LAS VEGAS – Will a superfight between UFC champs Demetrious Johnson and T.J. Dillashaw ever happen? Dillashaw’s coach says it damn well better.

“Just as a martial artist and a fan of the sport, too, it just has to happen for the history books,” Duane Ludwig told MMAjunkie while in Las Vegas to coach at his Bang Muay Thai affiliate school, Xtreme Couture.

UFC flyweight champ Johnson (27-2-1 MMA, 13-1-1 UFC) and bantamweight champ Dillashaw (15-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) have gone back and forth in the media about the possibility of the contest. Despite the athletes competing in different divisions, Dillashaw has said he’ll happily cut an additional 10 pounds for the opportunity to take on the man who’s currently No. 1 in the the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA pound-for-pound rankings.

Johnson has previously expressed some hesitation, preferring instead to see Dillashaw make the weight first, perhaps against another opponent, before signing the bottom line. But Ludwig believes “Mighty Mouse” owes the world the opportunity to see the fight.

“I don’t care, Demtrious, you know you’re the best at your weight class right now, but you’re not fighting the top guys,” Ludwig said. “Demetrious as at an A-plus level, right? The guys that he’s fighting, no disrespect, but the guys that he’s fighting are at a B-plus level. They’re not on his level, but that’s why he’s the champ, right?

“T.J. is on the A-plus level at a different weight class. He’ll come down, he’ll make the weight with coach Sam Calavitta just for the evolution of martial arts in general because T.J. is the best martial artist that the planet’s ever had. So is Demetrious, just different weight class, so let’s find a common weight class and find out who’s the true martial artist and put it to the test.”

UFC President Dana White recently indicated he intends to make the bout, and now seems the perfect time with no true No. 1 contender available for the champions in either division.

For Ludwig, a former UFC and Strikeforce contender, the opportunity to be part of the contest would be incredible, he says. And with the bout seemingly nearing reality, Ludwig said he’s already breaking down the matchup and believes Dillashaw can be the man to finally end Johnson’s record-setting reign off 11 consecutive UFC title defenses.

“I wouldn’t say I see weaknesses, but I see areas that T.J. can be successful,” Ludwig said. “That’s what I see.

“I understand Demetrious, I feel, well, but he’s always changing and evolving, as well, but so are we, and that’s what we must be doing as human beings and martial artists. But I feel I understand him, and I feel that T.J. can beat him.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

T.J. Dillashaw

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