After undergoing shoulder surgery, long-time UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson appears to be warming to the idea of fighting current bantamweight titleholder TJ Dillashaw, and even has a date in mind for their showdown.
“I had rotator cuff (surgery), labrum and joint clean-out,” Johnson explained during a MetroPCS Q&A this past weekend. “After 11 title defenses and 12 championship fights, the old dog needs to get some rehab. I got it cleaned up.”
“(With) six weeks recovery, we can get strong again, and hopefully T.J. Dillashaw can get this match done. Hopefully July, International Fight Week, on a big, big card.”
It shouldn’t be too hard to convince to get Dillashaw on-board since he’s the one who’s been pushing for this superfight for the past year, originally proposing to take on ‘Mighty Mouse’ in the summer of last year.
However, despite Dana White being firmly on-board, Johnson turned down the fight in favor of a less high-profile bout with Ray Borg instead.
Though that was a dissapointment, it did mean that Dillashaw was able to focus on a major bantamweight fight with the champion at the time, Cody Garbrandt instead, and defeating him to win back the title has only added more interest to what would now be a clash of champions if he does fight Johnson this summer.