TJ Dillashaw is the best bantamweight ever (skillwise)

[Adamant__]

Agree or disagree?

Extremely well rounded. High level striking and wrestling. Great TDD and sub defense. Great fight IQ. No holes. His performance in the first Barao fight might be the greatest title fight performance ever. Also his early performances like against Tamura and Viana underrated. Soto, Cruz (arguably won), Lineker (he schooled Lineker), 2 Garbrandt fights. Amazing performances. He always showed up. Even his performance against Sandhagen. With one leg and one eye, he still managed to win. Got that dog in him.

Unfortunately he cheated, took EPO because he was drained and couldn't train at all and he was past his prime and he had one arm against Aljo but there's no denying his talent. I also think he would beat Cejudo at BW.

His evolution is also something to behold. In just 6 fights (Dodson to Barao 1) he went from being a grappler to a high level kickboxer. I have no idea how he evolved so quickly and looked like that. My mind was blown watching his footwork in the Barao fight. Insanely talented.

One of the most aesthetically pleasing fighters. TJ will always be one of my favorite BWs.

 

[ChimRichalds]

I still think I'd put Cruz above him. Outside of that though, I'd agree I think. If Aljo keeps improving he will be in the discussion too. I know the majority around here hate him, but he's incredibly skilled.

 

[tomjones]

He's not the best.

 

[P4p Islam]

Roids?

 

[HuskySamoan]

TJ always had 1 glaring issue, he was vulnerable, never had the best chin. Beyond that I think his cardio, head movement, striking, speed, footwork and athleticism were among the best we've ever seen at 135lbs. Even his offensive wrestling was good but his grappling and top control were always pretty non existent. His defensive wrestling never got tested too much, there really weren't many dominant takedown artists at 135lbs back when he was champ or coming up.

Biggest thing is BW during the Dominick Cruz, Faber, Barao, Dillashaw days was that the division was in its infancy where they kept that divisions roster small and didn't prioritize signing talent, similar to 125lbs currently. I think nowadays there's a lot of really talented BWs who could have been competitive with Cruz and Dillashaw back then. 155lbs and below has evolved and grown a lot more than the rest of the weight classes in the last 10 years.

 

[yekmurat]

TJ has skills but I think he is not that strong thats why he juiced up

 

[Marko Polo]

Agree or disagree?

Extremely well rounded. High level striking and wrestling. Great TDD and sub defense. Great fight IQ. No holes. His performance in the first Barao fight might be the greatest title fight performance ever. Also his early performances like against Tamura and Viana underrated. Soto, Cruz (arguably won), Lineker (he schooled Lineker), 2 Garbrandt fights. Amazing performances. He always showed up. Even his performance against Sandhagen. With one leg and one eye, he still managed to win. Got that dog in him.

Unfortunately he cheated, took EPO because he was drained and couldn't train at all and he was past his prime and he had one arm against Aljo but there's no denying his talent. I also think he would beat Cejudo at BW.

His evolution is also something to behold. In just 6 fights (Dodson to Barao 1) he went from being a grappler to a high level kickboxer. I have no idea how he evolved so quickly and looked like that. My mind was blown watching his footwork in the Barao fight. Insanely talented.

One of the most aesthetically pleasing fighters. TJ will always be one of my favorite BWs.

Don’t make excuses for his cheating bud. All those guys are in the same boat as far as struggling to make weight etc. Also what DillShaw took, that’s what Lance Armstrong took to win the Tour De France, it’s not your everyday steroid, it’s premium and really his wins should be no contests fighting with that stuff in his system. Very talented guy none the less

 

[Deleted member 110072]

TJ always had 1 glaring issue, he was vulnerable, never had the best chin. Beyond that I think his cardio, head movement, striking, speed, footwork and athleticism were among the best we've ever seen at 135lbs. Even his offensive wrestling was good but his grappling and top control were always pretty non existent. His defensive wrestling never got tested too much, there really weren't many dominant takedown artists at 135lbs back when he was champ or coming up.

Biggest thing is BW during the Dominick Cruz, Faber, Barao, Dillashaw days was that the division was in its infancy where they kept that divisions roster small and didn't prioritize signing talent, similar to 125lbs currently. I think nowadays there's a lot of really talented BWs who could have been competitive with Cruz and Dillashaw back then. 155lbs and below has evolved and grown a lot more than the rest of the weight classes in the last 10 years.

Dillashaw did I think have the advantage that he really went indepth with Bang as a coach, went beyond the simpler kickboxing we typically see in MMA and especially in terms of head/body/foot movement.

I think you could argue he was always a bit cocky and prone to overestimating just how good he was, I do think he's actually as close as anyone else in MMA has come to Fedor's peak striking but I don't think he had quite the speed advantage Fedor did nore the smarts to avoid risks.

 

[Adamant__]

I think nowadays there's a lot of really talented BWs who could have been competitive with Cruz and Dillashaw back then.

I mostly agree. Yan vs TJ would be great. Two of my favorite BWs. I think prime TJ beats the shit out of Alga tho.

