TJ Dillashaw on fighting Henry Cejudo: “It’s the greatest thing for my name right now”
UFC 227 was no doubt a night to remember, especially for one Henry Cejudo.
On that fateful night, Cejudo sent major shock waves through the MMA world when he controversially defeated then longtime UFC flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson by way of split decision.
In his post-fight interview, shortly after being awarded the belt, Cejudo ceased the chance to call current UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw (who successfully defended his title that night) out for a unification bout.
At first, UFC fans didn’t take too kindly of Cejudo doing this, as they felt an immediate rematch with Johnson was in order being that their fight ended in such controversy.
Regardless of the backlash from UFC fans, Cejudo was still hopeful of moving up to 135 pounds to face Dillashaw, and realize his own dream of becoming the third UFC two division champion.
Dillashaw initially, was reluctant of the idea.
However as of late, he’s apparently changed his mind and is now suddenly open to the possibility of facing Cejudo.
Just not the way Cejudo had hoped.
During an appearance on a recent edition of the Joe Rogan Experience MMA Show, Dillashaw expressed he hopes to make the cut to flyweight to challenge “The Messenger” for his title rather than visa versa.
Dillashaw says he believes this is the most sensible route for him right now in terms of his legacy.
Not only because he’d be a two divisional champ for the 1st time in his career, but more so because Cejudo is a former Olympic gold medalist in wrestling.
“The Henry Cejudo thing entertains me so much because he’s a gold medalist,” TJ Dillashaw told Joe Rogan (transcript via MMA Fighting). “He wants to claim himself as the greatest combat athlete ever. ‘I’m a UFC champion, I’m a gold medalist!’ I’ll go out there and beat you in wrestling. MMA wrestling is completely different. I’m the better athlete. I can beat him anywhere, I know I can, watching him fight. That’s why I’m very excited about it. I think it’s the greatest thing for my name right now.”
Though Dillashaw is indeed interested in this fight, but at the same time feels there’s been no moves made to making it official just yet.
Yet still Dillashaw seemingly believes the UFC has interest.
“There’s been nothing serious but there’s been hints and we did our media tour together and they put us on camera together and had us talk shit to each other,” the bantamweight champ said. “They didn’t say that because everything is real but it’s like, ‘ Oh shit, this is what you guys want! Okay, you really think you can beat me? Then fuck you man, let’s do this shit!’”
Dillashaw then went onto reiterate should this fight happen, it would only be at flyweight, not bantamweight, that way there will be no room for excuses.
“[At] 125, absolutely,” TJ Dillashaw said. “I don’t want no excuses that I’m the bigger man.”
