Former Bantamweight Champion, TJ Dillashaw will be able to return inside the Octagon as soon as January 19, 2019. Two top contenders of the division, Jose Aldo and Cory Sandhagen are calling out Dillashaw to be their next opponent.
A win against Dillashaw will surely escalate to a title shot most likely given how big Dillashaw’s name in the division. With a title fight delay with Yan vs Sterling, if Dillashaw is not willing to wait, he could choose to fight the current top contenders to diminish ring rust.
It is still not guaranteed that Dillashaw will be granted an immediate title shot, given how he relinquished his title. His last fight was against a smaller Henry Cejudo who finished in under a minute. It was later revealed he tested positive for EPO, a banned substance that helps with the fighter’s endurance.
Henry Cejudo eventually moved up to fight for the vacant Bantamweight belt and won against Marlon Moraes. After another title defense, Cejudo retired and the bantamweight title is up for grabs once more.
UFC booked Yan vs Aldo for the vacant title, with which Yan won via TKO. The next top title contender would obviously be Aljamain Sterling. He is coming off an impressive win against Cory Sandhagen and the UFC booked the title fight months later.
After Aldo’s win against Chito Vera, he was asked who he wants next he said, TJ Dillashaw. Cory Sandagen also indicated during his post-fight interview that he wants Dillashaw as well.
I heard everyone is calling me out, cause they all know that’s my belt 🥱 @ufc
— TJ Dillashaw (@TJDillashaw) December 20, 2020
Dillashaw thinks that he is the real champion since he technically lost the belt but voluntarily relinquished the belt. He was caught cheating and took a banned substance, he would have still been stripped of the belt.
To say that Yan is not the real champion, meanwhile caught cheating is a bit ironic. Kevin Holland tweeted regarding the situation that makes sense.
Dog if this was like NCAA sports your ‘titles’ would have been wiped out of the record books. #cmonman my money is with @funkmasterMMA in that division. https://t.co/llDsQxql8R
— Kevin Holland (@Trailblaze2top) December 20, 2020
Most fans also think that Dillashaw does not deserve an immediate title shot. He cheated and is coming off a loss how does he deserve an immediate shot for the title. Cody Garbrandt predicted prior to the popping incident that Dillashaw is using EPO which later revealed to be true.
