Fighter Profile: T.J. Dillishaw

With an impressive 12-4 record T.J. Dillishaw has been to the pinnacle to the pit in terms of MMA and has climbed to the cusp of the top again and many think Dillishaw should get the next title shot in the UFC Bantamweight Division. He definitely has an amazing redemption story and I’m glad he is back fighting in the UFC beating top level competition like Cory Sandhagen.

Dillashaw was born February 7, 1986 in Sonora, California. Dillishaw would grow up in Angels Camp, CA where he’d attend Bret Harte High School. While in High School Dillashaw would wrestle under Coach Jan Schulz. He was a standout in wrestling with a record of 170–33. He’d go on to wrestle in College at Cal State Fullerton. After college Dillishaw turned his focus towards MMA. He’d start striking and training Jiu Jitsu to add to his wrestling he’d achieve a Black belt in Bang Muay Thai under Duane Ludwig and a Purple Belt in Jiu Jitsu under Philipe “Furão” Della Monica

Dillishaw would make his professional debut against Czar Sklavos winning the bout by Unanimous Decision. He would then face off against Brandon Drucker in May of 2010 winning the bout by Submission (rear-naked choke.) Mike Suarez would be next for Dillishaw he’d win the bout again by rear-naked choke. Taylor McCorriston would be next for young Dillishaw winning the bout by TKO (punches.) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller would be next for Dillishaw on the show he secured three victories, but ultimately lost to John Dodson in the finale.

Dillishaw’s Next fight would be against Walel Watson in Febuary of 2012 he’d win the bout via Unanimous Decision. He’d then get his first Submission victory against Vaughn Lee winning by a Neck Crank. He’d then get back to back Knockout victories against Issei Tamura and Hugo Viana. Raphael Assunção would be next for Dillishaw in October of 2013, unfortunately for Dillishaw he lost the tough Split Decision. He’d then fight Mike Easton in January of 2014 winning the three round bout by Unanimous Decision.

Dillishaw would win the UFC Bantamweight title in his next bout when he faced off against Renan Barão at UFC 173 in May of 2014. He’d defend the belt twice the first successful title defense was against Joe Soto at UFC 177 his second successful defense was a rematch against Renan Barão. He’d then lose his belt to Dominick Cruz losing on the judges scorecard in a Split Decision. Dillishaw would win his next two fights against Raphael Assunção and John Lineker.

Dillishaw would then face Cody Garbrandt at UFC 217 for the UFC Bantamweight title he’d win the bout and the belt and would face Garbrandt again in his next outing securing his title defense. Dillishaw would then make his Flyweight debut against Henry Cejudo For the UFC Flyweight Championship he’d lose the fight by TKO. Dillashaw would get popped though as he tested positive in pre and post-fight drug screening for erythropoietin. Cory Sandhagen would be his comeback fight on July 24, 2021 Dillishaw would win the five round contest by Split Decision

What’s Next For Cody Garbrandt?

Cody Garbrandt is a fan favorite, but Garbrandt fans may have come to realize that maybe Garbrandt’s best days are behind him. The former Bantamweight Champion has a rough decision ahead of him, he has now lost five of his last six contests and just doesn’t look right and the move down to Flyweight definitely did Garbrandt no favors. Now I’m not Dana White and I certainly don’t think that I know everything that goes into the decision whether or not to keep a fighter on the UFC Roster. I think we need to look at how we got here in the first place.

Garbrandt made his UFC debut at UFC 182 Jones vs. Cormier against Marcus Brimage in 2015. From this point Garbrandt would keep winning, and eventually would earn a title shot against Dominick Cruz at UFC 207. Garbrandt would beat Cruz and win the UFC Bantamweight Championship.Garbrandt would then lose the belt to T.J. Dillashaw in his next fight marking the first loss of Garbrandt’s career. Garbrandt would lose the immediate rematch at UFC 217.

After losing to Dillashaw twice he faced Pedro Munhoz at UFC 235. Garbrandt would lose by KO (Punches.) He’d then go on to face Raphael Assunção he’d win by KO and win Performance of the Night. His woes were temporarily over but would return. He’d face Rob Font next, and would lose by unanimous decision. His rough patch would continue on Saturday night when he’d drop down to Flyweight. He looked unhealthy at 125 pounds at the weigh in and rumors are his weight cut was really tough but he hired a good chef to make him his meals and did the weight cut healthily but it was not successful as he lost to Kai Kara-France by TKO (Punches.)

Garbrandt is a fan favorite, but I think it’s time for him to take a step back and evaluate his career. It’s hard for anyone let alone himself to admit it, but it seems like time has caught up to him and his chin hasn’t kept up to the demands of being an MMA fighter. Maybe it’s time for him to fight in a smaller promotion like Bellator or PFL. Or maybe for Garbrandt its time to fight someone that’s unranked in the UFC, but honestly it might be time to hang up the gloves.

