The UFC Bantamweight division received jolt last night when two of its greatest competitors locked horns for the 2nd time. The last time TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt met in the octagon the bout lasted until the 2nd round before the champ closed the proceedings with a well earned stoppage. At UFC 227 Saturday night, Dillashaw did him one better, forcing a TKO stoppage within the opening round.
Dillashaw unloaded a fury of punches with ref Herb Dean closeby, None of the above yielded a kill shot Dillashaw was searching for along the fence, until he thought to raise his knee to Garnbrandt's lowered jaw. The knee press inevitably took the wind out of his opponent and before long Dean had little recourse but to call the fight with Garnbrandt in a defenseless position going forward. With his hand raised in victory, Dillashaw awaited his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, an occasion for him to table future bids or challenges.
"I am the best bantamweight of all time," Dillashaw said to Rogan. "That's it: Best bantamweight of all time. Here now," before welcoming a challenge from newly-minted flyweight champion Henry Cejudo in a prospective "catchweight" bout. When asked to seize up probability of that match taking place, Dillashaw offered a realistic yet optimistic perspective: "It sounds like a fun fight. I wouldn't say it should happen. He probably has to give a rematch to Demetrious Johnson. But if they make that, I'm excited."It sounds like a fun fight. I wouldn't say it should happen. He probably has to give a rematch to Demetrious Johnson. But if they make that, I'm excited."
Keep it locked, the lower weight divisions have become more of a crapshoot now that titles are changing hands.