UFC on Fox 16: 5 Fights for T.J. Dillashaw
T.J. Dillashaw looked very impressive en route to his fourth-round stoppage of Renan Barao. The former champion had nothing to offer for the man who upset him last year at UFC 173. Using lateral movement and crisp combinations, Dillashaw dominated Barao until he forced Herb Dean to step in to call the fight. With this victory Dillashaw cements himself as the king of the bantamweight division. Looking forward, these are five potential fights that could be in the champion’s future.
Dominick Cruz
1 of 5
Dominick Cruz is sitting on the sideline due to multiple knee injuries that he’s suffered throughout his career. Cruz never truly lost the bantamweight title but was stripped of the belt after it was revealed that he would miss significant time due to his injuries. His return to action was brief, but he defeated Takeya Mizugaki in 61 seconds at UFC 178. Cruz’s return is still a few months away, but he presents an interesting challenge to the Team Alpha Male star.
Dillashaw’s movement and fighting style have been compared to Cruz’s since his emergence as a star in the division. This comparison makes this fight between the two immediately interesting for fans and media alike. Cruz would hold a size and experience advantage against Dillashaw, but his extensive time away from competition could not be ignored. When coupled with the storyline of Cruz not losing the belt and rivalry with Team Alpha Male, this fight nearly promotes itself.
Raphael Assuncao
2 of 5
Raphael Assuncao is quietly sitting on the sideline, waiting for his opportunity to challenge for the title. The Brazilian is the last man to defeat Dillashaw, which occurred nearly two years ago. He was in a position to set up a title eliminator against Urijah Faber, but an injury forced him out of that opportunity. Assuncao is ranked No. 3 in the bantamweight division, which puts him in a perfect position to be the next man to challenge for the title.
Assuncao’s split decision win over Dillashaw at UFC Fight Night 29 was a very close contest with a controversial finish. According to the Fight Metric statistical report, the fight was close from a numbers standpoint as well. Both men have taken shots at each other in the years since their first fight, and the storyline for this battle would be easy to write. Assuncao has been out of action for nearly a year, so the UFC could make him take a fight before giving him a shot at the belt. Either way, a rematch between Dillashaw and Assuncao for the title would be an excellent fight for the current champion.
Urijah Faber
3 of 5
UFC President Dana White has longed for a world in which gym teammates would be willing to fight each other. While most refuse when given the chance to do battle in the cage, Urijah Faber and T.J. Dillashaw have not gone as far as to say they would not fight in the Octagon. According to Jeff Cain of MMA Weekly, T.J. Dillashaw has said that he would be willing to fight Faber for the right amount of money.
Dillashaw’s allegiance to Duane Ludwig is an important aspect of this battle. He is a key part of Dillashaw’s rise to fame, but there is animosity between Ludwig and Faber, and the former coach has made some interesting statements about Dillashaw’s teammates at Team Alpha Male. While this fight may cause a dismantling of the friendship between the two athletes, it would establish who is the better champion between the two.
Aljamain Sterling
4 of 5
Aljamain Sterling is the undefeated dark horse in the bantamweight division. The 25-year old is 11-0 in his professional career. In the UFC he’s finished off two opponents and clearly controlled his opponents in all three of his Octagon appearances. At UFC on Fox 15 he defeated a Top 10 fighter in Takeya Mizugaki, which allowed him to leap into the No. 7 position in that group.
Sterling has looked like a steadily improving fighter in every appearance in the cage. His time with the Serra-Longo camp in New York seems to have helped as he’s had the opportunity to work with Chris Weidman and others. With one or two more wins under his ledger, he can become a top contender to Dillashaw and his title.
Michael McDonald
5 of 5
Michael McDonald is the forgotten man in the UFC bantamweight division. The 24-year old fighter hasn’t competed in nearly two years, thanks to injuries. Before he was forced onto the sideline, he had put together an impressive run that granted him a shot at then champion, Renan Barao, at UFC on Fuel TV 7. If McDonald can make a comeback while stringing together some wins, he can find himself standing opposite of Dillashaw with another shot at the belt.
McDonald was a very diverse fighter with the ability to put away opponents in a variety of ways. To date, his 16 wins show how varied his attack can be. Nine men have fallen due to some form of knockout along with 5 via submission. He’s been just as effective in the UFC, except when facing the top-level opponents available. If he can continue to improve while healing from his injuries, the UFC will have another name to add to the list of potential contenders to face Dillashaw.
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