TJ Dillashaw hometown celebration

Berryhill welcomes hometown UFC champ to Senate T.J. Dillashaw introduced on the Senate floor

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Sacramento - Senator Tom Berryhill (R-Twain Harte) recognized and welcomed T.J. Dillashaw, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champion and Angels Camp native, on the Senate floor today. On May 24 Dillashaw, in a surprising upset, defeated the #1 ranked former UFC champion Renan Barao to claim the UFC bantamweight title.

“It was a decisive victory – and well deserved. He worked hard and took Barao out fair and square,” said Berryhill. “I would love to credit T.J.’s rural roots -- he is from the very best Senate District in California -- but I think his incredible perseverance, talent and hard work won the day.”

T.J. was born in Sonora, raised in Angels Camp and was on the wrestling team at Bret Harte High School before heading off to Cal-State Fullerton as a wrestler. He now trains in Sacramento with “Team Alpha Male,” which was founded by Sacramento fighter and fellow UFC champion, Urijah Faber.