Bantamweight Champion TJ Dillashaw Thinks Conor McGregor’s Antics Are Too Fake
This past weekend (January 18, 2015) at UFC Fight Night 59, Irish sensation “The Notorious” Conor McGregor continued his triumphant rise up the featherweight rankings with his second round demolition of Dennis Siver. With this win, McGregor secured a shot at long time featherweight king Jose Aldo. This fight is likely to go down in May in Las Vegas.
McGregor undoubtedly has some serious skills and talent, but one could also argue that his brash, outspoken personality has also helped his meteoric rise to the top. His cocky trash talking style has rubbed many featherweights the wrong way, but intrigues many fans. Recently, there seems to be a UFC champion who is not happy with The Irish Bad Boy’s behavior. This champ is none other than current featherweight contender Chad Mendes’ teammate and bantamweight king TJ Dillashaw.
Despite Dillashaw’s team, Team Alpha Male, having a bitter rivalry with Aldo’s team, Nova Uniao, the champion will actually be rooting for Aldo against McGregor. Speaking on today’s edition (January 20, 2015) of the MMA Hour, Dillashaw added that he thinks “The Notorious” one’s antics are just too fake:
“This will be probably the first time I’m rooting for Jose Aldo. [McGregor] is a great fighter, he’s confident in the cage, he’s really, really good. It’s just, the antics. To me, I can’t get it. I’m just too professional for the way he acts.”
McGregor and Dillashaw’s teammate, Mendes, have had a few heated exchanges in the last few months including a now infamous television showdown where McGregor told Mendes that he could “rest my (McGregor) balls on your forehead.” Just from this line alone, it should come as no surprise why Dillashaw is not McGregor’s biggest fan.
“The Viper” also noted the Irishmen’s post-fight antics after his UFC Fight Night 59 win, where he jumped over the cage and confronted Aldo. To Dillashaw, these types of acts are just too WWE like:
“I know it brings attention to the sport, I know it builds up fights. It’s just too WWE for me, man,” Dillashaw said. “”It’s just too fake, when he jumps the Octagon and tries to get in Aldo’s face, but grabs someone to hold him back at the same time. It’s just so fake, man.
Although the bantamweight champion will be rooting for Aldo, he isn’t counting out McGregor:
“I hope [Aldo finishes him],” Dillashaw added. “But I don’t know, man. McGregor’s standup and his movements are really good. His confidence. It’s going to be a tough fight for Aldo, but I’m rooting for Aldo.”
Can “The Notorious” one complete his journey to the belt, or will he forced to fold against the dominant featherweight king?
