TJ Dillashaw Willing To Fight Teammate Urijah Faber? 'The Viper' Open To Facing Friend And Mentor If UFC Shells Out Cash

TJ Dillashaw is willing to fight fellow Team Alpha Male fighter Urijah Faber for the UFC bantamweight championship if UFC shells out cash.

The newly crowned 135-pound champion spoke to UFC analyst Joe Rogan in his podcast The Joe Rogan Experience not only to voice out his idea, but to give reverence to "The California Kid" as well, whom he considers a friend and mentor.

"He's a good dude," Dillashaw said. "You saw after he lost to Renan Barao, that quick stoppage, that he was willing to give my name a shout-out while one of the worst things that can happen to you. It shows his great character."

TJ Dillashaw won the title fight against Renan Barao two weeks ago at UFC 173 via a fifth round TKO. It was a feat that even the more experience Urijah Faber failed to accomplish despite having fought Barao twice.

The mere idea for TJ Dillashaw to fight Urijah Faber is more than difficult for him because both fighters have closely worked together in one gym during their respective training camps.

"I've done every day of practice under Urijah," Dillashaw continued. "For four years now I've been at Urijah's gym nonstop. I haven't gone anywhere else to train for an extended period of time."

"I've been there. It's going to be tough. We're good friends. We're family. Everyone in that gym, we've created a little family to where you've got that guy's back," he added.

TJ Dillashaw, however, is not closing his doors on the fight. While it has been a taboo for UFC fighters to face their training partners, more of them have let go of the said notion nowadays.

But for "The Viper", giving into the idea comes with a price.

"It's a crazy situation that we could be put in, but they want the drama behind the fights," Dillashaw explained. "Hey, if they're willing to shell out the cash maybe me and Urijah will have a smile on our face while fighting."