Video: T.J. Dillashaw says Dominick Cruz has 'two more days to be relevant'

BOSTON – Dominick Cruz may not have lost the bantamweight title in the cage, but T.J. Dillashaw feels like his countdown to irrelevance is on.

Dillashaw (12-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) won the title from Renan Barao – the man who was promoted from interim to full champion when Cruz (20-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) was stripped of his title due to a series of injuries – at UFC 173. Barao (33-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) was the heavy favorite in the contest, but Dillashaw blew him out of the water with a shockingly effective display of striking. Despite the victory over Barao and

Despite the victory over Barao – and even more dominating performance in the rematch at UFC on FOX 16 – Dillashaw needed to beat Cruz to be the true king of the division.

The build-up to fighting Cruz has been long, but Dillashaw told media members he was ready at the open workouts for their battle at UFC Fight Night 81.

“He’s got two more days to be relevant and then he’s done,” Dillashaw said.

UFC Fight Night 81 takes place at Boston’s TD Garden. The bantamweight title bout will serve as the main event of the FOX Sports 1 televised main card, which also airs preliminary bouts following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

The men have exchanged trash talk in the weeks leading up to the fight, with the general consensus awarding Cruz the victory in the verbal battle.

Again, Dillashaw said that the talk doesn’t matter once the cage door closes.

“I think that’s what you’re supposed to do,” Dillashaw said. “You’re supposed to analyze someone as a fighter and an athlete and that’s what I’ve been doing as well. I feel like he needs to sit down and analyze himself a little more and stop worrying about me so much, that’s what’s going to throw him off the game and get me the victory.”

Urijah Faber (33-8 MMA, 9-4 UFC) stands as the possible next opponent for the winner of the bout. Faber and Cruz have long been bitter rivals while he and Dillashaw were long-time training partners.

It’s an easy fight to sell, but Faber’s run of losing six straight title fights stands out as a potential issue to some, Dillashaw included.

“He’s got a name,” Dillashaw said. “I don’t know if he’s the utmost deserving with his performances. But it’s a good build up. He’s got a history with Cruz. Obviously me and him have a history being training partners. You know, it sells.”

Check out the full video above.

And for more on UFC Fight Night 81, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.