Tag: TJ Dillashaw

Dillashaw Welcomes Future Fight With ‘Lower-Weight Godfather’ Aldo

TJ Dillashaw would be open to a fight with José Aldo.

TJ Dillashaw knows what it is like to be a UFC champion. He was on top of the bantamweight division for three years before having to serve a suspension for a failed drug test. Now that Dillasha…

TJ Dillashaw Jose Aldo

TJ Dillashaw would be open to a fight with José Aldo.

TJ Dillashaw knows what it is like to be a UFC champion. He was on top of the bantamweight division for three years before having to serve a suspension for a failed drug test. Now that Dillashaw is back and ready to continue his UFC career, he has one goal in mind, which is to regain his lost title.

“Let’s be honest, I left as a champion,” Dillashaw told ESPN. “I came back, fought a No. 1 contender after a 2.5-year layoff. I was able to beat him. What else is there for me? Nothing is going to get me up and excited except getting my belt back. That’s my goal. There’s nothing else for me to really set my eyes on.”

Dillashaw is in a bit of a holding pattern right now. He suffered an injury that required him to undergo surgery. His last bout was back in July when he defeated interim title challenger Cory Sandhagen. Although the surgery went well, Dillashaw still has some healing to do. He spoke a bit about his timeline for return.

“I wouldn’t say an exact timeframe, but I imagine halfway through the year,” he explained. “I’m able to hit mitts, strength, and conditioning. I haven’t done any grappling yet. That’s the last thing I’ll feel comfortable about again. And then I have to start thinking about getting into a camp.”

TJ Dillashaw Open To Fighting José Aldo

Jose Aldo
Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Dillashaw is currently sitting in the #2 spot in the division, right behind interim champion Petr Yan. With Yan already set to face the champion, Aljamain Sterling, in April, that could leave Dillashaw out of the loop. Fortunately, there has been someone calling his name for a while now. That man is none other than José Aldo.

“I think he has called me out after every one of his fights recently which is amazing,” Dillashaw said. “I’ve looked up to Aldo, I think everyone has looked up to Aldo. Aldo’s been like one of the godfathers of the lower weight classes, but we’ll have our time, he keeps doing what he’s doing, I’m going to get my belt back, and then it would be really amazing.”

Aldo recently won three in a row at bantamweight and could be in the title hunt himself. A possible #1-contender fight with Dillashaw could be an interesting one and a real possibility depending on what happens with Sterling vs. Yan at UFC 273.

Do you think Dillashaw will get a title shot without fighting José Aldo first?

Continue Reading Dillashaw Welcomes Future Fight With ‘Lower-Weight Godfather’ Aldo at MMA News.

TJ Dillashaw, Paulo Costa Among USADA’s Most Tested Fighters In 2021

TJ Dillashaw and Paulo Costa were among the most targeted fighters in USADA’s drug-testing program in 2021.

This comes after a report by MMA Junkie into the top-10 most tested fighters by USADA during the calendar year.

Dillashaw had made his re…

TJ Dillashaw, Paulo Costa

TJ Dillashaw and Paulo Costa were among the most targeted fighters in USADA’s drug-testing program in 2021.

This comes after a report by MMA Junkie into the top-10 most tested fighters by USADA during the calendar year.

Dillashaw had made his return to the Octagon following a two-year suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. Following his flyweight title loss to Henry Cejudo, he tested positive for EPO and was served with a lengthy suspension by USADA.

The former bantamweight champion has since claimed that he used EPO to assist in his weight cut to 125 pounds and wasn’t meant to give him an added boost in the cage. He was tested 25 times by USADA over the past year.

Dillashaw & Costa Both Fought Once In 2021

Cory Sandhagen TJ Dillashaw
Cory Sandhagen and TJ Dillashaw

Dillashaw made his long-awaited return to the cage in 2021 against rising bantamweight Cory Sandhagen, earning a split-decision win in a Fight of the Year contender.

Costa was tested 23 times in 2021, which could be seen as a bit surprising given his relative inactivity in the UFC over the past few years. He faced Marvin Vettori in a catchweight bout in his lone fight of the year, losing via a unanimous decision in a back-and-forth contest.

Just above Dillashaw and Costa on the list was Misha Cirkunov, as the middleweight and former light heavyweight was tested by USADA on 27 separate occasions.

As the new year begins, Dillashaw looks to earn another bantamweight title shot, while Costa is looking to get back on track in the middleweight conversation.

What are your predictions for TJ Dillashaw and Paulo Costa in 2022?

Continue Reading TJ Dillashaw, Paulo Costa Among USADA’s Most Tested Fighters In 2021 at MMA News.

TJ Dillashaw, Paulo Costa Top USADA’s Most Tested Fighters

TJ Dillashaw, Paulo CostaFormer UFC champion TJ Dillashaw and former title challenger Paulo Costa were two of the most tested fighters in USADA’s anti-doping program in 2021. MMA Junkie was among the first to report news of the Top-10 testing list released by USADA earlier this week. Dillashaw returned to the octagon in 2021 after a two-year hiatus […]

TJ Dillashaw, Paulo Costa

Former UFC champion TJ Dillashaw and former title challenger Paulo Costa were two of the most tested fighters in USADA’s anti-doping program in 2021.

MMA Junkie was among the first to report news of the Top-10 testing list released by USADA earlier this week.

Dillashaw returned to the octagon in 2021 after a two-year hiatus from competition. After a flyweight title loss to Henry Cejudo, he tested positive for EPO and was served with a lengthy suspension by USADA.

Dillashaw has claimed that the EPO use was to help with his brutal weight cut down to flyweight, and wasn’t meant to give him any fight night advantages. Despite his claims, USADA tested him a whopping 25 times over the past year.

