The friendship between former teammates T.J. Dillashaw and Urijah Faber seems to be all but buried heading into TJ's bantamweight title defense against Dominick Cruz on Jan. 17.
Things took a turn for the worse when it was announced that Dillashaw was parting ways with Team Alpha Male to join Elevation Fight Team in Colorado. The bantamweight champion will be training with former TAM coach Duane Ludwig, who Faber has gone on record to condemn on The MMA Hour.
Shortly after leaving the California-based fight team, Dillashaw claimed that he was banned from visiting the camp and entertained the idea of fighting his former teammate. "The California Kid" is more than happy to oblige, as he claimed a fight with Dillashaw is "the one" to make in an interview before his fight with Frankie Saenz at UFC 194.
Dillashaw is surprised with how Faber has handled things since the split and believes his words are motivated by money.
"With me and Faber, that surprised me the way he's been acting as well," Dillashaw said on a media conference call Friday. "Because I'm cool with all the guys and really that's just a way for him to push for a title fight. For him to make some money. I've done nothing but show respect. I don't go out there and talk crap about Urijah and there's plenty to talk about. I'm just gonna continue to be a humble guy and appreciate what he did for me in this sport."
Faber went on to defeat Frankie Saenz in a closely contested unanimous decision last month, which opens up the door to a potential championship fight with Dillashaw if he disposes of Dominick Cruz at UFC Fight Night 81 on January 17th.