The Film Room: T.J. Dillashaw

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T.J. Dillashaw has the opportunity to make history this weekend by becoming the fourth double champ in Ultimate Fighting Championship history when he takes on Henry Cejudo for the flyweight title in the main event of UFC Fight Night 143. Dillashaw is already a two-time bantamweight king and winning the flyweight championship would add him to the all-time great list.

Dillashaw is one of the trickiest strikers to ever grace the Octagon and he perfectly showcases the style of fighting that his coach Duane Ludwig has taught for years. Offensively, it focuses on a high-volume of output, fluid switch-hitting, and an intelligent aggressiveness that keeps his opponent on edge. However, he also has the grappling awareness 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 display of skill in any combat sport. A fighter who can fluidly change 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 transitions to southpaw, a new realm of possibilities opens. Since opportunities are constantly opening and closing, this style is difficult to read.

Something to notice about Dillashaw’s switch-hitting is how he often changes stances while throwing a strike. The most important aspect of this maneuver is being able to hide your stance switches and confuse your opponent into thinking you’re in the opposite posture. To trick his opponents, Dillashaw will throw a jab or rear straight into the other stance and immediately strike out of the new posture in order to make his strikes come in at an angle the opponent didn’t expect.



Another aspect worth watching out for is Dillashaw’s ability to create angles during these stance changes as they help him better set up attacks. Instead of simply striking off the switch while standing in front of the opponent as Max Holloway does, Dillashaw will take a deep angle to his left or right. This not only hides what stance he’s in, but it also creates a dominant angle for his attacks making his versatile style even more difficult to deal with. Notice how he will sometimes make multiple switches and take multiple angles during the same combo. It’s absolutely gorgeous stuff that 99 percent of fighters couldn’t pull off.



Dillashaw does a wonderful job of mixing in kicks with his boxing and one of his most successful strikes is this rhythm-manipulating head kick that is often referred to as a monkey kick or downward roundhouse. Pay attention to how Dillashaw will dip far to his left or right when throwing the kick as this causes it to come in at a delayed speed and 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.



Something concerning for Dillashaw that Cejudo will definitely be looking to capitalize on is his tendency to drop his hands when throwing leg kicks. Cody Garbrandt had success in their first fight by waiting for Dillashaw to be off balance after the kick and coming forward with a quick combo. Cejudo showed this same tactic against Demetrious Johnson and I’m sure he will be going back to it in this bout.