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Former UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw nonetheless believes he might be champion once more, particularly if Aljamain Sterling is holding the belt.
Regardless of a first-round loss to Sterling at UFC 280, Dillashaw isn’t able to concede “Funkmaster” is one of the best bantamweight on this planet. Had been it not for the extreme shoulder harm that hobbled him early of their combat, he believes he would have captured the belt a 3rd time. He beforehand referred to as Sterling the “most beatable” champ on the UFC’s roster.
“I really feel like he was gifted the belt to start with, the best way he dealt with it, after which bought squeaked by with a win [in a rematch with ex-champ Petr Yan at UFC 273],” the ex-champ stated on The MMA Hour. “Look man, he’s an excellent athlete, he’s on an excellent win streak, he’s gotten to the highest, however I don’t assume he’s one of the best champion we’ve bought on the market. I don’t assume he’s one of the best within the division, particularly within the division we’ve got, and that was a possibility I wasn’t going to let slip by means of my fingers, regardless that it did. However sure, my opinion doesn’t modified.”
Requested who within the UFC’s roster would beat Sterling, Dillashaw pointed to contained in the champ’s circle.
“I feel his teammate, Merab (Dvalishvili), beats him,” Dillashaw stated. “He does have some strengths. There’s guys on the prime that he can beat as a result of their grappling isn’t the place it needs to be. So possibly I’m simply fascinated with it personally and the way I match up towards him, as a result of he matches up nice towards a number of the guys that gained’t be capable of take care of his wrestling. So he might get some good wins and keep on prime with the precise matchups, however he’s not very harmful. He’s not a man that’s going to return and knock you out. He’ll attempt to dry-hump you to one of the best of his capacity, for probably the most half.”
Dillashaw, 36, added that former two-division champ Henry Cejudo, who seems to be establishing for a comeback, would “simply” beat Sterling.
“I feel that’s an excellent matchup for Henry Cejudo,” Dillashaw stated. “He’s simply bought the wrestling pedigree, and his putting is, I feel, loads higher than Aljamain’s. Aljamain doesn’t have a lot construction. I suppose his funkiness works for him, as a result of he doesn’t throw issues the best way you’re alleged to, and he doesn’t arrange his kicks – 90 p.c of his strikes are kicks.”
Dillashaw stated one of many cause he fought harm – and insulted Sterling’s putting within the buildup to UFC 280 – was to goad the champ right into a putting battle that favored him. However now, he will likely be sidelined till wholesome as soon as once more. Set to bear surgical procedure this week to restore his injured shoulder, he stated it will likely be his third such process and maintain him from coaching for at the very least six months. He dismissed the thought of retirement, nonetheless.
Within the wake of Dillashaw’s loss, Cody Garbrandt, referred to as for a trilogy showdown after going 0-2 in back-to-back fights along with his former teammate. Dillashaw rolled his eyes when requested for his response.
“I don’t even look into it,” he stated. “That makes zero sense to me in any respect. How’s that man even nonetheless within the UFC. He’s misplaced 5 of his final six fights. I’m preventing for world titles. It’s a attain. He’ll in all probability have two losses earlier than I even come again. It gained’t even be value my effort.”
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