TJ Dillashaw Retires From UFC, Removed From Roster

TJ Dillashaw has retired. 

The two-time UFC bantamweight champion’s manager, Tiki Ghosn, reportedly informed the promotion on Monday. The news follows Dillashaw’s shoulder injury, which he sustained in a failed title fight against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 280 on October 22. 

During that fight, Dillashaw’s shoulder popped out of place multiple times, which he later explained was because of an injury during training camp, but he did not want to pull out of the fight. 

The surgery was expected to keep Dillashaw inactive for a year. MMA journalist Ariel Helwani reported that the bantamweight’s injury was “one of the worst” that he’s ever seen. 

He was removed from the UFC roster on Monday. 

Dillashaw got into the combat sports world in high school and college where he pursued wrestling. He joined the UFC in 2011 after competing on the 14th season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” 

He lost in the final of the bantamweight tournament against John Dodson, but redeemed himself by winning five of his next six fights, which eventually led to a title shot against Renan Barao in 2014. 

Despite being an underdog, Dillashaw overcame the odds and recorded a fifth-round TKO victory. His reign, however, ended in the following fight when he dropped a split decision to Dominick Cruz.  

But he was able to bounce back with a string of wins over Raphael Assuncao and John Lineker and later reclaimed the belt against former teammate Cody Garbrandt, which he retained in a rematch a year later. 

He was then forced to relinquish the title after testing positive for EPO. He was also suspended for two years. 

Dillashaw came back in 2021 and defeated Cory Sandhagen. He suffered his fifth loss against Sterling. 

Still, Dillashaw went on to become one of the top bantamweights in MMA history.