mma / News

TJ Dillashaw Says UFC Isn’t A Sport If They Give Title Shot To Cody Garbrandt

August 25, 2016 | Posted by Joseph Lee

In an interview with MMA Fighting, TJ Dillashaw said that if he’s passed over for a bantamweight title shot in favor of Cody Garbrandt, then the UFC isn’t a sport anymore. Here are highlights:

On why he should get the shot: “It only makes sense. If you really look at the sport, when the No. 1 ranked fighter beats the No. 2 ranked fighter, the only thing that’s up next for him is a title fight. Who else am I gonna fight? The guy I lost a razor close decision to and, in my opinion, I won the fight. All I want is a chance to prove that I’m the better fighter and I did that by beating the No. 2 [guy] Raphael Assunscao. I did my job. I did what I was supposed to do to get that shot.”

On the possibility of Garbrandt getting a shot ahead of him: “He knows I’m able to beat him and that’s a tough fight and he wants to get his shot. But he’s just trying to skip the line ultimately. He’s doing a smart job of it. He’s performing. He’s doing his job as well. He’s knocking these guys out but then he’s adding a little extra by talking some crap. He’s turning it into the WWE and creating this whole drama that people want to see…. It just doesn’t make sense how No. 8 can beat No. 11 and get a title shot and skip everyone.”

On the UFC’s decision: “I just don’t think there’s any way of them denying it, denying me that fight. And if they do, it’s a straight up robbery and this is not even a sport anymore. If they don’t give me that title fight, they skip me and give it to someone else, this is turning into more of the entertainment factor drama than it is an actual sport, and I hope we stay on the side of continuing to be a sport. Let’s really have the best fight the best. I think that’s the way it needs to go.”