Dillashaw defeated Cory Sandhagen in a UFC Fight Night main event in his return, earning a split decision victory. The former champion is anticipating a title shot for his next octagon appearance.

Costa, who fell short of UFC gold to Israel Adesanya in 2020, was tested 23 times in 2021, despite his relative inactivity over the past couple of years. After a weight-cutting debacle ahead of his fight with Marvin Vettori, Costa would lose a catchweight bout via a unanimous decision.

Despite UFC president Dana White‘s earlier claims that Costa will need to fight at light heavyweight from now on, he and his team have confirmed a return at middleweight. This was after he was allegedly injured during his last fight camp.

Former UFC light heavyweight and current middleweight Misha Cirkunov topped the list as the promotion’s most tested fighter. Heavyweight contender Jairzinho Rozenstruik was also included as one of the most tested.

The sky is still the limit for Dillashaw and Costa going forward, as both of them look to prove their integrity in the sport.

What do you think is next for TJ Dillashaw, Paulo Costa in 2022?

Bleacher Report 2021 MMA Awards: Biggest Upset

Nothing stirs a fight fan’s blood like a great upset. Whether you’re jumping on tables in elation or hurling your phone across the room, there’s always emotion involved, the story of an underdog made good…

Nothing stirs a fight fan’s blood like a great upset. Whether you’re jumping on tables in elation or hurling your phone across the room, there’s always emotion involved, the story of an underdog made good…

Sean Strickland Targets Dillashaw In Call For USADA Lifetime Bans

Sean Strickland is taking aim at all fighters who have failed USADA testing, especially TJ Dillashaw.

Sean Stickland is a fighter who is constantly in the news for things he says. Whether he is calling out fighters or starting drama, he is not one …

Sean Strickland TJ Dillashaw

Sean Strickland is taking aim at all fighters who have failed USADA testing, especially TJ Dillashaw.

Sean Stickland is a fighter who is constantly in the news for things he says. Whether he is calling out fighters or starting drama, he is not one to hold back. His latest target is on all fighters who have failed drug testing. Strickland went on a Twitter rampage on Thursday to call out for stricter punishments for U.S Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) violations.

“Only thing @usantidoping is good at is catching broke fighters who can’t afford good shit lol! Steroids should be a lifetime ban,” Strickland wrote. “@TJDillashaw
is the absolute scum of the earth and should never be allowed to compete I’m the UFC again. You ruined people’s careers you’re scum.”

Strickland is mentioning TJ Dillashaw by name in his Tweet. Dillashaw has just returned from a two-year suspension after failing a USADA drug test back in 2019. Since the USADA program was instated by the UFC back in 2015, 127 fighters have been handed suspension due to violations, according to the USADA website. Of those 127 fighters, the length of suspensions can range from four months to two years. Some fighters have been simply given a warning.

Nick Diaz was famously suspended for five years following his drug test failures but that was by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, not USADA. Strickland does not see these timeframes as sufficient enough punishments. He would like to see any fighter testing positive be banned for life. He even went in on Jon Jones as well. When asked about Jones specifically, Strickland responded.

“Greatest fighter to ever step in the ufc completely erased by doping,” he wrote.

Jones was suspended by USADA for the use of Clomiphen and Letrozole back 2016. His suspension lasted one year. He was then suspended for 15 months in 2018 for Chlorine-substituted Anabolic Steroid.

Many fighters will just simply return to fighting following suspension. If it were up to Strickland, that would not be the case. Strickland has also recently targeted middleweight champion Israel Adesanya for what Strickland believes is physical evidence of drug use.

Do you think UFC fighters should receive harsher punishments for USADA violations?

Continue Reading Sean Strickland Targets Dillashaw In Call For USADA Lifetime Bans at MMA News.

Dana White On Potential Jose Aldo/TJ Dillashaw Fight: “I Love It”

Former champions José Aldo and TJ Dillashaw could be on a collision course at bantamweight, and UFC president Dana White wants to book it.

Aldo and Dillashaw are undoubtedly two of the top bantamweights in the world at the moment after each earned …

Jose Aldo, Dana White, TJ Dillashaw

Former champions José Aldo and TJ Dillashaw could be on a collision course at bantamweight, and UFC president Dana White wants to book it.

Aldo and Dillashaw are undoubtedly two of the top bantamweights in the world at the moment after each earned wins this year. UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling will more than likely face Petr Yan in a rematch next, which opens the conversation to who could be the next top contender.

In a division that is stacked from top-to-bottom, Dillashaw and Aldo have managed to beat some of the top guys to earn a spot in the title picture.

During a recent interview with Barstool Sports, White explained why an Aldo vs. Dillashaw fight makes sense.

“I love it,” White said. “Yeah, I love it. That’s a fun fight. And it’s #2 versus #3.  Do that fight, see who gets the next title shot.”

José Aldo Vs. TJ Dillashaw Would Surely Be A No. 1 Contender Fight

Aldo most recently dominantly defeated Rob Font in the UFC Vegas 44 main event. In a matchup of two elite strikers, Aldo proved that he remains on top of his game despite being the promotion for many years.

Dillashaw recently returned from a lengthy USADA suspension to squeak out a split decision win against the always-dangerous Cory Sandhagen in July. After undergoing recent knee surgery, he’s been sidelined and is anticipating a return sometime early next year.

Aldo and Dillashaw at one point were considered two of the top fighters in the world, as both men earned titles at featherweight and bantamweight, respectively. White sounds just as pumped up as nearly everyone else for a potential matchup between the two.

How do you think a TJ Dillashaw vs. José Aldo fight would play out?

Continue Reading Dana White On Potential Jose Aldo/TJ Dillashaw Fight: “I Love It” at MMA News.