Another finish for TJ Dillashaw may or may not have ended the bad blood between him and Cody Garbrandt, but UFC 227’s main event certainly proved exciting.
The definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. Cody Garbrandt may not want to test that, as for the second straight fight in a row, he found himself finished by former teammate and arch-nemesis TJ Dillashaw. Dillashaw took Garbrandt’s title at UFC 217. On Saturday at UFC 227 in Los Angeles, he defended that title in an instant rematch.
It was a fight few thought Garbrandt really deserved, given he was never a long serving, dominant champion. Yet, with the bad blood between them, there was no way the UFC was going to let the chance to market another grudge match slip through their fingers. And so, mere minutes after the most dominant fighter to ever grace the lower weight classes lost his belt, TJ Dillashaw stepped up and defended his.
He did it just a little quicker the second time out, stopping Garbrandt in the first round after dropping him with a right hand. The flurry of strikes and knees that finished the job left Cody out on his feet, possibly looking for “da bois,” and definitely not coherent.
Dillashaw’s hand was raised again, and it will be interesting to see what’s next for the champion. Now, however, check out what the pros had to say about TJ’s big finish.
Cody trying to finish and eats two straight counters and gets dropped, after it looked like he was in control. #UFC227
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) August 5, 2018
2-Nil #AndStill!!!!@TJDillashaw finishes Garbrandt in the FIRST ROUND!!! #UFC227
| B2YB @ToyoTires | pic.twitter.com/o0iTnqWa4s— #UFC227 (@ufc) August 5, 2018
Dillashaw just mauled Cody to death!!! #UFC227
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) August 5, 2018
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) August 5, 2018
— Marion Reneau (@BelizeanBruiser) August 5, 2018
Congrats @TJDillashaw nice win.
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) August 5, 2018
Tj is just the better fighter. Great killer instinct too
— Brian Kelleher (@brianboom135) August 5, 2018
AND STILL!!!!!!!! @TJDillashaw 🐍
— Paige VanZant (@paigevanzant) August 5, 2018
Dang #andstill that was wild 😱 I didn’t think it would be that quick. Both gentlemen are killers. Is Tj vs Henry what the fans want to see? #UFC227
— Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) August 5, 2018
Cejudo vs Dillashaw!!!
— Lauren Murphy (@LaurenMurphyMMA) August 5, 2018
Great fight ! @Cody_Nolove is tough as shit. Let the man go out on his sword.
— Dennis Bermudez (@MenaceBermudez) August 5, 2018
TJ is really the best in this division right now! Super skilled, talented, and a high fight IQ. Finishing instincts are sharp. Respect where it’s due. #UFC227
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) August 5, 2018
There’s work to be done! #UFC227
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) August 5, 2018
There’s work to be done! #UFC227
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) August 5, 2018
Wow. Just wow…
What do you even say to a performance like that.
Congrats to TJ on settling the rivalry for good. #UFC227 pic.twitter.com/HYcRRlRER0
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) August 5, 2018
Was that action all in 1 rd?! Cody connects then goes to flurry and Tj connects. Cody couldn't recover and Tj stays #andstill #ufc227
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) August 5, 2018
Wow. @TJDillashaw just did work. So precise so quick. What a way to end #UFC227. Co main and main absolute fire. @ufc
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) August 5, 2018
Lighter weights can put on a show!! @ufc #ufc227
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) August 5, 2018
. @TJDillashaw is slick and vicious. I’d love seeing him in fights against DJ, Dom or Cejudo. #ufc227
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) August 5, 2018
A big shot is just a little shot that never stopped shooting. RT @FrontRowBrian: Killashaw made NCAAs 3x. He went 0-6.
Then became a 2x world champion in MMA.— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) August 5, 2018
