Former UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw will be back in action later tonight (Sat., July 24, 2021) at UFC Vegas 32 after serving a two-year suspension for taking performance-enhancing drugs. Dillashaw will meet surging bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen in the main event, which will air live on ESPN/ESPN+ from inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Dillashaw, who returns to the Octagon at the age of 35, is coming back with the odds stacked against him. Not only has the former champion been unable to compete since a TKO loss to Henry Cejudo back in Jan. 2019, but the division has evolved immensely since his departure. Guys like Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling have risen to become champions while Sandhagen has emerged as a top contender on the heels of a 7-1 UFC record.
Needless to say, it’s important for Dillashaw to look like his old self when he steps foot inside of the cage on Saturday night. If he’s able to defeat the puzzle that is “The Sandman” then it very well could lead to an immediate title shot at 135 pounds. That’s easier said than done, especially since Dillashaw is nearly a 2-to-1 underdog for his main event clash with Sandhagen.
Leading into his return to action UFC has released some of the greatest finishes in the career of Dillashaw. From his blistering knockouts of rival Cody Garbrandt to his improbable stoppage over Renan Barao, Dillashaw has produced some of the most memorable finishes in UFC bantamweight history. Check them out in the above video player.
We will have to wait and see if Dillashaw is able to become just the second fighter to finish Sandhagen and add him to this impressive highlight reel.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 32 fight card right here, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, which are scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. ET, then the remaining main card balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET.