’s the fight the UFC wants right now. It’s the fight Demetrious needs.
He wants to be known as the real pound-for-pound [best], then he’s got to step up and take this thing.
