‘The ultimate goal for me is to be the champion’ – The returning T.J Dillashaw says he was still the bantamweight champion when he received the suspension
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T.J. Dillashaw is making his long awaited return to the octagon, after being suspended by the USADA due to testing positive for recombinant human erythropoietin. The bantamweight, last fought Henry Cejudo on the 19th of January, 2019, for the ‘flyweight title, while already holding the bantamweight belt. However, things didn’t go as planned, as he was knocked out in the very first round by Cejudo. It was then, Dillashaw was suspended.
Speaking in an Mike Swick’s, Real Quick with Mike Swick Podcast, Dillashaw revealed he was still the bantamweight champion when he received the suspension, adding that current champion Petr Yan’s belt means nothing – when he hasn’t beaten him (Dillashaw).
‘I feel like I didn’t leave this sport by losing my belt’
T.J Dillashaw was quoted as saying, “I feel like I didn’t leave this sport by losing my belt. He knows that there’s a lot of speculation if he’s the real champ because he hasn’t beaten the champion to get that belt, so he wants it. As well as that, I’m the biggest draw for him right now to try to fight. Maybe he’s thinking about me coming back for my first fight might be the best time to catch me as well too, try to catch me slipping. But that’s what I want. The ultimate goal for me is to be the champion.”
T.J. Dillashaw was still the bantamweight champion when he received his suspension. He was at the top of his game then, and the bantamweight looks to be in good shape, now as well. But, with Cory Sandhagen knocking at the title doors, and Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling yet to fight for the title, it might take a while before we see T.J Dillashaw becoming the shot caller.
Also Read : Anthony Pettis set to make his PFL debut on April 23; takes on Clay Collard!
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Gerard Crispin
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