TJ DILLASHAW WILL defend his own belt on 25 July, but the UFC’s bantamweight champion is interested in facing the champion of another division next.
Fourteen days before Dillashaw puts his 135lbs strap on the line in a rematch with Renan Barao, defending featherweight champion Jose Aldo will clash with Conor McGregor.
Although he believes McGregor has a very good chance of dethroning the Brazilian, Dillashaw expects Aldo to emerge with his undefeated UFC record still intact at the expense of the Dubliner.
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“I think it’s going to be a really close fight actually,” Dillashaw told Submission Radio. “I think Aldo is the better all-round fighter and that he’s the one that can beat more guys in the weight-class, but I think that McGregor has a style to match up against Aldo.
“Aldo’s always been known to stay on his feet, even though he’s got a good, decent ground game. I feel that McGregor has got the right distance, he’s a big 145-pounder. I like that he’s a southpaw against Aldo. I think that’s what’s going to give him a lot of trouble and it’s going to be a close fight.
“I’m predicting that Aldo is going to tough it out. He’s been in those wars so he’s going to know how to continue to push and beat him, but it’s going to be close. I mean, McGregor is bringing a lot of confidence to the table and the right kind of style to beat Aldo.”
And when asked if he’d be interested in facing the winner, Dillashaw said: “I would love to do a champion versus champion fight. That’s like my next goal. The goal was to become best in the world in my weight-class and I’ve done it.
Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor will collide in Las Vegas on 11 July. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
“I need to obviously stay dominant and hold my belt and continue to do so, but I would love to in the future fight champion versus champion and go up a weight class and do that. That’s my main goal now. Obviously I’m going to believe in myself and I’m going to win that fight. I feel that I can hold my own with [McGregor] striking.
“I know that he’s a big 145-pounder so his reach will give me a little bit of trouble, but you know, to work my way in and use my wrestling pedigree, I think I’d be able to wear him out and keep him guessing and I would win that fight against McGregor or Aldo. Whoever is going to win the fight, I would beat either of them.”
'I would beat either of them' - Dillashaw keen to face McGregor or Aldo
TJ DILLASHAW WILL defend his own belt on 25 July, but the UFC’s bantamweight champion is interested in facing the champion of another division next.
Fourteen days before Dillashaw puts his 135lbs strap on the line in a rematch with Renan Barao, defending featherweight champion Jose Aldo will clash with Conor McGregor.
Although he believes McGregor has a very good chance of dethroning the Brazilian, Dillashaw expects Aldo to emerge with his undefeated UFC record still intact at the expense of the Dubliner.
“I think it’s going to be a really close fight actually,” Dillashaw told Submission Radio. “I think Aldo is the better all-round fighter and that he’s the one that can beat more guys in the weight-class, but I think that McGregor has a style to match up against Aldo.
“Aldo’s always been known to stay on his feet, even though he’s got a good, decent ground game. I feel that McGregor has got the right distance, he’s a big 145-pounder. I like that he’s a southpaw against Aldo. I think that’s what’s going to give him a lot of trouble and it’s going to be a close fight.
“I’m predicting that Aldo is going to tough it out. He’s been in those wars so he’s going to know how to continue to push and beat him, but it’s going to be close. I mean, McGregor is bringing a lot of confidence to the table and the right kind of style to beat Aldo.”
And when asked if he’d be interested in facing the winner, Dillashaw said: “I would love to do a champion versus champion fight. That’s like my next goal. The goal was to become best in the world in my weight-class and I’ve done it.
“I need to obviously stay dominant and hold my belt and continue to do so, but I would love to in the future fight champion versus champion and go up a weight class and do that. That’s my main goal now. Obviously I’m going to believe in myself and I’m going to win that fight. I feel that I can hold my own with [McGregor] striking.
“I know that he’s a big 145-pounder so his reach will give me a little bit of trouble, but you know, to work my way in and use my wrestling pedigree, I think I’d be able to wear him out and keep him guessing and I would win that fight against McGregor or Aldo. Whoever is going to win the fight, I would beat either of them.”
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Conor McGregor Jose Aldo MMA superfight TJ Dillashaw UFC