Dana White gives update on Cody Garbrandt vs. TJ Dillashaw

On July 8th, UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt is set to step into the Octagon to defend his title against former teammate, and former UFC bantamweight champion, TJ Dillashaw at UFC 213.

Unfortunately, ahead of the fight, Garbrandt has revealed that his back is injured. The champ was sent to UFC President Dana White’s doctor in Germany who cured White’s Meneires Disease. While White is extremely confident that Garbrandt will come home from Germany healthy enough to fight, a backup plan is in place. Should ‘No Love’ be unable to defend his title, TJ Dillashaw will likely drop down to flyweight and challenge Demetrious Johnson for the UFC flyweight title, where Johnson will look to set the record for most UFC title defenses.

Brett Okamoto gave an update on the situation:

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

While UFC President Dana White and TJ Dillashaw are on board with the former bantamweight champion dropping to flyweight to fight for the belt, the champ isn’t as thrilled. Demetrious Johnson spoke about that fight recently, informing MMAFighting:

“There’s other challengers in the division with more wins and on a winning streak,” he said. “This wouldn’t be a super-fight because TJ is not a champion. He’s just a 135er coming down to 125 to skip the line that other flyweight competitors have worked hard to climb. Now, if he was a champion, there’d be something there.”

Only time will tell if Garbrandt is healthy enough to fight in July.

on 5/19/2017.