Conor McGregor million dollar fight didn’t happen because of ‘bad judging’, claims controversial champion
TJ Dillashaw recalls his missed 'red panty night' involving Conor McGregor after his close split decision loss to Dominick Cruz.
TJ Dillashaw claims missed multi-million dollar Conor McGregor fight due to bad judging (via Imago)
UFC has had its fair share of bad judging in the past, and former bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw claims to have been a victim of one. Dillashaw reigned as one of the best bantamweights in the 2010s. He has given a lot to the sport since his Ultimate Fighter days and was unfortunate to miss out on a million-dollar fight against Conor McGregor, as he claims, due to ‘ bad judging.’
Dillashaw was on a four-fight win streak and was in line for his ‘red panty’ night‘ fight against Conor McGregor. This, however, did not happen, as bad judging saw him lose his title against Dominic Cruz via a split decision in 2016. The loss meant that he missed out on potential fights against Urijah Faber and Conor McGregor. The former champion revealed it all recently on the JAXXON Podcast.
They'd steal millions of dollars outta my pocket. I'd fought Urijah after that like Conor McGregor built up this red panty night between us. I got fu*ked cause of Tony Weeks.TJ Dillashaw via JAXXON Podcast
With such a close fight, the judge Sal D’Amato scored it 49-46 Dillashaw. David Ginsberg scored it 48-47 Cruz, and Tony Weeks scored it 49-46 Cruz. TJ Dillashaw was surely onto an amazing fight streak, which could have cemented him as the best bantamweight champion in history. He won his next four fights against Raphael Assuncao, Cody Garbrandt (x2), and John Lineker after his ‘robbery’ against Cruz.
This could have put him on a potential 10-fight win streak and a potential fight with Faber or McGregor. TJ had his share of run-ins with Conor McGregor at TUF: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber in 2015. The Irishman, being the elite trash talker that he is, absolutely demolished Dillashaw with his words. The trash talk, back-and-forth with Faber, and the Mystic Mac’s predictions gave us one of the best seasons of TUF.
TJ Dillashaw was the victim of Conor McGregor’s peak trash talk
UFC superstar Conor McGregor has given many memorable moments over the years. 2014-2017 was the peak of The Notorious’s trash-talking attacks and an aura of dominance. Regardless of whether inside the cage or outside it, McGregor’s mic skills and wittiness are second to none. This entertaining personality helped him become the biggest name in UFC’s history.
One such memorable verbal obliteration of his came during the 2015 TUF season. The man under the axe this time however was TJ Dillashaw, as he was left with no crumbs to pick.
The Irishman not only attacked Dillashaw but called him out for siding with his new coach, betraying his old coach and Faber.
There’s the little snake in the grass right there. Hey, little boy. You lost. Where’s your mommy, little boy? I’d like to congratulate you and your coach, Duane (Ludwig). Great win, man. Well done. Urijah thinks Duane’s a snake though. What do you think, eh?Conor McGregor- TUF 2015
However, TJ Dillashaw had his fall from grace in 2019 after a two-year suspension from USADA for a positive drug test. A positive EPO test had come through after his title fight loss against Henry Cejudo. This put the former bantamweight champ out till 2021. However, he won his comeback fight against Cory Sandhagen before suffering a shoulder injury in his fight against Aljamain Sterling.
Adhvaidh Ganeshan
(43 Articles Published)