When the UFC roster watch Twitter bot alerted the masses to TJ Dillashaw’s removal from the roster yesterday, the MMA rumor mill went into overdrive.
With conflicting reports from multiple credible media members regarding the former UFC bantamweight champion’s current career status following a shoulder injury at UFC 281 opposite Aljamain Sterling, it seemed the truth of the matter was up in the air.
However, UFC officials have now confirmed to MMA Fighting that Dillashaw’s manager, Tiki Ghosn, has indeed informed the promotion of Dillashaw’s decision to retire.
The aforementioned shoulder injury sustained prior to Dillashaw’s last bout was expected to keep the 135-pounder on the sidelines for a year minimum, with a subsequent second surgery not out of the realm of possibility. That prognosis and expected time of recovery seem to have been the catalyst for Dillashaw’s decision to hang up the gloves.
Dillashaw exits the sport with an overall record of 17-5.
The AllStar MMA roundup
- The AllStar MMA Live: UFC Orlando Reaction, Recap
The best of the rest
- Josh Thomson reveals James Krause had devices seized, could have legal issues regarding betting scandal – BJPenn.com
- Man sentenced to 16 years in prison for murder of Tieli Alves, attempted murder of UFC fighter Raulian Paiva – MMAFighting.com
- Stephen Thompson reveals handshake deal, ‘unwritten rules’ for Kevin Holland UFC main event – BloodyElbow.com
- Joe Rogan suspects Conor McGregor is on PEDs: ‘Looks like his piss would melt that USADA cup’ – MMAJunkie.com
- Rafael dos Anjos says Islam Makhachev should’ve defended vs. ‘a real challenge,’ not Alexander Volkanovski – MMAJunkie.com
The soapbox
Dustin Poirier updates his health situation:
Diaz fires shots from the sideline:
Holland reflects:
Tracy Cortez addresses her UFC Orlando removal:
More on the Moneybagg Yo curse:
A fight in the making:
The morning view
One of South Africa’s hottest prospects joins JHK ahead of his UFC debut:
UFC 282 Embedded kicks off:
Combat sports cut woman reacts to MMA injuries:
Bryce Mitchell being an upstanding citizen:
Done Deals
Tuesday
- Alex Morono to replace Robbie Lawler opposite Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC 282 on December 11th (per David Van Auken)
- Lukasz Brzeski to face Karl Williams on March 11th (per Marcel Dorff)
- Charles Johnson to replace Jeff Molina at UFC Vegas 67 on January 14th (per Mike Heck)
Monday:
- None to note
UFC Roster Watch
Fighters removed this week:
- TJ Dillashaw
- Scott Holtzman
Fighters Added this week:
- none to note
Credit to UFC Roster Watch
On this day in MMA…
On the 6th of December, 2014, UFC 181, the promotion’s 300th event, was held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Though the event was expected to be headlined by Chris Weidman defending his middleweight championship belt opposite Vitor Belfort, due to injury, that bout was scrapped and replaced by a rematch between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler. The pair had put on a scrap of the year in their bout nine months prior, though this time, Lawler would have his hand raised as he became the UFC welterweight champion.
Also of note on the card was a young Cory Anderson who climbed to 5-0, the early stages of Tony Ferguson’s legendary win streak as he submitted Abel Trujillo, Brendan Schaub’s final MMA fight (a violent ground and pound KO at the hands of Travis Browne), and Anthony Pettis’ first and only UFC lightweight title defence opposite Gilbert Melendez.
One Ronda Rousey was also expected to face Gina Carano at the landmark event in a historic bout between the two WMMA pioneers. However, by September 2014, the targeted matchup was dead in the water.