UFC 269 Preview

UFC 269 is approaching fast and it’s sure to be a great night of fights. It will be the UFC’s last big card of the year and let’s just say this card is full of nice holiday treats. The first fight will be between bantamweights Sean O’Malley and number 15 ranked Raulian Piava. It will be followed by another fight in the flyweight division between Cody Garbrandt and Kai Kara France. A bout between welterweights will follow between Geoff Neal and Santiago Ponzinibbio. The night will be capped off with two title fights, the first being between Amanda Nunes and Juliana Pena for the Women’s Bantamweight title. The second championship fight will be between Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier for the Lightweight strap.

Sean O’Malley is a fan favorite and will kick off the UFC 269 main card. He will be facing Raulian Piava. Piava has won his last three fights earning him being ranked in the Top 15 in the Division. Piava is Black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and fights out of Team Alpha Male an MMA gym run by UFC and WEC veteran, Urijah Faber. O’Malley has won his last two fights with his only loss coming against Marlon Vera by TKO at UFC 252 Miocic vs. Cormier 3. O’Malley is also a grappler with a Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Augusto Mendes so it’ll be interesting to see how this matchup will play out.

The Flyweight bout between Cody Garbrandt and Kai Kara France is the next fight of note. Garbrandt is a former UFC Bantamweight Champion and is moving down to Flyweight. Garbrandt has lost four of his last five including tough losses to tough opponents like T.J. Dillashaw and Massachusetts native Rob Font. France has won two of his last four fights and before that was on an eight fight win streak. France is fighting out of City Kickboxing, home of UFC Champions Alex Volkanovski and Israel Adesanya. It’s sure to be a good fight between these 125 pounders.

The next fight of note is between MMA GWOAT, Amanda Nunes and Juliana Pena. The five round championship bout which was originally scheduled for August 7th at UFC 265 had to be rescheduled after Nunes was unfortunately diagnosed with Covid-19. Nunes has been on an amazing 12 fight win streak, and is the only Woman to ever hold two belts as the reigning UFC Bantamweight and Featherweight champion. She is the only UFC fighter male or female to attempt to and successfully defend both their titles. During her run, Nunes has taken on and beaten a who’s who of the greatest women fighters of all time including multiple wins over Valentina Schevchenko, and victories over Cris Cyborg, Holly Holm, Miesha Tate, and Ronda Rousey.

The final fight of the night will be between reigning Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier. This will be Oliveira’s first title defense and he’s riding a nine fight win streak. Oliveira has a strong submission game and does everything right. He is a 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ericson Cardoso and Jorge “Macaco” Patino and will be a hard night at the office for Poirier. Poirier is on a streak himself winning his last three fights including back to back wins against former two division champion Conor McGregor. Poiriers only loss in the last five years was to the greatest Lightweight of all time Khabib Nurmagomedov. This is sure to be an amazing fight.

UFC 269 is available for purchase on the ESPN+ app.

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FIGHTER PROFILE CODY ‘NO LOVE’ GARBRANDT

UFC 269 is right around the corner and fighting on this loaded card is Cody Garbrandt. Garbrandt is currently ranked in the seventh in the UFC Bantamweight division and will be facing Kai Kara-France. It should be a great fight and hopefully Garbrandt, a fan favorite will pull through with a W as he has lost four of his last five.

Garbrandt was born in Uhrichsville, Ohio on July 7, 1991. Garbrandt is ten months younger than his brother and was raised by his mother as his parents were separated due to domestic violence. His father was not very present in Garbrandt’s life and was in and out of jail straining their relationship even further.

Garbrandt’s uncle was a boxer and introduced Garbrandt to the sport at a young age, but his mother was concerned about the effects of the sport. Thus Garbrandt was introduced to Wrestling and would compete in the sport at Claymont High School where he would win a state championship his freshman year and would come in second the following year. He would gain a love for fighting and would start training in boxing with his mother’s eventual support. Garbrandt would eventually have an amazing amatuer boxing career compiling an undefeated record of 32–0.

Garbrandt would start MMA in 2009 when he started training. He took a fight and made his amature debut in July of that year. It would unfortunately be a loss for Garbrandt, but he was not deterred and would keep fighting, winning his next four fights. Garbrandt finished his amatuer MMA career with a record of 4-2.

Garbrandt would start his professional MMA career in December of 2012. He’d face Charles Kessinger and win by TKO (Punches.) He’d win his next four fights for various promotions before he made his UFC debut at UFC 182 Jones vs. Cormier against Marcus Brimage in 2015. From this point Garbrandt would keep winning, and eventually would earn a title shot against Dominick Cruz at UFC 207. Garbrandt would beat Cruz and win the UFC Bantamweight Championship.Garbrandt would then lose the belt to T.J. Dillashaw in his next fight marking the first loss of Garbrandt’s career. Garbrandt would lose the immediate rematch at UFC 217.

Garbrandt has lost two of his last three fights, but is still a fan favorite and will be returning to the Octagon at UFC 269. Hopefully He brings home the much needed W.

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