TJ Dillashaw: I Beat Cody Garbrandt '75 Percent Of The Time' In Practice

TJ Dillashaw: I Beat Cody Garbrandt '75 Percent Of The Time' In Practice

TJ Dillashaw says he'll take the UFC bantamweight title from Cody Garbrandt and recalls their training sessions together.

Jan 13, 2017 by Jim Edwards
TJ Dillashaw: I Beat Cody Garbrandt '75 Percent Of The Time' In Practice
We are barely two weeks departed from UFC 207, where TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt picked up big wins, but already the games have begun.

The logical next fight for the UFC bantamweight title would point toward a Dillashaw versus Garbrandt matchup, but it seems that fight won't be put together without overcoming a few bumps in the road..

Since beating Dominick Cruz for the title at UFC 207 on Dec. 30, Garbrandt has flirted with the idea of fighting several other opponents, with Jose Aldo, Conor McGregor, and a rematch with Cruz all fights he's suggested.

Although Garbrandt said he'd be willing to fight Dillashaw, it's the former champion who is putting the pressure on the fight being put together. Speaking earlier this week on Chael Sonnen's ​"You're Welcome" podcast, Dillashaw said Garbrandt obviously wanted nothing to do him.

"For him, fighting Aldo would be a win, because he can fight a top guy and not have to put his belt on the line against me," Dillashaw said. "He knows putting [the belt] on the line against me is a very tough fight. We've practiced a lot together, and he knows how good of a fighter I am. He knows he doesn't want that fight, so what can you do?

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"He set it up perfectly after that fight [with Cruz] when he said, 'Come get me TJ Dillashaw,' and then 40 minutes later he's sitting in the press conference talking about how he wants to give Cruz a rematch. He's going to do whatever he can to avoid it, but it's inevitable, man. It's in the hype machine already--I've pumped it, and he's pumped it up. We have the story, and it's going to be an awesome fight.

"There's no way around it. This is going to be an awesome fight, and I'm going to get my belt back against Cody Garbrandt."

Since taking the title, Garbrandt has said many a time that footage exists on a camera owned by Team Alpha Male head coach Justin Buchholz of him knocking out Dillashaw during a team practice.

Dillashaw has a slightly different recall when it comes to their training during his time at TAM, claiming that most of the time it was him dominating Garbrandt in practice.

"We trained for at least a couple of years I think," Dillashaw said. "It's never all about the practices, but if we scored it, I'd definitely be the majority winner there. I would win 75 percent of the time. That's the way I see it.

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"I know I'm in his head--not only am I in his head, but I'm a better fighter. I'm more well-rounded, and I've got more dangerous weapons. He's got a hard right hand and he's fast, but I'm going to push him and I'm going to break him."

While Garbrandt may be contemplating other options, Dillashaw remains steadfast in the mindset that he's coming for the title and there's nothing Cody Garbrandt can do about it.

"I'm a goer, I'm aggressive and I'm bringing it," Dillashaw said. "It's the only speed I know, and he knows how tough it's going to be."