With the threat of Mayweather vs. McGregor monopolizing the headlines recently, it’s sometimes easy to forget that there are other fighters who hate each other and will be settling their differences inside a locked cage soon. Two of those fighters, UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt and former training partner and bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw, are two such fighters.

Garbrandt and Dillashaw will be fighting each other for the bantamweight title later this year, upon the conclusion of the 25th season of The Ultimate Fighter, which they coach opposite one another. The two were selected as coaches to capitalize on the bitter rivalry between the two stemming from the contentious split when Dillashaw left Team Alpha Male to join Team Elevation in Colorado. Since then, Garbrandt and many others at Team Alpha Male have had harsh words for Dillashaw. But for Dillashaw, the whole beef is a bit ridiculous.

Speaking with the Fight Society podcast recently, Dillashaw said that though the beef is very real at this point, there was never a reason for Garbrandt to be upset with him in the first place and that all of the histrionics are a result of Garbrandt trying to impress his “daddy” Urijah Faber.

“Urijah is Cody’s daddy. Cody can’t make any decisions without Urijah,” Dillashaw said. “Urijah’s involved with everything. That’s why Urijah was mad when I left. He likes to be in control. He wants to be the top dog. I hardly even know Cody. It’s kind of comical that Cody wanted to get mad about this whole thing cause I hardly even know the guy. He was on his way in when I was on my way out.

“He was on the team when everyone was making fun of him for who he was. Now everyone’s got his back cause he’s doing great. He’s doing good for the team and getting a good name out there. But really the beef with Cody is just comical because it shouldn’t concern him at all. Just because it involves Urijah, he wants to get all riled up and fluff out his feathers and act like a tough guy. I expected this from Cody. He’s a hothead and just for him to not really be able to express himself mentally but just get all worked up.”

One of the key talking points surrounding the Dillashaw-Alpha Male beef is the fabled existence of a video showing Garbrandt knocking out Dillashaw in practice. Team Alpha Male head coach Justin Buchholz has stated that he has the video but has yet to release it, though TMZ is reportedly offering $50,000 for it and Buchholz has threatened to release it on several occasions. Dillashaw responded to the whole thing by calling it “ridiculous” and inconsequential.

“It’s f**king practice! Who really even cares? They can release that video. I could care less because, for one, I don’t even think it happened, and two, it’s freaking practice and I don’t really care. They should just take the hours and hours and hours of footage of me whipping Cody’s ass and making him leave practice crying.

“The kid’s tough, don’t get me wrong. But when it comes down to it, being a well-rounded martial artist and sparring, sure Cody had some good days but to say percentage-wise, I’m getting 75 percent of those good days. I’m on top. I definitely felt like the top dog while I was there.”

But Garbrandt is the top dog now and he appears keen to keep it that way. In the promotional build up to the show’s premier, things between the two seem extremely heated with Garbrandt even grabbing Dillashaw violently by the throat during one confrontation. And while he may have been hoping to see a more measured side of Garbrandt during the six weeks of close exposure to him, Dillashaw says that actions like that, reaffirmed his belief that Garbrandt doesn’t have much else going on beyond being a “hothead.”

“It’s not so much learn but just reinstated what I’ve known about the guy that he’s a complete idiot. He’s not very smart and he’s hot headed. That’s it. There’s not much more behind that other than getting your haircut, making sure your eyebrows are lined up and being a hot head. That’s all he’s really got.”

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VIDEO STEW

The UFC booking Cormier-Gustafsson instead of this fight is one of the stupidest promotional things they’ve ever done. In today’s UFC, they’ve would’ve made this fight right then.

First Take on MayGregor.

Ah, prove himself. Just like Phil Brooks did.

This dude is real super mad about not tapping.

A twister for your enjoyment.

LISTEN UP

Severe MMA.

Anik and Flo.

Three Amigos.

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Bader’s statement.

If you don't know, now you know. Posted by Ryan Bader on Monday, March 20, 2017

Nate going in.

