Cody Garbrandt: T.J. Dillashaw’s son will always know ‘his dad was a cheater’

Cody Garbrandt: T.J. Dillashaw’s son will always know ‘his dad was a cheater’

If you thought Cody Garbrandt has forgotten about his two losses to T.J. Dillashaw, think again.

Garbrandt returned to the octagon for the first time in 15 months this past Saturday at UFC 250, snapping a three-fight losing streak with a devastating one-punch knockout of Raphael Assuncao in the second round of their co-main event.

Afterward, at the post-fight news conference, Garbrandt was feeling good about the statement he’d just made. When asked about a potential trilogy fight with Dillashaw, his former Team Alpha Male partner turned enemy, “No Love” didn’t hold back.

“That’s a fight I’d like to get back,” Garbrandt said. “We all knew what he was on. We all knew what he was doing. It took so many times for him to skate by USADA unfortunately. But, you know, he’s serving his sentence. He’s gonna always have to live with that the rest of his life. He has a child that has eyes on him, that knows his dad was a cheater.

“The whole world looked up to him, a lot of young kids. It’s sad. I kind of feel bad for the guy. He has no confidence, that he has to use those kind of aids to be a fighter.”

Dillashaw won the bantamweight title from Garbrandt by second-round TKO in November 2017 at UFC 217. The following year at UFC 227, Dillashaw won the rematch by first-round TKO.

Dillashaw’s next move was a drop down to flyweight to challenge then champion Henry Cejudo, whom he lost to in just 32 seconds in January 2019. After the fight, it was revealed that Dillashaw tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO). He was issued a two-year suspension by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which he’s currently serving.

Dillashaw revealed to MMA Junkie in April that the UFC told him he would receive a title shot upon his return. Garbrandt, with his win Saturday, is looking to get back to the top of the division, and would welcome a trilogy.

“We’ll see. I’m gonna be at the world championship, I’m gonna be at the top, so if he works his way back up there, open door,” Garbrandt said. “Let’s get it.”