TJ Dillashaw comments on Urijah Faber's return: 'I hope he doesn't get hurt for money'

T. Dillashaw (photo) criticizes U. Faber's return and wants to fight in the flyweight division (Photo: Reproduction/Twitter @TJDIllashsaw

The former bantamweight champion (up to 61,2kg.), TJ Dillashaw expressed opposition to the return of Urijah faber to MMA. In an interview with Chael Sonnen, TJ revealed that the 'California Kid' may have problems facing the new generation of the sport and fears for the physical integrity of his professional partner. Dillashaw is currently serving a two-year suspension after being caught in a drug test in March this year.

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“I could have sworn that when he retired it would be his last fight. To be honest, thinking on a coaching level, he maybe should have stayed retired, especially with these young, hungry guys coming up,” TJ said.

Those who are not athletes have difficulty understanding what motivates a fighter to continue taking risks in an MMA field other than the financial side. Currently, the UFC has two athletes who are examples of such segments. The Brazilian Anderson Silva, a sports legend, who is now 44 years old, continues to pursue his career even if his latest results are unfavorable. Another example is B.J. Penn, who recently completed his sixth consecutive defeat since announcing his return to MMA. The Hawaiian has not won a fight since 2010, while the Brazilian last triumphed in February 2017.

“I hope he’s not hurting himself for money. Even though we have our problems, you never wish that kind of harm on anyone. I think he should have stayed retired, but let's see how he does”, concluded the former champion.

The problems between TJ and Urijah began when there was a split between members of the 'Alpha Male' team. At the time, the two fighters were training partners, and, according to Faber, at a given moment, Dillashaw decided to leave the team and follow his own path. The compatriot's version, however, is different. TJ claims that he was kicked out of the team and thus the ideas remain contrasted.

Faber already has his appointment scheduled to confirm his return. The fighter will face Ricky simon, on July 13, at UFC Sacramento, in California (USA). Urijah has not fought since December 2016. In his professional record, the athlete has 43 fights, with 33 wins and 10 losses.