TJ Dillashaw captured the UFC Bantamweight Title for a second time when he defeated Cody Garbrandt in the co-main event of UFC 217.
Dillashaw has been linked to UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson in the past and Dillashaw says the flyweight kingpin cannot run from him any longer.
“Demetrious can’t run from this one,” Dillashaw said in the post-fight press conference. “This one’s too big. (Johnson) broke his (title-defense) record. He got to pad himself and break his record. Now, let’s make some money.”
Johnson, instead of fighting Dillashaw in the past, decided instead to defend his title against Ray Borg at UFC 216.
The bantamweight champion admits that if he were to fight at flyweight, dropping the ten pounds would require a lifestyle change.
“The reason why I look so lean at 135 is the way I work,” Dillashaw said. “I put muscle on to be at 135. I’m not a big (bantamweight). I walk around at 150, but I stack on, and I stay lean. I kept my diet since ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’ I’ve been on a new diet with a new strength and conditioning coach, and he keeps the muscle on me, because that’s what I need. When I go to (flyweight), we’re going to have to lean that down. It is a lifestyle change.”
UFC President Dana White also stated after UFC 217 that the big fight that Johnson has wanted in the UFC can now happen since Dillashaw is also a champion now.
