JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – T.J. Dillashaw might be watching the co-main occasion of UFC 273 up near dimension up his potential subsequent opponent.
The previous two-time bantamweight champion is on the mend from a pair of surgical procedures, however his restoration is approaching its finish and he’s in search of a return to competitors towards the winner of Saturday’s title unification bout between Aljamain Sterling (20-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) and Petr Yan (16-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC).
“I’m going fairly good, knee restoration from my final battle has been an extended highway than I hoped,” Dillashaw instructed MMA Junkie. “I hoped to be prepared first quarter of this 12 months, however I had a lot work finished, that I really simply acquired surgical procedure three weeks in the past to get the scar tissue cleaned out. However I’m on a clean sail to being recovered. In three weeks I must be one hundred pc, so good timing to let these guys determine who the champ’s gonna be and for me to get my belt again.”
Dillashaw (17-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC), who returned from a two-year USADA suspension to defeat Cory Sandhagen by split decision at UFC on ESPN 27 in July, stated it was a precedence to attend UFC 273 and see his doubtless subsequent opponent in particular person.
“I used to be already coming alone in any case,” Dillashaw stated. “Then they (UFC) had been like, oh you’re coming, be a visitor fighter. I wished to be right here, I wished to see the battle. I’m gonna advertise as a result of look, man, that’s my legacy is getting that belt again, and being right here is vital for that. I don’t go to lots of the fights, I don’t even watch that lots of the fights except I’ve some private curiosity of probably somebody I’m combating or a buddy that’s combating. So, this one I’ve my eyes open for.”
Dillashaw stated he’ll be firmly planted in his cageside seat for Sterling and Yan to rematch. The pair fought 13 months in the past at UFC 259, with Sterling claiming the belt via disqualification after Yan landed an unlawful knee that value him the belt.
After seeing the preliminary battle play out earlier than the unlawful strike, Dillashaw is assured the rematch goes in Yan’s course – and he desires it that means.
“He acquired that title win by DQ and type of performed it up a bit too, proper? So, I feel Petr Yan’s the true champ,” Dillashaw stated. “I feel he’s going to indicate that. Look, we’re on the earth of MMA, something can occur. Sterling’s a really robust competitor, nice grappler, all-around athlete, however I feel Petr Yan is extra of the fighter. He’s acquired that mentality and he’s the man I count on to battle developing right here on the finish of the 12 months.
“Aljamain undoubtedly has to out-grapple him to get the battle finished. I imply, to be trustworthy, he would most likely must submit him. I don’t assume he’s going to have the ability to hold that tempo as much as hold him down and his putting is simply not harmful sufficient to make Yan consider in it. So, I feel Yan simply has to stay to the identical recreation plan he did final time. Be affected person, be certain to defend the takedowns, and type of dominate him.”
If issues play out to his expectation and Yan wins the battle, Dillashaw stated he’ll be able to problem for the strap later this 12 months. He doesn’t care about the place it occurs, and would even be keen to journey to Yan’s facet of the globe to get again the belt he held twice earlier than.
“Yan could be the man I wish to battle,” Dillashaw stated. “I’d say like, September, October. Shoot, they’re going to Abu Dhabi October 22, I feel that may be fairly dope. I’ve all the time wished to go to the Center East. Simpler for him, he’s Russian, proper? So, I feel that may be a very good time.
“I’ve already proved myself. I got here again off that suspension, fought the No. 1 contender on one f*cking leg, excuse my language, and was in a position to get that win. Now it’s about getting it for myself, getting that belt again.”
