Back in 2016, one of the biggest rifts in MMA came when TJ Dillashaw split from Team Alpha Male. TJ Dillashaw dethroned former teammate Cody Garbrandt after a long, arduous season of The Ultimate Fighter. Dillashaw ended up popping for PED use, suspended from the UFC for two years. Cody faced repeated injuries and illness, and has lost three of his last four fights since. On The Schaub Show, TJ Dillashaw offered a surprising compliment for Cody Garbrandt, but couldn’t resist adding a little barb to the end.
“He’s a pretty freak athlete. He’s fast. He’s the fastest guy I’ve ever sparred or fought, by far the most speed, but I’m not trying to be a complete a**hole, but he’s not the smartest human being inside that cage.
TJ Dillashaw’s Backhanded Compliment for “Freak Athlete” Cody Garbrandt: “not the smartest human being”
To be able to stay on the top, you’ve got to change who you are and fight to fight to fight, he’s the exact same fighter. He’s a wrestler. He knows how to wrestle. Why not learn some jiu-jitsu and stop relying on your chin and hands because your chin is not there.
So change up who you are as a fighter, and he’s just not willing to do that. He’s gonna keep his head in the same spot, his hands are gonna be low, and he’s gonna throw hard, fast hooks.
So after everyone sees where his weaknesses are at, and his left hand is in his pocket as he throws the right hand, just keep your left hand high and smoke him with the right. I mean, game over. We’ve seen it like five fights in a row.”
Both Garbrandt and Dillashaw tried to get down to 125 pounds, facing even worse fortunes at flyweight than at bantamweight. TJ Dillashaw lost Henry Cejudo in a failed attempt to capture a second UFC title, while Cody Garbrandt was demolished by New Zealand’s Kai Kara-France.
Cody will return to bantamweight to face Rani Yahya, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist, at UFC Vegas 58. TJ predicts that he’ll be too fast for Yahya, who will struggle to impose his will on the former champ.
“The guy is dangerous too, but I think Garbrandt is too fast for that s***. Garbrandt’s hard to take down. He’s gonna be too fast, and Yahya’s standup is very pathetic.
I mean, 40 fights and no finishes on your feet, but on the ground, he’s a ninja. I just don’t think he’ll get it there. I think Garbrandt is too fast for it.” Do you agree with TJ Dillashaw? Let us know in the comments.
