The possibility of a fight between Demetrious Johnson and T.J. Dillashaw isn’t just one of the most polarizing stories of the week in MMA. It’s the latest example of one of the biggest trends of 2017.
The UFC has shown a willingness to mortgage future plans for quick payoffs — and filling needed main-event slots — over the last several months.
Johnson vs. Dillashaw doesn’t make a whole lot of sense on several levels. But the UFC and many fans are very much in favor of it because it would likely be Johnson’s stiffest test as flyweight champion, and an interesting story going into an historic fight, one where Johnson has a chance to break the UFC’s all-time title defense record.