Chad Mendes: T.J. Dillashaw, Urijah Faber would fight 'if the situation is right'
Team Alpha Male is one of the best gyms in MMA. T.J. Dillashaw is the UFC bantamweight champion, Chad Mendes is the No. 1 contender for the featherweight title, Joseph Benavidez is one of the best flyweights in the world and patriarch Urijah Faber is one of the most successful and accomplished lighter weight athletes in MMA history.
The camp is so good that one weight class -- bantamweight -- might be getting a little crowded at the top. Dillashaw holds the title and Faber is ranked No. 3 among contenders. It wouldn’t be crazy to think that at some point those two could be in line to face each other.
Dillashaw and Faber have both been lukewarm about the topic. Dillashaw said it would take "a billion dollars" for him to do it. Faber says, "It's nothing I want to do." Neither one of them completely closed the door on it, though.
UFC president Dana White is confident that the bout would happen if it came to that. And Mendes, who challenges Jose Aldo for the featherweight title at UFC 179 on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, agrees somewhat with White.
"I'm sure if the situation is right, they would," Mendes said. "We'll see."
There's obviously a few things that would have to happen first. Dominick Cruz is next in line for a shot against Dillashaw and Faber meets Francisco Rivera at UFC 181 on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas. Former champ Renan Barao, ranked No. 1 among contenders (Cruz is No. 2), is also still lurking out there. He has a bout against Mitch Gagnon at UFC Fight Night on FOX Sports 1 on Dec. 20 in Sao Paulo.
The top of the division is the best it has ever been right now, but Dillashaw-Faber is obviously one of the biggest 135-pound fights that could be made -- perhaps the biggest. Faber is a proven draw. Plus, who doesn't like a good teacher versus student battle, right?
Mendes isn't really sure if it will ever happen. Faber is a mentor to Dillashaw and the two are close friends. But if they were ever to agree to it, the UFC would have to make it worthwhile for both. Yes, that means exactly what you figure it would.
"The money has to be right," Mendes said, "and of course it would have to be for the title."
