The champion could be letting the moment get to him.
With the batamweight title bout on the horizon at UFC Fight Night 81, it seems like tensions are rising between current champ TJ Dillashaw and former champ Dominick Cruz. With all the marbles on the line there isn’t too many topics to broach where this fight is concerned. At least that was my thought process before I saw a promo for the upcoming event sandwiched in between the UFC 195 fight card. As I sat and watched the 40 inch HD television in a crowded Astoria bar, analyst and commentator John Anik sat between TJ Dillashaw and Dominick Cruz, both looking poised and ready to pounce. As the interview started you could immediately feel the tension. Cruz and Dillashaw have no love lost between them and they let their distaste for the each other shine through brightly. Dillashaw boasting that he’ll knock Cruz out; Cruz stating Dillashaw is fake and hasn’t earned his belt. It was riveting stuff to say the least and with each passing moment it became more and more apparent that this coming fight was more than just a battle between two highly touted mixed martial artists; this is turning into a bonafide grudge match. Dominick Cruz is playing a game that he’s never truly done before. He’s setting himself up as less of a bad guy and more of a man telling it like it is. With every passing interview between the two it seems that Dillashaw has been growing angrier and angrier, which doesn’t bode well for the champion. If he hopes to knock out Cruz as he proclaims then he’ll need to have a clear mind and remain focus. How things are shaping up, it’s looking less likely that the emotions of the moment won’t get to him. Cruz is a tactician and his genuine dislike for the champion is allowing him to strike the first blow in the match up even before they enter the cage on January 17. No matter the outcome it’s looking like we’re in for a treat. So do you think that Dominick Cruz’s trash talk is getting to TJ Dillashaw? Let us know in the comments and forums. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
