The undisputed UFC bantamweight champion has been saying some pretty harsh stuff about Conor McGregor.
McGregor is on a 12-fight winning streak and is undefeated under the UFC banner. He has finished three of his four fights in the promotion via TKO in the first round, with the one exception being against Max Holloway. It was revealed after the event that he had torn his ACL during the Holloway bout. He managed to grind out the decision victory against the talented prospect, even though the injury would keep him out of the cage for 10 months.
Despite all of the achievements of the double-Cage Warriors champion in MMA, he has not convinced TJ Dillashaw of his talents. The UFC bantamweight champ revealed that he thinks the Irish UFC superstar is undeserving of the next featherweight title shot.
I don’t agree with Conor McGregor getting a title shot, especially after beating Dennis Siver, if he does. Why is that deserving of a title shot? Dennis Siver is not on the way up; he’s not up there looking for a title shot himself.
Dillashaw of course, was handed a title shot with Renan Barao with a 5-2 record inside the Octagon and had not defeated a top tier UFC fighter before taking on the Brazilian. He came into his title fight off a win over Mike Easton who was riding a two fight losing streak and before that, Dillashaw lost a unanimous decision to Raphael Assuncao.
The Californian believes that McGregor still needs one more test against top competition before he should be granted a crack at Aldo’s belt. However, he thinks the Dubliner would crumble if he faced an elite wrestler such as Edgar or Mendes.
Why not put Conor McGregor vs. Frankie Edgar? Why not put Conor McGregor against Chad Mendes, or Lamas, or one of those top guys, who’s actually pushing for the belt? Just because he has the hype behind him, and he’s been talking a big game, and he’s going to sell tickets, I just don’t think it’s right to surpass the Frankie Edgars, the guys that could beat Conor McGregor.
I think Frankie Edgar would destroy Conor McGregor. Chad Mendes would destroy Conor McGregor. We haven’t seen Conor McGregor fight a wrestler or a top name.
After calling his dominant first round TKO victory over the then fifth-ranked featherweight Dustin Poirier a “fluke”, Dillashaw actually briefly paid the Notorious some compliments.
He’s really good, he’s confident, he has great stand-up, and he’s tricky, but I just don’t feel like he’s deserving yet. I don’t think he should surpass those guys to get the shot; and if he does, the thing is, if he does fight Aldo, he does have a chance because it’s going to be a stand-up battle. And then Aldo doesn’t have that threatening takedown skills, and going to try and tap you, or ground and pound you.
However, he quickly reaffirmed his initial point that there is no way McGregor is worthy of fighting Aldo just yet.
I don’t think he should get the title fight because he doesn’t deserve it, but it’s going to be a close fight in my mind.
We look forward to McGregor’s inevitable response.
Hat-tip to MMA Weekly
