Morning Report: T.J. Dillashaw says 'old' Urijah Faber 'isn't deserving' of title shot, ready to step in when he pulls out

T.J. Dillashaw hasn't had a great 2016.

Dillashaw lost his UFC bantamweight title to Dominick Cruz by split decision in January, then missed out on a chance at redemption.

Dillashaw had campaigned for an immediate rematch with Cruz but the promotion awarded the shot to his old coach and new rival, Urijah Faber.

Faber will challenge for Cruz's title a second time in a rubber match June 4 at UFC 199 following bouts in 2007 and 2011, the later won by Cruz. Dillashaw isn't happy about it.

"I flew to Las Vegas and met with [UFC CEO] Lorenzo Fertitta to plead my case," Dillashaw told ESPN.com's Brett Okamoto. "They entertained the idea of an immediate rematch. They said they'd let me know in two weeks -- then I found out on social media Faber got the fight.

"I'm pretty pissed. Faber isn't deserving. The only way this guy has stayed relevant during the last year is talking s--- about me. It's unfortunate everything has become more about entertainment than sport. I just had a very competitive fight with Cruz. I don't think Faber has a chance. I hope he does win, but it's all about giving him his last title shot now. I think the UFC feels they can't give him another fight before then and expect him to win."

A lot could happen in two and half months. Dillashaw isn't exactly hoping for Cruz or Faber to suffer an injury, he's just planning ahead.

"I'm going to be ready and in shape if one of those guys gets hurt," Dillashaw said. "One of them is old and one of them is constantly hurt, so, you know, I've got a good chance.

"The UFC is the greatest fight promotion in the world, but I'm very disappointed in their decision on this. I had hoped they'd care more about what I'd done in the past for this company, but I guess not. Now, a fight that makes sense for me would probably be Raphael Assuncao. I know he's dealing with some injuries but he's got a split-decision win [in 2013] against me in a fight everyone thought I won. It would be nice to get that win back."

Headlined by a rematch between middleweight champion Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman, UFC 199 takes place June 4 from The Forum in Inglewood, California.

5 MUST-READ STORIES

'He's just a p***y that quits when he's getting beat up.' Jose Aldo says Conor McGregor should return to featherweight with his tail between his legs after embarrassing loss to Nate Diaz.

'I'm happy to wait.' Michael Bisping says he "deserves the next shot" at Luke Rockhold's UFC middleweight title.

'I thought that fight should've been stopped and it should've been stopped a long time before.' UFC exec Tom Wright is "concerned" over the late stoppage in Neil Magny's win over Hector Lombard.

On hold. With it looking like a rematch between Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor is happening at UFC 200, Chuck Mindenhall says something's got to be done to reopen business at 145 pounds.

'There's a guy who gets it.' Chael Sonnen on Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor, and how most of the fight game just doesn't understand.

MEDIA STEW

Octagon interview with Mark Hunt.

Highlights from Hunt-Mir and Magny-Lombard.

Brian Stann and Dan Hardy talk the non-stoppage between Magny and Lombard.

Ronda Rousey on fans confusing her personal and professional personas.

Fight Journal: Nick Urso.

TTTHS.

Long watches.

KNUCKLE UP #323: UFC FN #85: MIR-HUNT, MAGNY-LOMBARD + The Unbearable Lightness of EUGENE'S Right...

...

Fight Night Brisbane: Post-fight Press Conference

...

Fight Night Brisbane Q&A with Miesha Tate, Dennis Bermudez and Robert Whittaker

...

TWEETS

Check out Pros React from UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir and "This Week in Struggle."

Victory lap.

Last night was mad real! #UFCBrisbane #ag2g

— Neil Magny (@NeilMagny) March 20, 2016

Love this bloke!!
Our UFC records are identical!
When one of us win we both win :)#ufc... https://t.co/2rlbHo9fH5

— Jake Matthews (@JakeMatthewsUFC) March 20, 2016

The master mind behind my madness ✌ Thank you @EricDelFierro for making me the fighter i am today #alliancemma pic.twitter.com/QxmxLCxvz8

— 'Rowdy' Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) March 20, 2016

Well Brisbane, it's been fun. But we all have families to get back to. See you on the n... https://t.co/fF8UHCO4Y6 pic.twitter.com/8Jf3ISc69K

— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) March 20, 2016

That one was for you brother! VDK all day! https://t.co/MfwCXJSHz9

— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) March 20, 2016

Jon Anik is nice and he has a rad #209tattoo cesargraciebjj @natediaz209 @dannydamagemma #mojitsu https://t.co/iqc8nLh5VX

— Leslie Smith (@LeslieSmith_GF) March 20, 2016

Jon Anik is nice and he has a rad #209tattoo @cesargraciebjj @natediaz209 @dannydamage #mojitsu

A photo posted by Leslie (@lesliesmithmma) on Mar 20, 2016 at 1:21am PDT

Thanks to Chad for taking the fight, the fans for the support most of all my wife, family & team... https://t.co/eXVAH8QCpr

— Ross Pearson (@RossTheRealDeal) March 20, 2016

Better luck next time.

Just posted a photo https://t.co/7Lz1YP4itF

— Hector Lombard (@HectorLombard) March 21, 2016

Savage fight + #Respect = @UFC and #TheJohnnyHollywoodShow@JakeMatthewsUFC is a tough sob!
Thanks again @danawhite pic.twitter.com/0aqFBjEglk

— Johnny Hollywood (@HollywoodCase) March 21, 2016

Rolled the dice and today wasn't my day. Kudos to @AlanJouban, a great talent and the better fighter today. An honour to do battle

— Brendan O'Reilly (@OReillyMMA) March 20, 2016

@_zhiaaan I hope I get the ingredients in right proportions next time

— Mark Eddiva (@MarkEddiva) March 20, 2016

You win some, you lose some. Tough close fight tonight but I had fun. Hats off to Viscardi Andrade for being one... https://t.co/0KnSJxgm3t

— Richy Walsh MMA (@RichyMMA) March 20, 2016

Thank you all for showing me so much love and support! Can't wait to get back to training and put on another show! #blessed

— Chad Laprise (@ChadLaprise) March 20, 2016

@ufc @WrightUFC @UFC_AUSNZ thanks for a great weekend, can't wait to do it again with a full camp and make some real noise !!! @Jon_Anik

— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) March 20, 2016

40 shots?

Waiting.

#AldoMcGregor2 #UFC200
I'm waiting @danawhite

— Jose Aldo Junior (@josealdojunior) March 20, 2016

Thank you. I believe lightening doesn't strike twice in the same. https://t.co/6SaxyPLeh3

— Jose Aldo Junior (@josealdojunior) March 20, 2016

Never too late.

Maybe to little to late thanks to @robdrake @shoreshot @hihorecords for this https://t.co/RSh7GVweuP but @TheNotoriousMMA just dont want it

— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) March 20, 2016

Congrats.

Arm bar to triangle finish pic.twitter.com/zsNlSzdAGF

— Raquel Pa'aluhi (@RaquelPaaluhi) March 18, 2016

Bringing home the loot // @raquelpaaluhi #athohana #panams https://t.co/U20tLZnqXn pic.twitter.com/9P1SO3xzRE

— ATH (@athorganics) March 19, 2016

Whatever it takes.

Lieutenant Longo.

"I'm all the way up!"
Posted up on set with the Don! #movie @UFC #AlwaysWorkinghttps://t.co/0hJlEiX3sj pic.twitter.com/hsno5yoBbX

— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) March 20, 2016

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced this weekend (Mar. 18-20 2016)

Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz at UFC 200

cancelled Jessica Aguilar vs. Juliana Lima at UFC 197

Donald Cerrone vs. Patrick Cote at UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Thompson

Thomas Almeida vs. Cody Garbrandt at UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Garbrandt

Tarec Saffiedine vs. Rick Story at UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Garbrandt

Chris Camozzi vs. Vitor Miranda at UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Garbrandt

Lorenz Larkin vs. Jorge Masvidal at UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Garbrandt

Diego Ferreira vs. Abel Trujillo at UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Garbrandt

Josh Burkman vs. Paul Felder at UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Garbrandt

Erik Koch vs. Joe Proctor at UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Garbrandt

Keith Berish vs. Jake Collier at UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Garbrandt

Chris DeLaRocha vs. Adam Milstead at UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Garbrandt

Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.