jetta
01-02-2015, 07:03 PM
Next for T.J. Dillashaw? Probably Renan Barao, but possibly Urijah Faber
146
LAS VEGAS - Dominick Cruz's continuing injury woes have put on ice a hotly anticipated match between the former champion and current titleholder T.J. Dillashaw.
But that doesn't mean the UFC is out of options at 135 pounds. Dillashaw could square off against another former champion ... or even one of his campmates.
Speaking with reporters Thursday at the MGM Grand, White said that former champion Renan Barao is at the top of the list for consideration for the next title shot.
"Renan just fought and won," White said. "They would have fought before if he made weight."
Dillashaw trounced Barao in what was at the time considered a major upset at UFC 173 in Las Vegas, winning the bantamweight title by fifth-round TKO. The duo were expected to square off in a rematch at UFC 177 in Sacramento, but Barao pulled out the day before the fight due to a weight cut gone awry. Since then, Barao rebounded for a victory over Mitch Gagnon last month in Brazil.
However, White is also keeping the door open to a bout between Dillashaw and Team Alpha Male founder and teammate Urijah Faber. The former WEC featherweight champion has won five out of his past six bouts after a controversial finish of Francisco Rivera at UFC 181.
"They're definitely open to it," White said. "When you have a team full of guys that are in the same weight, you're eventually going to have to fight each other, and they're all cool with that."
146
LAS VEGAS - Dominick Cruz's continuing injury woes have put on ice a hotly anticipated match between the former champion and current titleholder T.J. Dillashaw.
But that doesn't mean the UFC is out of options at 135 pounds. Dillashaw could square off against another former champion ... or even one of his campmates.
Speaking with reporters Thursday at the MGM Grand, White said that former champion Renan Barao is at the top of the list for consideration for the next title shot.
"Renan just fought and won," White said. "They would have fought before if he made weight."
Dillashaw trounced Barao in what was at the time considered a major upset at UFC 173 in Las Vegas, winning the bantamweight title by fifth-round TKO. The duo were expected to square off in a rematch at UFC 177 in Sacramento, but Barao pulled out the day before the fight due to a weight cut gone awry. Since then, Barao rebounded for a victory over Mitch Gagnon last month in Brazil.
However, White is also keeping the door open to a bout between Dillashaw and Team Alpha Male founder and teammate Urijah Faber. The former WEC featherweight champion has won five out of his past six bouts after a controversial finish of Francisco Rivera at UFC 181.
"They're definitely open to it," White said. "When you have a team full of guys that are in the same weight, you're eventually going to have to fight each other, and they're all cool with that."