T.J. Dillashaw responds to potential fight against Cody Gabrandt at UFC 222 (With Vallejos’ analysis)

UFC bantamweight champion has no interest in facing Cody Gabrandt at UFC 220.

The UFC is still looking for a main event at UFC 222, apparently bantamweight champion will not be an option on March 3.

Soon after the UFC lost their scheduled main event between featherweight champion Max Holloway and Frankie Edgar due to a Holloway injury  Ariel Helwani of mmafighting.com reported that the UFC was attempting to book a second bout between batamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw and former champion Cody Gabrandt.

UFC is working on salvaging 222. Obviously the card can’t be a PPV after losing that headliner (this is why not all second-to-last fights are “co-mains”). Might involve replacing Holloway vs Edgar or a new main altogether. Developing.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 3, 2018

Dillashaw has other plans.

Both Helwani and Brett Okamoto of ESPN have received confirmation that Dillashaw is not interested at this time.

Helwani spoke to Dillashaw’s head coach  Duane Ludwig:

Just spoke to @TJDillashaw’s head coach @DUANEBANGCOM on the possibility of Dillashaw vs. Garbrandt 2 happening in March. His response: “We want DJ. Cody needs to earn a rematch first."

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 3, 2018

While Okamotto spoke directly to Dillashaw:

Spoke to @TJDillashaw. UFC asked him to accept a rematch against Cody Garbrandt to headline 222. Here’s what he had to say about it. pic.twitter.com/esl4dBRYXe

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) February 3, 2018

Dillashaw and Gabrandt previously fought for the bantamweight title at UFC 217 in November of 2017, with Dillashaw gaining the title after a second round KO.

Since being crowned champion, Dillashaw has been vocal about facing flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson in a supperfight for the flyweight title.

Vallejos’ analysis: This is a logical decision for Dillashaw. He has much more to gain by facing Johnson on a massive card during the summer. However, some level of hypocrisy is at play here. When  Johnson refused to fight Dillashaw during the summer, Dillashaw was more than willing to call out Johnson. The tables are now reversed. 

NOW READ THIS: Max Holloway out of UFC 222