TJ Dillashaw details his biggest regret during 12-year fight career
Throughout a career spanning over a decade, earning multiple UFC titles and beating some huge names in the sport, TJ Dillashaw has revealed the one thing he regrets most following his retirement.
In a shocking turn of events, just one fight removed from his bantamweight title fight against Aljamain Sterling, the 36-year-old laid down his gloves and called time on an impressive career. Having spent almost 11 years competing inside the octagon, the 135er is a future UFC Hall-of-Famer as stated by Dana White.
While discussing his retirement, TJ Dillashaw detailed the one regret he still has from his time competing in the sport, stating that his move down to 125lbs did more harm than good not just on his career, but on his body too.
"One hundred percent. I mean, that's the biggest regret I have right now is cutting to 125 [flyweight]. Not only just getting in trouble, [but] just what I did to my body. Everyone seen that I got in trouble and I got suspended but dude, the six months after that of me bouncing back from that weight cut just destroyed my metabolism, looked like sh**, went through surgery. That was hard on me, it was hard on my hormones, it was hard on everything, man... I wouldn't have gotten in trouble, none of that sh** would have happened, so that would have been a big difference as well."
Dillashaw attempted to be the first-ever UFC fighter to go down a weight class to capture a second title, but fell short when he was outclassed in the first round of his bout against the then-flyweight champion, Henry Cejudo.
Check out what 'Killashaw' had to say about his biggest regret in his career in the video below.
What made TJ Dillashaw retire from MMA?
TJ Dillashaw still feels like, on his day, he's the best 135er in the world, capable of beating anybody in his division, so why did he choose to retire from the sport so early?
According to the man himself, recurring injuries—having had three surgeries on his shoulder in just three years—and the wishes of his son were enough to make the former two-time bantamweight champion reconsider his career competing in MMA.
Dillashaw leaves the UFC behind on the back of his two successful business ventures, which puts him in a fantastic spot that not many other retired fighters get to reach.