Dillashaw recaptures 135-lb title with 2nd-round knockout of Garbrandt

A long-awaited grudge match between two former training partners lived up to its billing.

TJ Dillashaw became the second two-time UFC bantamweight titleholder in promotional history with a second-round knockout of ex-Team Alpha Male cohort Cody Garbrandt in the co-main event of UFC 217 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

The 31-year-old extended his win streak to three in addition to reclaiming the gold he lost in a split decision to Dominick Cruz in January of last year. He made the most of his postfight mic time, challenging indomitable flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson to a dance in the Octagon.

It looked like Bruce Buffer would be bellowing "and still" after Round 1, one that saw Garbrandt effortlessly beat his rival to the punch every time Dillashaw worked to close the distance. The defending champ put a button on the opening stanza with a counter right hook that had Dillashaw on wobbly legs at the bell.

Dillashaw turned the tables once he'd regained his faculties, flooring Garbrandt with a head kick the champ promptly recovered from, but when a short left hand sent him to the canvas again, Dillashaw made sure he stayed there, pouncing with more leather until referee Dan Miragliotta waved it all off at the 2:41 mark.

Garbrandt was one of several Team Alpha Male members to have accused Dillashaw of ending former cohort Chris Holdsworth's career in practice and indulging in PEDs, but his opposing "TUF 25" coach had the last word in every sense of the term:

The 26-year-old Garbrandt's first loss in 12 professional fights ends his reign not 11 months after he outclassed Cruz by unanimous decision to win the strap at UFC 207. His promotional record now sits at 6-1.