Former UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw is coming for a historic third title reign. That’s his plan for UFC 280, where he will face the current bantamweight champ, Petr Yan, with Sterling vowing to MMAJunkie that he will “break” his opponent.
“I’m going to finish him. I’m going to break him. He doesn’t have the gas tank. He doesn’t have the full, well-rounded […] he’s going to rely on some small skills that he’s good at that I don’t think are going to be an issue for me, and I’m going to break him by just being on him at all times, that constant pressure and then finishing him.”
Dillashaw Plans To “Break” Sterling To Commence Third Title Reign
Dillashaw first lost his belt to Dominick Cruz. Later, after earning the belt back, he was stripped of his title following a positive test for PED use. Aljamain Sterling has scarcely hesitated to consistently remind Dillashaw, and the fans, of this fact, something Dillashaw is happy to take on the chin.
“That’s the name of the game with our sport, is drama. Some more than others. I think a big turning point for me is when I fought Dominick Cruz.
I won the belt against Barao, defended against [Joe] Soto, defended against Barao, and I fought Dominick Cruz and there’s some media behind it, and he’s talking mad trash, and I hadn’t had to deal with that yet.
The first time he got under my skin and I went out to that fight – still believe I won that fight – but tried to knock him out. From the get-go tried to kick his head off, and I kept the fight too close because of it and learned through that fight that I’m a better fighter when I have fun.
I’ve never been a guy that’s held on to it or had the animosity to want to like fight someone in the street. I’ve always been the guy that like, ‘I’m going to fight when I get paid.’ I’m a professional.
I’m going to do it when I’m supposed to do it, and he can run his mouth all he wants. To be honest, I think it shows some insecurities, and it’s really just – he’s too into social media. It’s kind of a joke.”
T.J. Dillashaw will have the chance to recapture the belt on the main card of UFC 280. Do you think he’ll deliver on his promise to “break” the champ? Let us know in the comments.
