TJ (right) has already defended the bantamweight belt twice. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
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TJ Dillashaw and Dominck Cruz, who will face each other for the UFC bantamweight belt in January, have maintained an intense rivalry with statements to the press. According to the current champion of the category, this happens because his rival tries to gain notoriety with gratuitous provocations, in the best “style Conor McGregor".
“I don’t remember him acting the way he is now in the past. I feel like it's not characteristic of you. It's funny, because I remember when he praised my fighting style. But now that we're going to face each other, it's become a big deal. It’s funny to see how hypocritical he is being,” said Dillashaw, in an interview with the North American website “MMA Fighting”.
Dillashaw stated that, despite seeing his rival taking such action, he does not plan on following the same path. “It’s not who I am. I'm not going to be the guy who talks. I won't turn this into telecatch like a lot of guys are wanting to do. Now it seems like it's the era Conor McGregor. Everyone wants to make a name for themselves, and Dominick Cruz is doing this now by talking,” he continued.
Dillashaw and Cruz will face each other on January 17th, in Boston (USA), in the main attraction of UFC Fight Night 81. Dillashaw has been the bantamweight champion since May of last year, when he beat Renan Barao and won the title, making two defenses since then. Cruz was the champion until the beginning of 2014, but ended up losing the belt after being out for a long time due to injury.
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