Dillashaw promises: 'I'll finish Cruz faster than I did Barão'

TJ (right) has already defended the bantamweight belt twice. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

In May of last year, TJ Dillashaw shocked the MMA world by dethroning the Brazilian Renan Barao and win the bantamweight belt. On July 25th, at UFC on FOX 16, the athlete from Team Alpha Male he ratified his condition by defeating the Brazilian in an even more dominant way. Now, Dillashaw wants to give an even clearer message and beat the former champion Dominick Cruz in less time than he did against Barão.

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“I think I'm going to finish off Cruz faster than I finished off Barão. Cruz has that crazy style. But I think I'm going to finish this fight even before what I did with Barão”, said Dillashaw, in an interview with the “MMA Fighting” website, highlighting that a victory over the former champion would be a milestone in his career. “I definitely think it would help. He had been a champion and still thinks he should be because he was out for a while. It would be great for my name to beat him. It would be a milestone in my career”, he highlighted.

Furthermore, TJ also responded to Cruz's accusations that he copied his style and movement to beat Barão. “It's very ridiculous. He says he was the first fighter ever to create this movement? Was he the first to throw a jab and feint? It's ridiculous to think that. Because I move, move my feet and change my posture, I am the Dominick Cruz?", shot.

At 29, TJ Dillashaw has a professional record of 12 wins and two losses. Runner-up of the 14th season of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil, Dillashaw turned things around, winning the bantamweight title last year and has since defended the belt twice. Your next fight should be against Dominick Cruz, but the expectation is that the duel will only take place in 2016.