TJ Dillashaw

Tyler Jeffrey Dillashaw (born February 7, 1986) is an American retired professional mixed martial artist who competed in the UFC bantamweight division. Known for his elite striking and wrestling background, he achieved a professional record of 17 wins and 5 losses, with 8 knockouts and 3 submissions among his victories. A former two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion, Dillashaw first captured the title in 2014 by knocking out Renan Barão and defended it successfully before losing it in 2016; he reclaimed it in 2017 by defeating Cody Garbrandt .

Dillashaw was born in Sonora, California , and grew up wrestling in high school and college, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from California State University, Fullerton . He began training in mixed martial arts after college and made his professional debut in 2011, compiling an undefeated 5-0 record in regional promotions before joining the UFC through Season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2011, where he won the reality show's bantamweight tournament by defeating Josh Ferguson via unanimous decision. Early in his UFC career, he secured four consecutive wins, including a knockout of Renan Barão at UFC 173 on May 24, 2014, to claim the vacant bantamweight championship in a stunning upset, as Barão entered on a 33-fight unbeaten streak.

Dillashaw defended his title once against Barão in a rematch at UFC 186 in 2015, winning via first-round TKO, before dropping the belt to Dominick Cruz via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 81 in 2016. After rebounding with unanimous decision victories over Raphael Assunção and John Lineker , he defeated champion Cody Garbrandt via second-round TKO at UFC 217 to reclaim the undisputed title. His second reign ended abruptly in a 32-second knockout loss to Henry Cejudo at UFC Fight Night 143 in January 2019, after which he tested positive for exogenous EPO, leading to a two-year suspension by USADA, the vacating of his title, and the overturning of the loss to Cejudo to a no-contest.

Following his suspension, Dillashaw returned in July 2021 with a controversial split decision win over Cory Sandhagen at UFC on ESPN 27, showcasing his technical striking but drawing criticism for his physical condition post-inactivity. He challenged for the title again at UFC 280 on October 22, 2022, losing via second-round TKO (punches) to Aljamain Sterling , during which he suffered a severe shoulder injury requiring surgery . On December 5, 2022, Dillashaw announced his retirement from MMA at age 36, citing the cumulative toll of injuries and surgeries, including multiple knee and shoulder procedures, as he shifted focus to coaching and other ventures. Standing at 5 feet 6 inches with a 67-inch reach, Dillashaw trained primarily at The Treigning Lab in Colorado and is remembered as one of the division's most dynamic technicians, despite the PED controversy that marred his legacy.

T.J. Dillashaw, born Tyler Jeffrey Dillashaw on February 7, 1986, in Sonora, California , spent his early years in the rural town of Angels Camp, a small community of fewer than 5,000 residents known locally as Frogtown. He was raised on a 9-acre family property dubbed the "Dillashaw Compound," nestled in the hills near Main Street , where the household included hunting trophies, a rope swing, and a pool that reflected the family's active, outdoorsy lifestyle.

Dillashaw grew up as the middle child of three brothers—KC, himself, and Justin—under the care of his parents, Hal and Janice Dillashaw, with grandparents, aunts, and uncles living nearby in the tight-knit rural setting. The sibling dynamic often involved rough play and "scrapping," which instilled a natural competitiveness from a young age, while the extended family's proximity emphasized community and support.