If a superfight between T.J. Dillashaw and Conor McGregor ever unfolded, there is no doubt in Duane Ludwig’s mind the Team Alpha Male prodigy would leave the interim UFC featherweight champ napping.
We’re not talking Joe Lauzon knocking out Takanori Gomi and walking off in style. It would be an entertaining fight, according to Dillashaw’s striking coach, but it wouldn’t go all five rounds. When appearing on InsideBJJ (warning: NSFW language), Ludwig proclaimed to already know the ending if the dream fight ever came to fruition.
“I think that would obviously be a very entertaining fight,” said Ludwig. “Conor can barely make 145. TJ is not a big bantamweight. I would like the fight with TJ and Conor. I already know how the fight would play out. TJ would knock him out.”
Dillashaw solidified himself as the bantamweight king Saturday night at UFC on Fox 16 where he fought circles around Renan Barao for a second time. The beautiful switch striking at various angles from Dillashaw was definitely a sight to behold. He made Barao, a fighter UFC President Dana White once compared to Anderson Silva while speaking with the media (warning: NSFW language), look average.
VINE - TJ Dillashaw knocks out Renan Barao at #UFCChicago, 35 seconds into round 4. He retains his UFC BW title: https://t.co/PrU0Gam3qI
— Fury's Fight Picks™ (@FurysFightPicks) July 26, 2015
There is no longer any question that Dillashaw isn’t made of ordinary stuff. But the same could be said about McGregor. The Irish star proved his actions speak louder than his words when he stopped Chad Mendes, Dillashaw’s teammate, by TKO in the second round at UFC 189 for the interim title.
Mendes had stepped in as a late replacement for UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo, who sustained a rib injury that forced him to withdraw from the fight during a sparring session. If given a full training camp, Ludwig believes the bout would have had a different outcome.
“If Chad was in shape with a good camp, he’d be champ, he’d be wearing the belt right now,” Ludwig said.
Dillashaw recently told Submission Radio he was interested in someday doing a champion vs. champion fight. He claimed he would beat either McGregor or Aldo.
Jordy McElroy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He also is the MMA writer for FanRag Sports and co-founder of The MMA Bros.
