Shortly after Henry Cejudo dethroned Demetrious Johnson and T.J. Dillashaw knocked out Cody Garbrandt for the second time at UFC 227 a few months ago (see it), “The Messenger” and “The Viper” started doing the media rounds together, hinting at a potential champion vs. champion showdown.
But it still hasn’t come to pass, in large part to a few sticking points regarding weight. To hear T.J. tell it, based on his championship pedigree, he is the one that deserves the right to go down and challenge for another division strap.
“Who is Henry Cejudo to have the street cred?” Dillashaw asked MMAjunkie. “I’ve been the one flirting with the idea of going down to 125 to fight a guy that was scared to fight me the entire time, a guy (Cejudo) beat.”
While taking out the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and longest reigning champion ever is a big deal, T.J. feels it will be a little ridiculous if the promotion allows Cejudo to move up to challenge for his strap.
“He beat a guy that was scared of me, and now he wants to come up and challenge me? It’s a little ridiculous if the UFC wants to get behind him.”
At the end of the day, T.J. will gladly take on and defeat Henry at any weight class, but maintains he’s the one who deserves the opportunity to be the next “champ-champ.”
“No matter what, he comes to my weight class, or I go to his, I’ll whoop his ass. But who’s got the credit to go down? I’m the No. 3 pound-for-pound fighter right now. I should make the decision,” he added, while saying he won’t back down an inch, even if he has to get louder.
“I’ll be boisterous. I’m the one that’s a professional. I’m the one that can cut the weight. I’m not a big 135-er. I walk around under 150 (pounds) right now. I guarantee you Cejudo is just as big as me right now. I don’t want the excuse of me beating Cejudo’s ass and (him saying), ‘Oh, it’s because he’s bigger than me. Fuck that. I’m not. I’ll be at 125. There’s no excuses.”
Anyone (dis) agree with Dillashaw on this one?