TJ Dillashaw TKO’s Cody Garbrandt to win title immediately calls out Demetrious Johnson
T.J. Dillashaw is a champion once again.
Following an intense lead up to his fight with former teammate Cody Garbrandt at UFC 217, Dillashaw survived an early scare to come back and score a second round TKO to become a two-time UFC bantamweight champion.
While the victory probably won’t put an end to the rivalry, Dillashaw certainly enjoyed getting a win against Garbrandt, who represents his former training partners at Team Alpha Male in Sacramento.
As soon as the fight got underway, Garbrandt rushed to the center of the Octagon, pointed to the middle and told Dillashaw to meet him there.
Dillashaw began with his signature movement side to side while switching stances but he couldn’t find the range as he kept trying to throw kicks at Garbrandt from the outside.
In response, Garbrandt would rush forward with a flurry of punches, tagging Dillashaw but not really landing with much power.
That changed with just a few seconds remaining in the round as Garbrandt connected flush with a hook that dropped Dillashaw to the mat. Garbrandt tried to follow up but the round came to an end before he could do any more damage.
OHHH @Cody_NoLove ROCKS Dillashaw at the end of round 1!!! Right hand on the button!! #UFC217 pic.twitter.com/RG2ndJZzlJ
— UFC (@ufc) November 5, 2017
Dillashaw regained his composure between rounds and looked fresh as he went on the attack, never backing down from Garbrandt.
With both fighters looking for an opening, Dillashaw uncorked a head kick that blasted Garbrandt and sent him down to the mat. Garbrandt was able to recover and get back to his feet but Dillashaw knew he had him stunned and he wasn’t going to let him regain his composure.
Dillashaw drew Garbrandt into a fire fight as he pushed forward and that’s when he landed an absolutely thunderous right hand that rolled the Ohio native’s eyes back in his head as he fell to the ground.
The hooks have found homes tonight in the title fights ?@TJDillashaw #UFC217 pic.twitter.com/BXNj4lwY79
— UFC (@ufc) November 5, 2017
Seeing his opponent hurt, Dillashaw had no intention of allowing the fight to make it to the third round as he unloaded a barrage of punches to get the stoppage as he was once again crowned UFC bantamweight champion.
Despite a heated rivalry heading into the fight, Dillashaw and Garbrandt shook hands afterwards and the new champion was very complimentary of his former teammate.
“He’s a hell of a fighter,” Dillashaw said. “He’s young. I’m going to see him again. This isn’t the end of Cody Garbrandt.”
As much as Dillashaw wanted to celebrate his win to become bantamweight champion for a second time, he quickly turned his attention to another fight that he tried to get earlier this year but never came together.
“Demetrious Johnson I’m coming for you,” Dillashaw said calling out the longest reigning champion in UFC history. “I’m breaking you. You got that record and it’s fake, you know it. You should have been fighting me. You dodged me. I’m coming for you. I’m getting that belt.
“I’m coming to [125 pounds] and I’m stopping your record.”
Dillashaw had tried to drop down to flyweight to face Johnson earlier this year but the fight never came together. It’s clear that rubbed Dillashaw the wrong way and now the UFC might have a champion versus champion matchup to put together in 2018.
