Cody Garbrandt: ‘Sellout’ T.J. Dillashaw Was Never Truly UFC Bantamweight Champion

Cody Garbrandt’s title-winning victory over Dominick Cruz at UFC 207 established the Team Alpha Male standout as one of the sport’s breakout stars of 2016.In addition to solving the Cruz riddle, “No Love” garnered first-round stoppages of Takeya Mizugaki, Thomas Almeida and Augusto Mendes last year. As he sits atop the bantamweight division, one potential opponent, ex-training partner T.J. Dillashaw, stands out above the rest for Garbrandt’s first title defense. Dillashaw captured the bantamweight title with an upset victory over Renan Barao at UFC 173 in May 2014. He defended the belt twice before relinquishing it to a returning Cruz at UFC Fight Night 81 approximately one year ago. Since then, Dillashaw has earned convincing decision triumphs over John Lineker and Raphael Assuncao to solidify his place as a top contender at 135 pounds. Dillashaw left Team Alpha Male for Elevation Fight Team in Colorado in 2015, a split that was both bitter and public. Harsh feelings still remain from that move, and Garbrandt claims that Dillashaw was never the true bantamweight champion because he never beat Cruz, who had to vacate the crown due to injury woes. “He sold out. He’s a …

continue reading in source www.sherdog.com