Daniel Cormier Discusses If TJ Dillashaw’s History With PEDs Affects His Legacy Following Retirement

The former dual-weight UFC champ weighs in on if Dillashaw's legacy is tarnished by his past.

Tj Dillashaw Ufc 280
Tj Dillashaw Ufc 280 - Image via @ESPNMMA Youtube

Daniel Cormier understands why some might bring TJ Dillashaw’s legacy into question given his history with PEDs. Dillashaw recently decided to retire from the UFC following his recent defeat to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 280 for the bantamweight championship. The announcement came as a bit of a shock to fans given he recently returned from a two-year PED suspension.

However, despite his decision to walk away, most will remember Dillashaw as one of the better bantamweights to ever step into the Octagon. With that being said, others have brought into question the legitimacy of his dominant run due to his admitant use of PEDs. Cormier took to his show, “DC & RC,” to offer his thoughts on the matter.

Cormier suggested that, while it’s understandable for people to question Dillashaw’s legacy, you have to take into account the extensive resume he was able to do during his run. Including toppling Renan Barao with ease, who was at one time considered to be one of the pound-for-pound greats at the time.

Daniel Cormier Breaks Down TJ Dillashaw’s Legacy

“His history with it makes that a conversation,” Daniel Cormier said. “But the reality is, before TJ Dillashaw tested positive for that thing, he had built a resume as one of the greatest bantamweights of all time. A former two-time champion who has 13 wins – nobody has won more fights in this division in the history of 135. He was a tremendous striker, tremendous wrestler, he had unbelievable cardio.

“And when him and Duane Ludwig started working together – the way that Duane’s Bang Muay Thai system coincided and worked together with TJ Dillashaw and his skillset, it was a match made in heaven. And he immediately made his way up to a championship opportunity. And I believe that the most impressive thing that I’ve ever seen him do, was the night he beat Renan Barao to become the champion. Because people forget what Renan Barao was viewed as when TJ beat him. He was viewed as the greatest fighter of all time.

“One of the greatest fighters of all time. He was viewed as the pound-for-pound number one. He was undefeated, he had lost maybe one fight, won almost 20 something fights in a row. Renan Barao was an absolute savage at the time. And TJ washed him out. And then they doubled it back and TJ washed him out again in Chicago. The guy was as good as they came.

“But ultimately, the moment something like that gets attached to your name, people start to question how valid everything was prior. Especially before USADA got involved in the UFC. So there will be a black cloud hanging over TJ Dillashaw. But the reality is, if you were there in his heyday, you’re always going to appreciate what you got to watch inside the Octagon. 

Dillashaw ended his career dropping two of his last three bouts. Prior to that, he found himself on a four-fight win streak and was in the midst of his second reign as 135-pound champion. That was until he was finished by Henry Cejudo in January of 2019 upon dropping down to flyweight, where he was knocked out.

Shortly thereafter Dillashaw admitted to using performance enhancing drugs prior to his fight with Cejudo, thus leading to the two-year suspension.

Published on December 7, 2022 at 5:19 pm
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