The Film Room: T.J. Dillashaw
UFC 227 is now available on Amazon Prime.
T.J. Dillashaw defends his title against former champion and friend turned rival, Cody Garbrandt for the second time this weekend in the main event of UFC 227. The first fight was a close affair that saw Dillashaw winning by knockout in the second round after nearly being knocked out himself earlier in the fight. This time around Dillashaw has a chance to end the rivalry with Garbrandt and Team Alpha Male once for all with a win but a loss ignites the fire in this already heated rivalry.
Advertisement
“Dang my Bang Muay Thai is tight!”
Dillashaw has been training under Duane Ludwig his entire career from his days at Team Alpha Male to today where they train together at Ludwig’s gym, Bang Muay Thai in Colorado. Dillashaw is the first, and the only student that perfectly showcases the style of fighting Ludwig has been trying to perfect for years. High-volume, fluid switch-hitting, and intelligent aggressiveness with the grappling to defend takedowns or scathe by in top position when needed.
Being able to comfortably fight out of both orthodox and southpaw
stances is rare enough but being able to fluidly switch stances in
motion and during combinations is arguably the highest level of
skill in any combat sport. A fighter who can fluidly switch stances
in motion creates a variety of attacks from which to choose, which
in turn overloads the opponent’s reactions due to all the
possibilities. When an orthodox fighter faces another orthodox
fighter, he knows what is available to him on offense and defense.
However, when an opponent switches to southpaw, a new realm of
possibilities opens up. When switching back and forth,
opportunities are constantly opening and closing making this style
almost impossible to read.
Here is a good example of the possibilities in each stance.
Dillashaw will also cut deep angles during these switches to create a better opening for his offense. He often throws a switching lead hook while taking an angle to his right and catches his opponent off guard while they are slow to turn and face him. This is a staple technique of all Team Alpha Male fighters that Dillashaw as adapted for his switch-hitting style.
Dillashaw does an excellent job of keeping opponents guessing by mixing in kicks with his boxing. Instead of throwing a normal Thai style kick with hands high and torso upright, he throws what some refer to as a monkey kick where he dips far to his right while throwing the kick. This is a rhythm manipulating strike used by fighters like Robert Whittaker to delay the timing of the kick to sneak past the opponent’s guard. Notice on some of these kicks the opponent blocks correctly by “answering the telephone” but since the kick comes at a delayed speed they momentarily drop their guard and the kick lands over top.
And let’s never forget the moment we realized Dillashaw might be better than expected. Notice how he skips towards the left and throws the overhand right as Renan Barao is slow to follow.
Later in the fight, it was the monkey kick that set up the finishing sequence, giving Barao his first loss in nearly a decade as one of the biggest favorites in UFC history.
The rematch was no different with Barao having no answers for his fluid switch hitting and allowed Dillashaw to complete one of the most amazing finishing sequences of all time. Notice the calm Dillashaw possesses while trading in the pocket. He doesn't overextend or put himself out of position even once and intelligently picks his strikes for the TKO victory.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Related Articles
