Report: UFC looking at Johnson-Dillashaw for 125-lb title if Garbrandt injured
Anyone thinking Demetrious Johnson is out of challengers better think again.
The UFC's flyweight champion has been absolutely dominant since winning the belt in 2012, but company president Dana White has an idea of how to keep Johnson busy.
White told ESPN's Brett Okamoto that he is strongly considering having TJ Dillashaw drop down to 125 pounds to fight Johnson for that title should 135-lb champion Cody Garbrandt's back issues keep him out of a previously scheduled July 8 title fight with Dillashaw:
As of last night, Dana White said he is still hopeful Cody Garbrandt's back will heal in time to fight T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 213 on July 8.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) May 19, 2017
If Garbrandt can't go, White loves the idea of Dillashaw dropping to 125 to fight Demetrious Johnson. That wouldn't happen on July 8 though.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) May 19, 2017
If Garbrandt can't go and UFC makes DJ vs. TJ, White tells me it'd be in August. Not official, but looking at DJ headlining PPV in Seattle.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) May 19, 2017
Garbrandt recently posted a video showing himself receiving stem cell treatment for an injured back. That procedure caused him to miss a major press conference in Dallas last Friday, stirring rumors that he might not make it to UFC 213 to fight Dillashaw.
The UFC has not announced any changes to the UFC 213 main event.
Dillashaw accused Garbrandt of trying to avoid their fight, and he's already mentioned wanting to fight Johnson at UFC 214 on July 29.
"I think shooting for that Jon Jones and Cormier card (at UFC 214) would be amazing," Dillashaw recently said on "Submission Radio," according to Milan Ordonez of Bloody Elbow. "Dana already said he doesn't want to make them guys a headliner, so why not put me and Demetrious in front of them?
"What bigger fight could you have in front of those two guys besides me and Demetrious?"
According to Okamoto's report, White sees the hypothetical Johnson-Dillashaw match taking place in August, rather than July.
Johnson has successfully defended the flyweight title 10 consecutive times, tying him for the longest UFC championship defense streak with the legendary Anderson Silva.