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Home MMA UFC

“Juiced his way to the top” – Fight fans divided over TJ Dillashaw’s legacy as the bantamweight great UNEXPECTEDLY RETIRES

by Udayan Mukherjee
December 6, 2022
in UFC
TJ Dillashaw [Image Source - Bloody Elbow]

TJ Dillashaw [Image Source - Bloody Elbow]

TJ Dillashaw will forever be known as one of the greatest bantamweights to have ever walked into the octagon, and his resume serve testament to just that.

That being said, his legacy is somewhat complicated – although he was able to finally end Renan Barao’s unprecedented title run and then completely piece nemesis Cody Garbrandt up, his wins will forever be in question as the American was suspended for drug abuse back in 2019. This effectively forced him to surrender his title and sit on the sidelines for two years.

On his return, he was able to defeat a future bantamweight title challenger in Cory Sandhagen, if only by the skin of his tweet. He had kept up his promise, of racking up one win before being given the title shot. And, that he was given, as Dillashaw faced off against champion Aljamain Sterling at UFC 280. Unfortunately for the veteran, his night would end early after his shoulder dislocated in the first round.

TJ Dillashaw has decided to retire. The UFC was notified around a week and a half ago. @The_MDubb first reported the news.

Here’s more, from my car, on what happened: pic.twitter.com/goxUGdgYWw

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 6, 2022

Now, it seems like Dillashaw has made a swift and unannounced exit from the sport. As announced by Ariel Helwani, who spoke with his manager, it seems like the American is unwilling to go down the route of multiple surgeries at 37 years old just to reclaim the title he once held. That report has also been corroborated by Aaron Bronsteter, another respected MMA journalist.

Related- “Dealing with shoulder issues since 2017” – TJ Dillashaw reveals how messed up his shoulder was before Aljamain Sterling fight at UFC 280

MMA fans are ambivalent over TJ Dillashaw’s complicated history as he announces his retirement

TJ Dillashaw (bottom) in his last fight against Aljamain Sterling [Image Source - MMA Junkie]
TJ Dillashaw (bottom) in his last fight against Aljamain Sterling [Image Source – MMA Junkie]

In what is an unexpected move, announced first by a Twitter bot that automatically monitors fighters’ addition/ removal to the UFC roster and rankings, fans find themselves confused as to what is to be made of TJ Dillashaw’s legacy.

As such, they replied to the news of his retiring on Twitter. Find the best reactions compiled below.

TJ’s Legacy: betrayed his own team to be champ, great win against Barao for the title, some good W’s after only for his career to be ruined after he Juiced his way to the top, banned, tried to make a comeback but realised that he just couldn't compete without an unfair advantage.

— 👊🏻 Rob Wright 👊🏻 (@RobBreezed) December 6, 2022

That settles that then. I saw there was speculation that he’s just leaving the pool to recover from his shoulder injury, but it seems like he’s retiring for good.

— Zoheb MMA (@ZohebMMA) December 6, 2022

Damn that’s crazy. He would’ve made easy work of Aljo if he wasn’t injured. That suspension really killed his career

— Finch (@Finch02_) December 6, 2022

One of the all-time biggest aholes in MMA history. A steroid cheat and a dipshit. Great news for MMA fans that he’s hanging it up.

— 〽️atthew (@Matthew52083) December 6, 2022

Good riddance. Dude is a cheater and was going to hold the division hostage if he won. It's probably written elsewhere but he is probably just leaving the pool, juice up and "recover" and be back in another year

— ShannonTheGuy™ (@ShannonTheGuy) December 6, 2022

That's interesting… Part of gambling scandal fallout or injury related? 🤔

— OddSmokerSteve (@OddSmokerSteve) December 5, 2022

Also Read- “We build weed company,” Conor McGregor replies HILARIOUSLY to Nate Diaz’s tweet about his frequent knockout losses

Dang Aljo retired TJ Dillashaw that's crazy pic.twitter.com/GfWyvH4RE1

— Squid Vicious MMA (@SquidViciousMMA) December 6, 2022

He has his haters & rightfully so, but he is one of the most exciting, consistent fighters the UFC has had.

A shame he goes out because of an injury. Helluva career.

— @StingUpdates (@StingUpdates) December 6, 2022

I dislocated my shoulder years ago. Reset it myself and like a fool never got it checked out.

Never was the same. I can't imagine trying to fight in MMA with that kind of injury.

— Hassan Milikin (@HassanMilikin) December 6, 2022

He’s a fart an Bully anyway he got annihilated by sterling

— Johnvin (@John___vince) December 6, 2022

As can be witnessed from these replies, it seems to be the case that Dillashaw’s retirement has not gone down the same way with everyone. That being said, it would be an injustice to strip him of the respect he deserves because of his impeccable credentials in the sport.

Also Read- Here’s how you can end up on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast

Tags: TJ Dillashaw
Udayan Mukherjee

Udayan Mukherjee

Udayan Mukherjee is an avid sports fan with an interest in writing - the two come in handy for him, as he combines what he watches into what he likes writing about. Udayan, part of the FirstSportz UFC team, grew up watching his dad intensely follow Formula 1 and Cricket, and along the way, he found a love for football himself. In the pandemic, with nothing better to watch, Udayan watched the UFC events, and since, has looked at the sport as his primary sport of interest.

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