UFC news 2017: new bantamweight champ Garbrandt wants Cruz rematch, but Dana White says Dillashaw is probably next in line
After former bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw manhandled John Lineker in their fight at Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 207, he promptly called out Dominick Cruz and said the belt on Cruz's waist was his and he's taking it back. Unfortunately, the two won't be fighting each other for the belt because Cody Garbrandt fought like a man possessed on his way to a unanimous decision victory over Cruz.
A lot of people believe that the newly minted UFC bantamweight champion should fight his former Team Alpha Male teammate, Dillashaw, in his first title defense, but Garbrandt thinks Cruz should get a rematch.
"You know what? I had so much fun in there. Dom has been arguably the best bantamweight in the world. I'd like to give Dominick Cruz a rematch, but it's ultimately up to the UFC," he said post-fight (via MMA Weekly).
Well, if it's up to the UFC, then he may be meeting Dillashaw in his next fight.
"T.J. Dillashaw said if he doesn't get the shot, this whole thing is rigged. So I think I'm gonna give the rematch to Dominick Cruz, just to make him right," UFC head Dana White joked during the post-fight show. "Dillashaw made it look easy against a tough guy, a scary guy that can knock you out at any moment," he stated before adding that he's probably next in line.
There's no love lost between the former teammates and the two had already started trash talking before their respective UFC 207 fights. Dillashaw still has a lot of friends at Team Alpha Male, but Garbrandt is not one of them.
It will be interesting to see them fight each other in the octagon. There was a lot of taunting and trash talking when Garbrandt and Cruz fought, but these two knew each other and they would probably take trash talking to a whole new level.
White didn't confirm that Garbrandt will face Dillashaw next, so fans will have to wait and see what happens next.