Dana White: T.J. Dillashaw vs. Demetrious Johnson is happening next
UFC president Dana White has revealed that Demetrious Johnson’s next fight will see him defend his men’s flyweight title against T.J. Dillashaw.
Dana White, UFC president
Dillashaw called out Johnson after reclaiming the men’s bantamweight crown last month in the co-main event of UFC 217, which saw him register an emphatic second-round KO over his former Team Alpha Male team-mate Cody Garbrandt.
“Demetrious Johnson - I’m coming for you,” a fired up Dillashaw said after becoming a two-time UFC champion.
“You’ve got that record and it’s fake. You know it. You should have been fighting me but you dodged me.
“I’m coming for you. I’m getting that belt. I’m coming to the 125s and I’m stopping your record.”
Dillashaw’s call out of Johnson thrilled White, who expressed his eagerness to book the fight during the UFC 217 post-fight press conference.
Bantamweight contender Dillashaw spars with Lomachenko
That fight’s going to happen
The UFC chief was asked about the status of the proposed bout this past weekend and claimed a deal to see the two champions go toe-to-toe with each other has been agreed.
“Yeah, that fight’s going to happen,” White told the assembled media during the UFC 218 post-fight press conference. “We haven’t announced it yet.”
Demetrious Johnson (L) will defend his flyweight title against T.J. Dillashaw (R)
California native Dillashaw is confident of ending Johnson’s unbeaten run, and so is head coach Duane Ludwig.
“There are some areas that we could capitalize on, that’s for sure. But I’m not going to necessarily say that he’s weak in any one area, because he’s really not,” the former UFC welterweight said during an appearance on The MMA Hour.
T.J. Dillashaw finishes off Cody Garbrandt at UFC 217
“He’s great everywhere. This is a tough challenge, but T.J. could beat him.
"I just think he’s on another level like T.J’s on another level, they’re both on another level compared to the people in their weight class, he just really is.”