This fucker can't stop making shit up about me and I haven't been offered any fights except the one Iaughed at pic.twitter.com/7gRskEXEP9 — Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) March 20, 2017

Potentially major mix up here.

Hey @usantidoping what's up with this? Why am I getting this email? Makes me wonder..... pic.twitter.com/5bWcneWSb2 — Tom Lawlor (@FilthyTomLawlor) March 20, 2017

Thoughts?

Do you see @ChrisWeidmanUFC getting back on track at #UFC210 in Buffalo? If yes, how does he beat Mousasi? pic.twitter.com/r7qcNFGEaT — UFC (@ufc) March 21, 2017

#wouldwatch.

Hey @PhilMrWonderful let's do this, MSG June 24th. You in? — Ryan Bader (@ryanbader) March 20, 2017

I've been waiting on you! Let's do this https://t.co/tkpa3A7Ns4 — Phil Davis (@PhilMrWonderful) March 20, 2017

Could be fun.

My next opponent is Mark Hunt in New Zealand June 10th #FoxSports1 pic.twitter.com/TUijbiz2TJ — Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) March 20, 2017

Ariel out here making things happen.

Lets do it!! It's a dream that I'm going to fulfil is fight in MSG @BellatorMMA send my contract https://t.co/CA0B408wo4 — james gallagher (@StrabanimalMMA) March 20, 2017

Boot.

For everyone asking fracture right foot bone bruise and nerve contusion. Be back in six to 8 weeks thanks for the support. pic.twitter.com/qh8zRfuNE3 — tim means (@MeansTim) March 20, 2017

Excellent explanation.

Hey fight fans. Here's my explanation for why we have to apologise for bad language on air. Thx for watching #UFCLondon pic.twitter.com/nLQzHzTRXK — John Gooden (@JohnGoodenUK) March 19, 2017

When you don’t have a fight booked.

Yes, those are donuts being used as buns for my burger pic.twitter.com/Lqk4RSPnJn — Neil Magny (@NeilMagny) March 18, 2017

In that Bellator gear.

How @da_monsoon feels about fighting for #ScottCoker... #Reunited #BellatorNation A post shared by Bellator MMA (@bellatormma) on Mar 20, 2017 at 3:42pm PDT

Ruthless.

Dave gets it.

Conor could post a picture of his poo and it’d get 20K likes.

I make a different move everyday. pic.twitter.com/w8zqsfwnki — Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 20, 2017

USADA.

7:02 AM #USADA woke me up from an amazing dream of eating pizza & hanging with #TMNT SO I can get tested. #competecleanorgohome pic.twitter.com/JB70qA3QRD — John Dodson III (@JohnDodsonMMA) March 20, 2017

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Eduard Folayang (17-5) vs. Ev Ting (13-3); ONE Championship, April 21.

Derrick Lewis (18-4-1) vs. Mark Hunt (12-11-1, 1 NC); UFC Fight Night: Auckland, June 11.

Chael Sonnen (29-15-1) vs. Wanderlei Silva (35-12-1, 1 NC); Bellator 180, June 24.

Fedor Emelianenko (36-4, 1 NC) vs. Matt Mitrione (11-5); Bellator 180, June 24.

TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2010: Jon Jones headlined his first UFC event, stopping Brandon Vera with elbow in the first round of the main event of UFC on Verus 1.

2014: Emanuel Newton won a split decision over Attila Vegh to unify the Bellator light heavyweight championships at Bellator 113.

2015: Demian Maia won a unanimous decision over Ryan LaFlare in the main event of UFC Fight Night 62.

FINAL THOUGHTS

There’s also a quote from the interview above wherein TJ says that TAM has “Conor’s d**k in their mouths” because they stole Conor’s “snake in the grass” line against him from that season of TUF where Conor and Urijah coached against each other. I completely forgot that happened but felt I should pass it along for those who don’t listen to interviews. Especially since Jimmie Rivera’s Instagram kinda echoes the sentiment.

Anyway, have a good one everybody and see y’all tomorrow.

If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.