The former UFC bantamweight champion broke down the rest of the division
Tonight T.J. Dillashaw returns from a USADA enforced absence to take on Cory Sandhagen in the main event of UFC Vegas 32. This is the first fight for Dillashaw since losing to Henry Cejudo in 2019 for the UFC flyweight title.
When Dillashaw received his ban for EPO use he was forced to relinquish the UFC bantamweight title. That belt was won Cejudo with a win over Marlon Moraes. After Cejudo retired the belt was won by Petr Yan after he defeated Jose Aldo. Yan promptly lost the belt to Aljimain Sterling, after he was disqualified for an illegal knee.
Before Dillashaw attempts to launch himself back into the title picture, the former two-time UFC champion spoke to the UFC’s cameras about the state of the 135 lb division. You can check out what he has to say below:
In the video Dillashaw gives soundbites on a number of the top bantamweights in the promotion. And his take on the current champion is not kind.
“Aljimain Sterling is a fake champ, in my opinion,” says Dillashaw. “He got the belt, but he ain’t the champ. He knows it.”
Dillashaw goes on to say that he thinks Petr Yan will have the belt soon and that he sees himself beating the Russian for the title.
Dillashaw was a lot more complementary when talking about his next opponent.
“The biggest challenge for me in the weight division is my next fight, Cory Sandhagen. Mad props to Cory Sandhagen, he’s done great with his career. I’ve been rooting for him for a long time, but he’s met his match.”
Dillashaw also offered his thoughts on fierce rivals Cody Garbrandt and Dominick Cruz as well as Jose Aldo, Rob Font and Sean O’Malley.
With respects to O’Malley, Dillashaw said: “The UFC’s doing a good job of pumping that guy’s name up. He’s easy work.”
O’Malley recently took his record to 14-1 with a TKO win over late replacement Kris Moutinho at UFC 264. Prior to that he KO’d Thomas Almeida. His only professional loss is a TKO defeat to Marlon Vera last year.