Abu Dhabi, UAE – UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has had one of the more unique title reigns we’ve seen in many years. He faces a former champion in one of the best 135ers of all time in TJ Dillashaw in the co-main event of UFC 280 on Saturday night.
“I’m excited. Great opportunity to fight a guy who’s been a mainstay in the division. Who’s done a ton of work, beat a lot of people up, and who people regard as one of the best bantamweights of all time. So for me to go out there and take out a guy like TJ I think that puts me up there with the conversation,” Sterling told the media on Wednesday.
Dillashaw (17-4) has a storied UFC career having held the title twice before being suspended for PED use. Dillashaw mentioned earlier that he regarded himself as the best bantamweight of all time.
“He had a five-round war with a guy I finishes in under two minutes. No disrespect to (Cory) Sandhagen. Sandhagen obviously evolved and kept getting better. I don’t know if he’s the same TJ of old who had that crazy run, and that’s just being honest. I still think he’s talented, he’s tough, he showed that he’s durable, showed that he won’t quit,” Sterling said.
“I think it’s going to be a good fight, and I just can’t wait to put my hands on the guy and actually see what he’s all about.”
During his media day availability Dillashaw said that Sterling was known to have a “quit button” to which the champ took issue with.
“Show me a fight where I quit. Show me one fight where I quit where I said ‘hey I’m going to pack it in, turn over, and go home’. Hey ref I’m going to cover up and pretend I can’t defend myself or fight anymore because I’m tired. I’m just going to roll over, wait for the ref to save me, then get up and go ‘what happened? What happened? What? What? I was still fighting!’. What fight have I ever done that,” Sterling said.
“For him to go out and say he’s the greatest bantamweight of all time right now….that just shows his arrogance. I can’t wait to just bring him a little bit of humble pie.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Aljamain Sterling above. He defends his title against former champion TJ Dillashaw in the co-main event of UFC 280 on Saturday night in Abu Dhabi.
