This sounds like a fight for UFC 200.
UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw made a memorable appearance on the MMA Hour on Monday evening.
In between calling Conor McGregor the Benedict Arnold of Ireland, Dillashaw opened up about his famous split with Team Alpha Male (TAM), which saw him join Elevation Fight Team in Colorado.
Dillashaw revealed that Urijah Faber didn’t take the news that he was leaving the gym that moulded him into a champion well and how he was banned from TAM as a result of his decision.
“He took it pretty hard and I was actually forced out of the gym. I’m not allowed to work out at Alpha Male anymore because of the decision I made.”
“It’s tough for somebody to not understand that I put my heart and soul into this team as much as I could and they kicked me out of the gym. I am not allowed to show my face at Alpha Male, which is kind of crazy to me. It’s super tough. But I know I made the right decision and I got a big fight coming up and that’s the most important thing.”
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Dillashaw added that he was not aware TAM would take the news so badly and he acknowledged that his relationship with the some of the camp members may have been damaged because of it.
“I made a decision to train somewhere else and I didn’t think it was going to blow up and be as ridiculous as it is now. It’s tough because I’m best friends with these guys.”
With Dominick Cruz’s track record with injury making him unreliable, the UFC are quickly running out of challengers to Dillashaw’s 135 lb throne.
Faber’s status as a perpetual challenger would him an ideal opponent for the champion, but his close relationship with Dillashaw meant that the two had been reluctant to throw down inside the cage. In the wake of their falling out though, Dillashaw has appeared to change his stance on fighting his former mentor.
“I didn’t think I would be until Urijah started saying the stuff he did. He’s the one saying that he’s more than willing to fight me. I thought we were a lot closer friends than that.”
“I put my heart and soul into this team and I thought we were a lot closer. He’s obviously looking for a big fight in his career. I don’t want to have to do it, but, I’ll be the last statement on his career if that needs to be, but it’s not the way I really want to do it.”
“Probably most likely (I’ll say yes to fight). I don’t want to have to fight Urijah, it’s not something I want to have to do, I love the guy. The ball is in his court, I am the champion but the ball is in his court. I’m leaving it that way and what he wants to do. I love all these guys and they are like family to me, not teammates.”
You heard it Faber, if you want the fight, it’s there for you. This could be your ticket to get that elusive UFC belt.