Don’t make excuses for his cheating bud. All those guys are in the same boat as far as struggling to make weight etc. Also what DillShaw took, that’s what Lance Armstrong took to win the Tour De France, it’s not your everyday steroid, it’s premium and really his wins should be no contests fighting with that stuff in his system. Very talented guy none the less

I'm not making excuses lol. He fucked up. If he didn't get suspended, who knows what would happen. Ruined his own career.

Roids?

Before he took EPO. Just talking about his skills. Unfortunately, I can't put him in the BW GOAT discussion because of roids.

 

[dipstickjimmy]

Agree or disagree?

Extremely well rounded. High level striking and wrestling. Great TDD and sub defense. Great fight IQ. No holes. His performance in the first Barao fight might be the greatest title fight performance ever. Also his early performances like against Tamura and Viana underrated. Soto, Cruz (arguably won), Lineker (he schooled Lineker), 2 Garbrandt fights. Amazing performances. He always showed up. Even his performance against Sandhagen. With one leg and one eye, he still managed to win. Got that dog in him.

Unfortunately he cheated, took EPO because he was drained and couldn't train at all and he was past his prime and he had one arm against Aljo but there's no denying his talent. I also think he would beat Cejudo at BW.

His evolution is also something to behold. In just 6 fights (Dodson to Barao 1) he went from being a grappler to a high level kickboxer. I have no idea how he evolved so quickly and looked like that. My mind was blown watching his footwork in the Barao fight. Insanely talented.

One of the most aesthetically pleasing fighters. TJ will always be one of my favorite BWs.

I have to disagree. Administering EPO is not technically a skill in MMA. Kind of like how if I race against Mario Andretti and we both use exactly the same car and he uses unleaded while I get a chemist to formulate some Rocket Fuel for me.

Skill wise it would be Mighty Mouse. He went 14-2 to start his career in the BW division losing only to Brad Pickett & Cruz by decision. He went back to 135 in One FC going 4-1, winning the GP title in 2019 then a loss to Adriano Moraes in a title fight and coming back to KO him in the rematch. 18-3 fighting a division above his "Natural" weight class and always fighting the much larger man.

 

[Gotosleepho]

He's the best snake that's about it.

 

[chinarice]

Killashaw is the best BW i've ever seen, better than Cruz, Yan and Sterling.

 

[Marko Polo]

Killashaw is the best BW i've ever seen, better than Cruz, Yan and Sterling.

Crazy how you’d reward his cheating by not holding it against him… he’s not on the same level of any of those guys you mentioned.

 

[Adamant__]

I have to disagree. Administering EPO is not technically a skill in MMA. Kind of like how if I race against Mario Andretti and we both use exactly the same car and he uses unleaded while I get a chemist to formulate some Rocket Fuel for me.

Skill wise it would be Mighty Mouse. He went 14-2 to start his career in the BW division losing only to Brad Pickett & Cruz by decision. He went back to 135 in One FC going 4-1, winning the GP title in 2019 then a loss to Adriano Moraes in a title fight and coming back to KO him in the rematch. 18-3 fighting a division above his "Natural" weight class and always fighting the much larger man.

Mighty Mouse is an all time great for sure. 36 and he's still winning championships.

Killashaw is the best BW i've ever seen, better than Cruz, Yan and Sterling.

My man

 

[AmbassadorFright]

Honestly despite his achievements I always thought he was pretty average/glorified gatekeeper. None of his wins outside Lineker and Assuncao were really that impressive and he always lost when it really mattered against Cruz after a long lay off, Cejudo in 1 second and Dodson FFS lol and now Aljo. Pretty meh all things considered

 

[Franklin U.]

Always thought he was a better fighter than Cruz..... thought he got jobbed vs Dom. So by avenues- pound for pound- he might just be until someone passes.

I'm OK with that opinion cause I don't believe Cruz is.

 

[Adamant__]

Honestly despite his achievements I always thought he was pretty average/glorified gatekeeper. None of his wins outside Lineker and Assuncao were really that impressive and he always lost when it really mattered against Cruz after a long lay off, Cejudo in 1 second and Dodson FFS lol and now Aljo. Pretty meh all things considered

Glorified gatekeeper is crazy lol. He was drained against Cejudo, past his prime against Alga (also one arm <45>) and the Cruz fight was pretty close. I personally scored it for TJ. Could have gone either way. I agree Dodson loss wasn't the best but he was so young back then and it was his debut.

Also lol at wasn't that impressive. Did you watch his fights against Barao and Soto?

 

[BFoe]

In terms of skill, it’s Cruz.
In terms of accomplishments, it’s Cruz.

 

[Fact Checker]

Cruz is far more skilled than TJ and he proved it.


Comfortably outstruck and outwrestled TJ for 3 straight rounds until he reaggravated a foot injury in the 4th making the scorecards closer than they needed to be.

 

[chinarice]

Crazy how you’d reward his cheating by not holding it against him… he’s not on the same level of any of those guys you mentioned.

You're right, I'm crazy.

I consider a cheaty cheaterton better than all those fighters I listed. I didn't post my opinion for your approval though. I don't really care who agrees or doesn't. TJ is universally hated. I am sure my opinion is highly unpopular and truly, from the bottom of my heart, couldn't care less.