UFC middleweight opens up on how he's been dealing with shoulder injuries in wake of T.J. Dillashaw's grim update: "Part of the game"

T.J. Dillashaw has not been in the good grace of fans for several years but received universal sympathy when he opened up on his current injury status. Though he is no longer active, the former two-time bantamweight champion noted how "depressing" his current physical health is after 12 years of professional fighting.

On a recent episode of the JAXXON podcast, Dillashaw revealed the current status of his shoulder after dislocating it at UFC 280. In a deflating segment, the fighter told his co-hosts that he believes his shoulder will never "be the same again" after multiple surgical procedures.

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While some fans have still not forgiven the 38-year-old for his two-year suspension relating to drug usage in 2019, many others expressed sympathy for Dillashaw, including fellow fighters.

However, UFC middleweight contender Caio Borralho was not one of those feeling sorry for Dillashaw. Having his own history of shoulder issues, Borralho shared his thoughts on Instagram, telling the former champion that chronic health conditions are "part of the game."

Borralho commented:

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"I have 3 surgeries all in the same shoulder!... Part of the game! I just learned to deal with this mentally and physically. Trust me, after a series of injuries, the mental part is definitely life-changing"

Caio Borralho reacts to T.J. Dillashaw's comments on shoulder injuries. [via @mmajunkie on Instagram]

Regardless of his reported injuries, Borralho does not seem to be currently limited by his shoulder, having not lost a fight since 2015 and recently entering the 185-pound rankings with a knockout win over Paul Craig.

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How many shoulder surgeries has T.J. Dillashaw had?

It is an oft-told cliché that no fighter ever ends their career without injuries, but T.J. Dillashaw has seen his body take more damage than the average MMA veteran.

Issues with the fighter's shoulder graced the public at UFC 280, when his shoulder popped out in his title fight with Aljamain Sterling, essentially leaving himself defenseless for over eight minutes before losing by TKO. However, Dillashaw claimed to have been dealing with the injury long before the fight.

In 2024, almost two years after his last fight, Dillashaw is still recovering from his shoulder injuries, often seen wearing a cast on the JAXXON podcast. In a recent Instagram post, the former champion claimed to have gone through 11 surgical procedures with more likely to come.

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It is not known when the shoulder problems began, though Dillashaw noted that he had it pop out of the socket on multiple occasions while training for his fight with Sterling.

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