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NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 19: TJ Dillashaw reacts after his loss to Henry Cejudo in their flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at the Barclays Center on January 19, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 19: TJ Dillashaw reacts after his loss to Henry Cejudo in their flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at the Barclays Center on January 19, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Joe Rogan sat down with Cody Garbrandt earlier in the month on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast to talk shop. The MMA geared episode of the podcast delved deep into all things related to fighting.
Chiefly, Rogan dissected the return of Cody Garbrandt’s teammate, TJ Dillashaw, who is eligible to return after a suspension. TJ Dillashaw was slapped with a 2-year suspension from USADA after testing positive for EPO, a banned substance.
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Dillashaw was attempting to move down to 125-pounds and used the enhancer before the competition. Following his bust, TJ Dillashaw was forced to retreat, and he’s finally back looking to pick up championship gold again.
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BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – JANUARY 18: TJ Dillashaw poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at Barclays Center on January 18, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The 135-pound division has changed drastically in the 2 years that Dillashaw was out and there’s a new champ. Not to mention, the top contenders like Aljamain Sterling and Cory Sandhagen weren’t major front runners either when TJ last fought.
Joe Rogan contemplates TJ Dillashaw’s legacy
The famed UFC commentator decided to review how Dillashaw’s legacy would be affected with a loss in his comeback fight.
Rogan believes that a clear-cut loss could tarnish the validity of TJ’s reputation through his UFC run. However, it’s very possible that ring-rust could be the actual reason for a diminished performance. However, fans may not end up seeing it that way.
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CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 09: Joe Rogan enters the octagon during the UFC 225: Whittaker v Romero 2 event at the United Center on June 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
“The real problem with someone getting caught with performance-enhancing drugs is now the public is looking at your next performance.
“If a guy takes two years off and comes back, you’re assuming there’s going to be a certain amount of octagon rust, some guys don’t have it, some guys do.
“But if a guy comes back after a two-year ban, he was banned because of performance-enhancing drugs, and then there’s a drop-off, then people are going to be pointing the finger at you.”
Nothing has been set in stone regarding TJ Dillashaw’s opponent for a potential comeback fight. He’s keen to return to a title shot; however, there are plenty of other names that jump out as well.
Regardless of this name across the bill from him, there’s sure to be frenzied anticipation when he finally returns.
