TJ Dillashaw Leaves Team Alpha Male, Joins Team Elevation in Colorado

It's official. The longtime prince of Team Alpha Male has left and joined Team Elevation at MusclePharm's state-of-the-art facility in Denver, Colorado.

"In regards to my upcoming fight camp, I will be doing my training in Colorado," Dillashaw told MMAFighting. "The last six years at Team Alpha Male have been irreplaceable and my brothers there will forever be family to me. I thank each and every one of them for helping me along the way and being a part of this journey we've shared. This is not the end of being a part of the Team Alpha Male family, but a new chapter in my career.

"I will be spending my next full training camp with Team Elevation as they've offered me an opportunity that I couldn't pass up, with an incredible coaching staff and state of the art facilities.

"I want to thank everyone for the continued support as this has not been a decision I've taken lightly."

This news follows some back-and-forth from Team Alpha Male's head coach, Uriah Faber, and his ex-striking coach, Duane Ludwig. On a recent Ariel Helwani podcast, Faber spoke for over an hour about the split. He criticized Ludwig's behavior, business ethics, and emotional stability—but qualified his statements by saying that if his students, like Dillashaw, wanted to continue to train with him they could.

Conor McGregor even got in the mix, calling Dillashaw a "snake in the grass."

He lectured Faber on an episode of The Ultimate Fighter, and during several interviews, making the point that Dillashaw was selfish and that the two should face each other in the Octagon.

"He's my boy," Urijah said in defense during in interview with UFC Tonight.

"I sense disloyalty," Conor replied.

It's clear that Team Elevation's offer swayed his decision, but in the end, TJ's absence from Team Alpha Male will always feel like part of the fallout from Ludwig's departure.

Duane Ludwig has his own school in Colorado, but Team Elevation members frequent his classes. TJ's new team is invite-only, but is generally less strict about members training at other academies. It's safe to say that he will still be a Bang Muay Thai student the next time he defends his belt.