TJ Dillashaw opposes Cory Sandhagen, says ” Petr Yan was never a true champion”
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TJ Dillashaw might be out of the most skilled competition in the UFC bantamweight division, but at least his win over Cory Sandhagen has secured him a voice into the title contention. Dillashaw won a split decision over Sandhagen on July 24, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 27. However, the aftermath didn’t go well as Dillashaw sustained injuries so his recovery was much needed than his next fight.
His next fight could’ve possibly been the interim title shot where Sandhagen is going now against former champion Petr Yan. The matchup was built after current UFC champion Aljamain Sterling has cited his neck needed a much longer layoff post-surgery. The fight is taking place on October 30, 2021, at UFC 267 in Etihad Arena of “Fight Island” Abu Dhabi.
Now, Sandhagen is off the belief that Petr Yan is the true champion of the bantamweight division, and irrespective of the word “interim,” he becomes the new UFC champion. However, Dillashaw has brought the other side of it. For him, Yan is not the one to be considered a champion in the history of his title reign.
Watch: TJ Dillashaw reacting to Cory Sandhagen’s claims on Petr Yan
Dillashaw explains how exactly can Petr Yan cannot be considered a real champion, way before Yan’s fight with Aljamain Sterling ended in his disqualification due to an illegal knee that made Sterling the UFC bantamweight champion. He says: “I didn’t lose my belt due to a loss. I lost my best due to a decision I made and they had to vacate it. So when these guys are talking about they’re feeling like they’re going to be a true champion even though [Sandhagen] goes and beats Yan. No, because Yan was never a true champion. He never beat the champion in the bantamweight division to actually beat the champion.”
The decision Dillashaw talks about that cost him his belt is a 2019 drug test he failed due to the use of a substance called EPO. When the belt was left vacant, Henry Cejudo captured the title by knocking out Marlon Moraes, then the belt was left vacant again after Cejudo retired after defeating Dominick Cruz. For the vacant belt this time, Petr Yan defeated Jose Aldo to become the new champion. The rest of the history is aforementioned.
Dillashaw made an interesting point considering people look back at Yan’s last contest and think he is the champion, he made them look back, even more, to rethink if Yan can be considered even people’s champion. Let’s hope the chaos of disputation ends in the bantamweight division and their lies no more contentious claims once there is the undisputed belt-holder.
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Abhai Singh Tanwar
(1386 Articles Published)