T.J. Dillashaw is doing everything in his power to secure a rematch with Dominick Cruz. The two bantamweights fought to a decision in a championship epic at UFC Fight Night 81, which saw ‘The Dominator’ reclaim the title he was forced to relinquish due to injury in 2014.
Dillashaw, 30, believes he won the fight and wants nothing more than to avenge the loss. The Elevation Fight Team product reasserted himself as the rightful No. 1 contender when he cruised to a decision win over top-ranked Raphael Assuncao at UFC 200.
Dillashaw’s former Team Alpha Male teammate Cody Garbrandt, however, is also in the championship race and has emerged as a breakout star in the bantamweight division. ‘No Love’ has earned a reputation as a knockout artist, winning all but one of his 10 fights via KO, and has developed a healthy rivalry with Cruz.
TJ has no issue with Garbrandt but is convinced that Cruz is doing anything he can to avoid a rematch with him.
"I don't think there's a debate on who is the No. 1 contender. I think there's just a debate about who's going to get the title shot," Dillashaw told Damon Martin of the Fight Society podcast. "No offense to Cody — Cody's doing a great job, he's promoting himself, he's knocking people out, more power to him, I've got nothing against the guy, he's doing a great job and I don't hold anything against him.
"It's more the fact that Dominick Cruz is trying to hand select who he wants to fight."
Dillashaw, who has developed as one of the most well-rounded fighters on the roster since his stint on TUF, accused Cruz of ‘running’ scared.
"He's running as far and hard as he can and he's doing a good job at it. He's enticing these people that are into the drama and the reality TV of fighting rather than the actual sport," Dillashaw said. “I really do believe he's ducking me. I'm the toughest fight and he doesn't want that fight.”
As the drama between Cruz and Garbrandt continues to unfold, it’s looking more and more likely that Dillashaw will be forced to take another fight while Garbrandt challenges for the title.