Dana White says TJ Dillashaw is a future UFC Hall of Famer “for sure”
Upon the announcement that former two-time UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw has retired from mixed martial arts, UFC President Dana White gave his thoughts.
In speaking with TSN reporter Aaron Bronsteter, White talks about Dillashaw being one of the most talented bantamweights to have competed in the sports and says that the 36-year-old athlete is “for sure” a future UFC Hall of Famer.
“I agree [I don’t know if we’ve ever seen a more talented bantamweight than Dillashaw]. You had all these guys talking about him, coming after him, and he would always win those fights that you didn’t think he was gonna win. There’s no denying that he’s one of the best… People don’t look at him the way they should, but the guy’s one of the best ever… Yeah, for sure [Dillashaw is a future Hall-of-Famer].”
Dana White believes that T.J. Dillashaw is a Hall of Famer and discusses his career following his retirement announcement earlier this week.
Full interview: https://t.co/69eSdEGA6m pic.twitter.com/2HQn8yLGfA
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) December 10, 2022
The decision to retire comes after Dillashaw was forced to undergo another extensive surgery to repair damage done to his shoulder following his most recent loss, which came against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 281.
Dillashaw served a two-year suspension under the UFC’s anti-doping program for using recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO). During that layoff the former two-time champion underwent surgeries on both arms.
The 36-year-old TJ Dillashaw retires with a pro record of 17-5. He first claimed the UFC bantamweight title by defeating Renan Barão at UFC 173 in 2014. He would go on to defend the title against Joe Soto and then in a rematch against Barão.
Dillashaw dropped the title to Dominick Cruz by way of split decision in January 2016 and then regained the belt by defeated former training partner Cody Garbrandt at UFC 217 in November 2017.
Following a second win over Garbrandt, Dillashaw then attempted to become a two-division champion after dropping down to flyweight to challenge for the 125-pound title. Unfortunately, he came up short, falling to Henry Cejudo in just 32 seconds in January 2019.
Afterward, Dillashaw relinquished his bantamweight title after revealing he had tested positive for EPO, which led to his two-year suspension. He eventually returned with a win over Cory Sandhagen before falling to Sterling.
