T.J. Dillashaw Grapples With What is Next After Fighting

T.J. Dillashaw has to wrestle with the idea that he is no longer in control. While Dillashaw’s mind still desires to fight in the UFC, his body is telling him another story. The former bantamweight champion said in a recent interview that he wouldn’t be able to fight again.

Dillashaw doesn’t want to throw in the towel on grappling again, but the pain has worsened over the past few years. Following multiple surgeries, Dillashaw can’t raise his arm above his head. For a top-level athlete to have their mobility limited has been a long learning process.

It was a crushing loss for Dillashaw, who leaves behind a solid but complicated legacy in the UFC. Dillashaw had two short reigns as bantamweight champion and only tended to lose to top-flight competitors. However, Dillashaw missed two years of his prime due to failed drug tests.

Dillashaw’s last fight was an unsuccessful challenge against Aljamain Sterling to get his title back in October 2022. The last fight was a disappointing end for a staple of the sport. Entering the fight, Dillashaw was hampered by shoulder issues and likely shouldn’t have competed.

But it was likely Dillashaw’s last shot at a title. There would be no regrets for him to take one more shot at the belt.

Dillashaw Was a TUF Alum

Dillashaw, 38, didn’t have much professional MMA experience when he found his way into The Ultimate Fighter Season 14, which featured future middleweight champion Michael Bisping and Jason Miller as coaches. Dillashaw, who was 4-0 as a professional before doing the UFC’s reality TV show, made the finals of the TUF 14’s bantamweight tournament.

Dillashaw would take his professional loss in the finals against John Dodson. Dodson went on to have a long MMA career, twice challenging for the UFC’s flyweight belt and is now a Bare Knuckles Fighting Championship title holder. 

There wouldn’t be too much disappointment for Dillashaw during the early part of his UFC career. He strung together a four-winning streak before losing to Raphael Assunção by split decision in October 2013. Losing didn’t slow Dillashaw’s rise up the ranks.

King of the Bantamweights

Dillashaw earned his first chance for the bantamweight belt after bouncing back from the loss to Assunção to beat Mike Easton. That earned Dillashaw the opportunity to fight Renan Barão at UFC 143. Dillashaw was a seven-to-one betting underdog for their first fight.

But that wouldn’t prove to be a stumbling block for Dillashaw, according to the best MMA news sites. Dillashaw knocked out Barão in the fifth round to claim the championship. He would go on to defend the title twice, picking up spectacular knockouts against Joe Soto and in a rematch with Barão.

Dillashaw ended up dropping the title to Dominick Cruz in January 2016 in a fight that went to a split decision.

Back on Top

Dillashaw rebounded from the loss to Cruz to grab consecutive wins and earn a shot at new champion Cody Garbrandt in November 2017. Dillashaw was once again looked at as a slight underdog, but cleaned up Garbrandt in the second round to move to 15-3 in his career.

Garbrandt and Dillashaw rematched nine months later but would end up with the same result. MMA news sites show that Dillashaw’s problems started after the second Garbrandt fight.

USADA Sidelines Dillashaw

Dillashaw did a rare thing in MMA when he fought Henry Cejudo in 2019. Dillashaw decided to go down a weight class in order to become a multi-division champion. But things went worse beyond the result in the octagon.

Cejudo embarrassed Dillashaw in the cage, dropping Dillashaw in 32 seconds. But in fairness to Dillashaw, the stoppage was questioned as being too quick by many parties. But the worst punch Dillashaw took was after the fight.

Dillashaw was given a two-year ban by USADA, which used to be the drug testing agency used by the UFC, for taking EPO. Instead of making excuses, Dillashaw took responsibility for taking the substance and apologized to his coaches and family.

In an ironic twist of fate, Cejudo would go on to claim the bantamweight title that Dillashaw vacated.

Return From Suspension Didn’t Last Long

Dillashaw saw a brief moment of happiness in July 2021. After returning to the UFC, Dillashaw beat Cory Sandhagen in a split decision to get his name in the mix with other contenders for the bantamweight belt. Dillashaw would get his wish in October 2022 when he fought Sterling at UFC 280.

But things clearly weren’t right with Dillashaw. In the post-fight interview, Dillashaw would admit to hiding injuries from the UFC and athletic commissions who sanctioned the fight. During training, Dillashaw claims to have separated his shoulder 20 times.

That wasn’t an ideal state to fight in, especially against Sterling, who is excellent on the ground. Sterling would submit him in the second round, and Dillashaw retired less than two months later.

Ain’t Gonna Be No Rematch

Unfortunately, Dillashaw’s largest battle right now is a mental one. Dillashaw has struggled with shoulder pain and depression as he transitions into his post-fight career. Dillashaw will need to work on figuring out what is next.

As far as Dillsahaw’s fighting career went, he was an exciting fighter who wound up in a lot of wars with top opponents. There will always be a cloud hanging over his career because of the failed drug tests. But Dillashaw doesn’t have to fight anymore, so he doesn’t have to worry about scrutiny from drug testing.

However, Dillashaw should work quickly to find a new hobby. With his shoulder, Dillashaw won’t be able to practice his profession as much or as frequently. But Dillashaw has family to occupy him and that should help provide him with some purpose.

Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingnews.com.

By Dean McHugh.