UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw will finally get to the asterisk from his title. Well, he doesn’t really have an asterisk, but Dominick Cruz never really lost the title as champion since he had to relinquish it due to not being able to defend the title because of multiple injuries.
The two will fight on January 17 in the main event of UFC Fight Night 81 which will air on FOX Sports 1. UFC President Dana White made the announcement on UFC Tonight.
Dillashaw (12-2) defeated Renan Barao for the championship that Cruz never lost in 2014 and defeated Barao again earlier this year to lay claim to the baddest fighter at 135 pounds. Dillashaw was a huge underdog in the first fight with Barao, but was able to finish him in both fights via TKO.
Cruz (20-1) last fought in September 2014 and defeated Takeya Mizugaki via first round KO in 61 seconds. It was the first time he had fought since defeating Demetrious Johnson in 2011 which equates to roughly three years of his career missed due to multiple knee surgeries.
Cruz relinquished the title in early 2014 and saw Renan Barao defeat Urijah Faber at UFC 149 to become the new champ. Barao successfully defended the title three times before succumbing to Dillashaw at UFC 173.
Stay tuned to PromMMAnow.com for more UFC Fight Night 81 news and coverage.