Former UFC Bantamweight TJ Dillashaw will be battling John Lineker at UFC 207, but the kingpin of the bantamweight division, Dominick Cruz will be defending the UFC Bantamweight Title against Cody Garbrandt in the co-main event of the same show.
As far as Dillashaw is concerned, he feels that the co-main event title match is simply making a mockery of the sport.
“I think Dominick wins that fight with how smart he’ll fight him,” Dillashaw said on The MMA Hour. “I think Cody is one-dimensional. He’s a great fighter, he’s fast, he’s powerful. He’s good, don’t get me wrong. Anyone’s got a chance. Anybody can obviously win. But if I had to put money on it, I would bet on Cruz. He’s going to fight him too smart, he’s a veteran, he knows what to do. I think the way Cruz fights is Cody’s biggest weakness. I just don’t think he’s ready yet. I don’t blame Cody for getting his title fight at all. Anyone in the UFC, that should be your goal, to get the UFC belt and to fight for that title. He should push for that as much as he wants. I blame Dominick Cruz and I blame the UFC for letting this happen. It’s kinda, I feel, making a mockery of the sport by letting a No. 8 ranked fighter for the title. Why’d he jump seven guys to be able to fight for the belt? It just doesn’t make sense at all.”
Dillashaw also believes that the reason Cruz is facing Garbrandt instead of himself is that Cruz is willing to do anything to avoid a second fight with him.
“I highly believe that,” Dillashaw said. “I believe that Cruz is going to try to do whatever he can to not fight me until he retires. Him trying to talk about how he wants these superfights and big-money fights. It’s like, I don’t even think you’re the best in the world and you’re trying to dodge me as long as you possibly can, because you know that I’m going to beat you. I fought him with emotion the first time and still beat him, and he knows that, and his coaches know that, and my coaches know that, and I know that. So, he’s going to do whatever he can to not fight me again.”
UFC 207 takes place on Friday, December 30 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Amanda Nunes and Ronda Rousey headlining.
