TJ Dillashaw thinks Cruz vs Garbrandt makes a 'mockery' of MMA.

Top-ranked bantamweight contender T.J. Dillashaw has expressed his disgust at Cody Garbrant getting a title fight against Dominick Cruz at UFC 207, and blames the UFC and Cruz for making a “mockery of the sport.”

It was coming. We all knew it. The second it was revealed Dominick Cruz would defend his bantamweight crown against Cody Garbrandt at UFC 207, it was only a matter of time before ex-champion T.J. Dillashaw expressed his frustration.

In January, Dillashaw lost the bantamweight belt to Cruz in a highly debated contest. Since then, he has chased down the title he feels was wrongly taken away from him – whilst handily beating Raphael Assuncao (ranked No. 3) in the process.

In a FanSided interview,, Dillashaw spoke about his reaction to Garbrandt (ranked No. 6) skipping ahead of him into a title shot. The fighter doesn’t believe that Garbrandt has done enough to warrant this distinction.

“Why does No. 6 get to fight for a world title when he beat No. 11?”, referencing Garbrandt’s recent destruction of Mizugaki at UFC 202. “He hasn’t beaten anybody in the top 5.”

He expressed his frustration further. “This sport should be about the best guys on the planet (fighting each other). What’s the point in having rankings?”

However, Dillashaw understands the art of competition and doesn’t blame Garbrandt for taking the fight. “I blame Dominick Cruz and the UFC for letting this happen”, adding that he doesn’t “understand” why Cruz is allowed to cherry pick his opponents.

There has been a buzz surrounding Team Alpha Male fighter Cody Garbrandt. His brutal power and forthcoming style have made him a fan favorite already. Dillashaw has witnessed this surge of attention for his ex-teammate and acknowledged how the fans have influenced this fight.

“I think it also comes down to the obliviousness of our fans. They see Cody Garbrandt knock out No.11 Mizugaki and think he’s the almighty.” Yet Dillashaw’s “dominant” perfomance over the higher ranked Assuncao didn’t have the same “impact on the fans”.

Ultimately, Dillashaw thinks this kind of matchmaking discredits the sport of MMA. Moreover, he finds it distasteful, calling it a “mockery of the sport”.

However, the UFC are not unfamiliar with this kind of decision, especially of late. Michael Bisping’s title defense against No. 13 ranked Dan Henderson was met with a similar uproar from fellow fighters. It is a question of business vs sporting ethics.

Dillashaw is smart enough to comprehend this. But he sees the future as more important than the immediate, believing the credibility of the sport is the best “long-term business decision”.

MMA purists will agree with the eccentric fighter. But the UFC matchmakers are masters of manipulation. There could be a sleight of hand in this decision that Dillashaw hasn’t perceived. A “long-term business decision”, if you will.

If Garbrandt defeats Cruz, then suddenly a Team Alpha Male vs T.J. Dillashaw fight appears. The history behind that feud will sell, and the UFC knows it. Yet if Dominick Cruz retains his belt, his rematch against Dillashaw will still be there. Only this time with additional suspense.

Regardless, with a little extra patience, T.J. Dillashaw might still get what he deserves.