New champ TJ Dillashaw once again calls out Demetrious Johnson

Having reclaimed the UFC bantamweight title with a beautiful second-round knockout of Cody Garbrandt, TJ Dillashaw is now ready to move onto the next phase of his career – and he’s hoping that’s a fight with UFC flyweight champ Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson.

“Demetrious can’t run from this one,” Dillashaw said shortly after he defeated Garbrandt to win the title. “This one’s too big. (Johnson) broke his (title-defense) record. He got to pad himself and break his record. Now, let’s make some money.”

“(Johnson is) talking about how he wants those seven-figure fights – well, this is it,” the new champ continued at the UFC 217 post-fight press conference. “Step up, be a man of your word, and let’s get this fight going.”

If Dillashaw and Johnson are to fight, it is believed it will occur in Johnson’s 125-pound flyweight division. While Dillashaw is a thickly-muscled bantamweight, he assures he could make 125 without issue.

“The reason why I look so lean at 135 is the way I work,” Dillashaw said. “I put muscle on to be at 135. I’m not a big (bantamweight). I walk around at 150, but I stack on, and I stay lean. I kept my diet since ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’ I’ve been on a new diet with a new strength and conditioning coach, and he keeps the muscle on me, because that’s what I need.

“When I go to (flyweight), we’re going to have to lean that down. It is a lifestyle change.”

Demetrious Johnson recently made history with an 11th-straight defense of his title – the record for most consecutive title defenses in UFC history.

Do you want to see TJ Dillashaw and Demetrious Johnson fight? Join the debate in the comments section!

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 5/11/2017.