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UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw’s ambition caught up with him Saturday night in the form of one of the greatest athletes ever to compete in mixed martial arts.
Dillashaw dropped down to 125 pounds to challenge flyweight titleholder Henry Cejudo in the main event of UFC Brooklyn, the company’s first event in a five-year deal with ESPN.
But Cejudo, the 2008 Olympic wrestling gold medalist from Los Angeles, wasted little time dispatching a foe from a higher weight class, needing just 32 seconds to earn the TKO victory at Barclays Center.
Much was made made about Dillashaw’s appearance the week of the fight, as he looked gaunt, although he made weight without trouble. But those who believed the depletion affected Dillashaw’s ability to absorb strikes got their validation when Cejudo steamrolled his opponent.
Cejudo wobbled Dillashaw with a head kick, then went in for the kill, raining down punches until the fight was waved off.
There remains question as to whether Cejudo’s first title defense will be his last, as the flyweight division’s future has been in question.
“Uncle Dana [White] where are you?” Cejudo said. “Where you hiding now? I came here guys, this victory I said it before, it was much bigger than me this was for the flyweights.”
The result puts Dillashaw in the awkward position of proceeding with his 135-pound belt having lost fast to a fighter a weight class down. Cejudo proposed solving this by rematching for his opponent’s bantamweight belt.
“We can do it again and this time at 135 pounds,” Cejudo told Dillashaw. “Thank you for the opportunity, your were a stud bro.”
Cejudo improved to 14-2 with his fourth straight win and sixth career KO/TKO. Dillashaw (16-4) had a four-fight win streak snapped.
Dillashaw dropped down to 125 pounds to challenge flyweight titleholder Henry Cejudo in the main event of UFC Brooklyn, the company’s first event in a five-year deal with ESPN.
But Cejudo, the 2008 Olympic wrestling gold medalist from Los Angeles, wasted little time dispatching a foe from a higher weight class, needing just 32 seconds to earn the TKO victory at Barclays Center.
Much was made made about Dillashaw’s appearance the week of the fight, as he looked gaunt, although he made weight without trouble. But those who believed the depletion affected Dillashaw’s ability to absorb strikes got their validation when Cejudo steamrolled his opponent.
Cejudo wobbled Dillashaw with a head kick, then went in for the kill, raining down punches until the fight was waved off.
There remains question as to whether Cejudo’s first title defense will be his last, as the flyweight division’s future has been in question.
“Uncle Dana [White] where are you?” Cejudo said. “Where you hiding now? I came here guys, this victory I said it before, it was much bigger than me this was for the flyweights.”
The result puts Dillashaw in the awkward position of proceeding with his 135-pound belt having lost fast to a fighter a weight class down. Cejudo proposed solving this by rematching for his opponent’s bantamweight belt.
“We can do it again and this time at 135 pounds,” Cejudo told Dillashaw. “Thank you for the opportunity, your were a stud bro.”
Cejudo improved to 14-2 with his fourth straight win and sixth career KO/TKO. Dillashaw (16-4) had a four-fight win streak snapped.
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