Dillashaw: Feed Me Mayweather!

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

The Mayweather talk starts at 20:31.

As ridiculous as this sounds, I actually want Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to book former bantamweight champion, TJ Dillashaw, against undefeated boxing icon, Floyd Mayweather Jr., just to see how the promotion markets the fight.

“In this corner, coming off a suspension for EPO, knocked out in just 32 seconds in his last title fight, the one-and-only TJ Dillashaw!”

Dillashaw resurfaced earlier this week to update mixed martial arts (MMA) fans on his current suspension from combat sports, which lasts until Jan. 2021, and explained why he’s gunning for a “Money” fight in much the same way Conor McGregor did back in late 2017.

“Mayweather wants a UFC star thats good at striking,” Dillashaw told Ariel Helwani (transcribed by MMA Junkie). “I’ve got a whole year to reinvent myself to become a boxer. I’ve got the who’s-who in the boxing world. I can train with the Lomachenkos, Terence Crawfords – he ain’t going to be able to wear me out and finish me because of my cardio. I think that’s a very intriguing fight. I’d love to get that Mayweather fight, not even for the money – just for the fact of proving us UFC fighters (have) got what it takes to get in that ring.”

Mayweather came out of retirement for an upcoming project with UFC President Dana White, who insists he’s getting into the boxing business. A potential Manny Pacquiao rematch appears to be the leading candidate, as the aging “Money” is unlikely to climb into the Octagon.

As for Dillashaw, he was forced to surrender his bantamweight belt after getting popped for EPO, a belt now held by Henry Cejudo. It’s hard to predict what the 135-pound landscape will look like by the time he gets back, but the competition doesn’t appear to be getting any easier.