Former UFC Champion TJ Dillashaw Finally Reveals Real Reason for Early Retirement: “4 Weeks Ago and the Doctor…”

TJ Dillashaw has been in the operation theaters and medical facilities for surgeries, which often kept him out of action. Previously, in UFC 280, despite his injuries, the fighter stood his ground against Aljamain Sterling. However, his ailing shoulder made him take the decision to live life outside fighting, for good. Recently, the former mixed martial artist, Brendan Schaub, talked to the former bantamweight champion about his retirement.

Dillashaw’s retirement was unexpected by the UFC world. However, after his previous statement of plans to return after a year of recovery, no one expected retirement to come by this quick.

TJ Dillashaw reveals the reason behind his retirement

In a recent Instagram post by MMA Uncensored Podcast shared a video of Brendan Schaub interviewing TJ Dillashaw. However, the community was taken aback with the latest news regarding the former bantamweight champion. It was revealed that Dillashaw decided to retire following his shoulder surgery and the loss at UFC 280 with a TKO. Although he said that he didn’t want to go out of the Octagon, he seemed to have a change of mind. 

Schaub asked Dillashaw if he had previously planned his retirement.  However, Lieutenant Dan was out for his bad shoulder. He said, “Not at all, man. It wasn’t- it wasn’t a thought in my head. I was expecting to go out there and win. Even with the injury that I had, I had like the utmost belief in myself to get the job done.” Furthermore, he said, “I don’t know how many are left, you know. Could be my last one, might not be, you know. Win or lose. But I never really had a set thing to retire. Even afterwards I was like f**k that, I ain’t retiring.”

But in the end, it was the fighter’s doctor who made him think seriously about retirement. Dillashaw continued, “But when I had a shoulder surgery, 4 weeks ago and the doctor just kind of like… had kind of a raw conversation with me. He’s like ‘hey man, you need to make a decision. It’s your third shoulder surgery in last 3 years, you know. It just a lot of water under the bridge.’” 

Read More: Suffering Devastating Shoulder Injury at UFC 280, TJ Dillashaw Gives Health Update After Surgery

The conversation got him thinking about life outside fighting. He even revealed that he wanted to focus on his son and playing golf with him. 

TJ Dillashaw’s ailments

Although the fighter suffered serious injuries following his fight against Aljamain Sterling, he initially planned to return to the Octagon. He initially said that he would need nine months to get better and about a year to begin training. 

It was revealed that the bantamweight fighter previously underwent a surgery to repair a torn labrum and biceps in 2019. He had another surgery to repair three torn ligaments in his knee, in 2021. 

Watch This Story: Five Times T.J. Dillashaw Brutalized His Opponents Inside The Octagon

However, it was his shoulder that put him down for good. Nonetheless, the former champion admitted the decision was indeed a tough one. His sudden retirement was nothing less than a shock for the UFC world.