TJ DILLASHAW HAS confirmed that he’s leaving Team Alpha Male.
The UFC bantamweight champion is set to part ways with the Sacramento-based team after six years in order to join Team Elevation in Colorado.
The news of Dillashaw’s departure was first reported by Brazilian outlet Combate, with the fighter later releasing an exclusive statement to MMAFighting.com.
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While Dillashaw says that he’ll still be “a part of the Team Alpha Male family”, it’s understood that the 29-year-old will no longer train in California.
“In regards to my upcoming fight camp, I will be doing my training in Colorado,” said Dillashaw, who’s due to defend his title against Dominick Cruz on 17 January.
“The last six years at Team Alpha Male have been irreplaceable and my brothers there will forever be family to me. I thank each and every one of them for helping me along the way and being a part of this journey we’ve shared. This is not the end of being a part of the Team Alpha Male family, but a new chapter in my career.
“I will be spending my next full training camp with Elevation Fight Team as they’ve offered me an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up, with an incredible coaching staff and state-of-the-art facilities. I want to thank everyone for the continued support as this has not been a decision I’ve taken lightly.”
Dillashaw has recently been caught in the middle of a dispute between former Team Alpha Male head coach Duane Ludwig and the gym’s founder and owner Urijah Faber, who told MMAFighting: “We are sad to see [Dillashaw] go, but we’re excited about the next set of champions being developed at Team Alpha Male.”
Ludwig currently runs his own gym in Colorado but has a good relationship with Team Elevation. Fellow UFC fighters such as Matt Brown, Cat Zingano and Clay Guida are also members of the team, which is based at the state-of-the-art MusclePharm Sports Science Center & Research Institute in Denver.
After graduating from college, Dillashaw was invited to train at Team Alpha Male by Urijah Faber, at which point he transitioned from wrestling to MMA.
The news of Dillashaw’s departure is likely to draw a wry smile from Conor McGregor. On a recent episode of the 22nd series of The Ultimate Fighter — in which McGregor is coaching against Faber — the Irish star warned Faber that Dillashaw is disloyal and suggested that he should pursue a fight against the 135lbs title-holder.
“I think you should man up and fight [Dillashaw] now,” McGregor told Faber. “You brought him out of college, you said you brought him up and then Duane came in and took him from you. Now he’s winning the world championship. You should man up now and get that fight, I feel. That’s your only fight, really.
“He went running from you guys. Urijah took him out of school and built him up. Duane comes in, takes over and takes the champion. Recognise the enemy, that’s all I’ll say. I don’t mind [Dillashaw], I just sense disloyalty. I sense a snake and I’m going to say that when I see it.”
McGregor calls another one right as Dillashaw parts ways with Faber's Team Alpha Male
TJ DILLASHAW HAS confirmed that he’s leaving Team Alpha Male.
The UFC bantamweight champion is set to part ways with the Sacramento-based team after six years in order to join Team Elevation in Colorado.
The news of Dillashaw’s departure was first reported by Brazilian outlet Combate, with the fighter later releasing an exclusive statement to MMAFighting.com.
While Dillashaw says that he’ll still be “a part of the Team Alpha Male family”, it’s understood that the 29-year-old will no longer train in California.
“In regards to my upcoming fight camp, I will be doing my training in Colorado,” said Dillashaw, who’s due to defend his title against Dominick Cruz on 17 January.
“The last six years at Team Alpha Male have been irreplaceable and my brothers there will forever be family to me. I thank each and every one of them for helping me along the way and being a part of this journey we’ve shared. This is not the end of being a part of the Team Alpha Male family, but a new chapter in my career.
Dillashaw has recently been caught in the middle of a dispute between former Team Alpha Male head coach Duane Ludwig and the gym’s founder and owner Urijah Faber, who told MMAFighting: “We are sad to see [Dillashaw] go, but we’re excited about the next set of champions being developed at Team Alpha Male.”
Ludwig currently runs his own gym in Colorado but has a good relationship with Team Elevation. Fellow UFC fighters such as Matt Brown, Cat Zingano and Clay Guida are also members of the team, which is based at the state-of-the-art MusclePharm Sports Science Center & Research Institute in Denver.
After graduating from college, Dillashaw was invited to train at Team Alpha Male by Urijah Faber, at which point he transitioned from wrestling to MMA.
The news of Dillashaw’s departure is likely to draw a wry smile from Conor McGregor. On a recent episode of the 22nd series of The Ultimate Fighter — in which McGregor is coaching against Faber — the Irish star warned Faber that Dillashaw is disloyal and suggested that he should pursue a fight against the 135lbs title-holder.
“I think you should man up and fight [Dillashaw] now,” McGregor told Faber. “You brought him out of college, you said you brought him up and then Duane came in and took him from you. Now he’s winning the world championship. You should man up now and get that fight, I feel. That’s your only fight, really.
“He went running from you guys. Urijah took him out of school and built him up. Duane comes in, takes over and takes the champion. Recognise the enemy, that’s all I’ll say. I don’t mind [Dillashaw], I just sense disloyalty. I sense a snake and I’m going to say that when I see it.”
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BREAK-UP Conor McGregor mixed martial arts MMA TJ Dillashaw UFC Ultimate Fighting Championship Urijah Faber