TJ Dillashaw responds to Gervonta Davis' challenge to a UFC fight: 'Bring It'

Steven Muehlhausen

TJ Dillashaw responds to Gervonta Davis' challenge to a UFC fight: 'Bring It' image

Could we see a boxing champion meet a UFC champion inside the Octagon?

On Sunday, WBA 'Super" junior lightweight champion Gervonta Davis challenged bantamweight titlist TJ Dillashaw after the latter scored a first-round stoppage of Cody Garbrandt at Saturday's UFC 227 .

 

It took a few days, but Dillashaw (16-3) responded to Davis' callout early Thursday morning.

 

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The 'Loma' that Dillashaw referred to is former WBO junior lightweight champ and current WBA "Super" lightweight titleholder Vasyl Lomachenko. Dillashaw and Lomachenko worked out together last year inside a boxing ring and have remained friends since then. 

A few hours later, Davis fired right back at Dillashaw with an obscene comment.

 

Not one to let someone get in the last word, Dillashaw doubled down on Davis and went as far to say that he would beat him at his own game.

 

 

 

This isn't the first time Davis has teased going to MMA. In March, Davis caused a stir said he was thinking about wanting to compete in the UFC. 

 

Fighters including featherweight champion Max Holloway and perennial featherweight contender Cub Swanson invited Davis to come and try his luck.

 

 

 

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The last time a world champion in boxing attempted to transition to mixed martial arts, it didn't go so well. Former world champion James Toney was embarrassed and submitted in the first round by Randy Couture at UFC 118 back in August 2010.

Davis (20-0, 19 KOs) last fought in April and defeated Jesús Cuellar by third-round TKO. He currently doesn't have a fight scheduled.

For his sake, Davis should continue to do what he does best. He's only 23-years-old and has a bright future ahead of him in boxing as long as he keeps it together. MMA would require the hard-hitting Davis to develop skills such as wrestling and jiu-jitsu, which take most fighters years to master.  

Hopefully, this was simply Davis trying to create a little bit of buzz for himself. However, if he is serious about competing as a mixed martial artist, he will have to begin training before stepping into the Octagon with one of the best pound for pound fighters in the sport.

Steven Muehlhausen

Steven Muehlhausen Photo

Steven Muehlhausen is a contributing writer for DAZN News. He writes features and news stories, and provides analysis relating to the world of boxing. Over the past five years, he has interviewed some of the biggest names in combat sports, including Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Terence Crawford, Vasiliy Lomachenko and Bill Goldberg.