TJ Dillashaw on Henry Cejudo: ‘I’m going outwrestle him’

This Saturday, in the main event of the UFC’s first-ever card on ESPN+, UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw will take a trip south to the flyweight division, where he’ll battle local champ Henry Cejudo in a bid to become a two-division titleholder.

Heading into this fight, both men would seem to have a clear list of advantages and disadvantages. While the wrestling advantage is widely believed to be in the corner of the Olympic wrestler Cejudo, however, TJ Dillashaw is confident he’ll be able to win the bout’s wrestling exchanges.

“He’s gotten a lot better,” Dillashaw said at Monday’s UFC on ESPN media day (via MMA Fighting). “I was impressed with his growth. But he’s not like a dangerous fighter, he’s a little more of a boring fighter. But he’s smart, right? I think that’s where I’m going to pick him apart is that I’m going to be able to put it all together.”

“I can’t tell you exactly which way I’m going to finish him, but my pressure is going to be too much,” Dillashaw said. “I’m too well-rounded that I can take the fight anywhere, and he’s going to want to fold. He doesn’t have that competitive edge that I have.”

“I’m going to outwrestle him too. I am.”

TJ Dillashaw and Henry Cejudo both took their most recent steps into the Octagon at UFC 227 in August. On that night, Dillashaw defended his title with a first-round knockout his rival Cody Garbrandt. Cejudo, meanwhile, scored a massive upset victory, picking up a split decision win over long-time UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson.

Who do you think will come out on top when TJ Dillashaw steps into the cage with Henry Cejudo on ESPN+ this weekend?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 1/16/2019.