One of the most intense rivalries in MMA history will get the second chapter added on March 3. TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt are fierce enemies and the 135-pound title will be in Dillashaw’s corner in the rematch…
UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw has been heavily linked to a superfight against Demetrious Johnson. ‘Mighty Mouse’ had turned down Dillashaw in favor of a scrap with Ray Borg, starting a rivalry with his 135-pound counterpart.
Dillashaw went on to win the bantamweight title against a rival of a much different kind. Cody Garbrandt, former training partner of Dillashaw at Team Alpha Male, shared seriously bad blood with ‘The Viper.’
The fight was a long time in the making and when it came around it did not disappoint. Dillashaw was rocked bad early on, but came back to finish Garbrandt with strikes in a fantastic display.
Now, it seems, the two are on another collision path.
The Rematch is ON!!!!
According to Brazilian sports site Globo (it’s far more legit than it sounds), the rematch is set for UFC 222. This comes literally just minutes after the news broke that Max Holloway vs. Frankie Edgar had been scrapped due to injury to the champ:
The UFC moved quickly against Max Holloway ‘s possible absence from the fight in which he would defend his featherweight belt against Frankie Edgar at UFC 222 . As the champion is likely to be injured, the organization has rushed to close a new belt dispute for the event, which will now have a rematch between TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt for the belt of the weights. The Combate.com found the information from sources close to the event.
With that, Dillashaw, who had his name linked to a super(fight) against Demetrious Johnson for the flyweight belt, will make at least one more fight in his home category – Johnson underwent shoulder surgery and will have to spend some time off combat, to recover from the intervention.
Continue reading below…
More News on UFC 222
Apparently, the promotion is hoping to put together a non-title fight between the opponent-less Edgar and featherweight prospect Brian Ortega. ‘T-City’ recently subbed Cub Swanson to cement his place as a legit 145-pound contender.
The event could save face with this bout, perhaps even notch up the excitement around the March 3rd PPV.
With the latest updates, here’s how the UFC 222 card is shaping up:
UFC 222 Fight Card
Event: UFC 222: “Holloway vs. Edgar”
Date: Sat., March 3, 2018
Location: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
Broadcast: Pay-Per-View (PPV), FOX Sports 1, UFC Fight Pass
UFC 222 PPV Main Event:
135 lbs.: UFC Bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw vs. Cody Garbrandt
145 lbs.: UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway vs. Frankie Edgar
UFC 222 Main Card, Prelims:
185 lbs.: Hector Lombard vs. C.B. Dollaway
265 lbs.: Andrei Arlovski vs. Stefan Struve
135 lbs.: Sean O’Malley vs. Andre Soukhamthath
115 lbs.: Mackenzie Dern vs. Ashley Yoder
135 lbs.: Ketlen Vieira vs. Cat Zingano
135 lbs.: Bryan Caraway vs. Cody Stamann
205 lbs.: Jordan Johnson vs. Adam Milstead
