UFC 273: Aljamain Sterling blasts ‘dirty’ TJ Dillashaw – ‘I can’t wait to punch him in the face’
- Sterling takes aim at former bantamweight champ Dillashaw after defending his title against Petr Yan
- ‘Funk Master’ also open to trilogy fight with Yan ‘if he wants to go 0-3 against me’
UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has his sights set on a fight with TJ Dillashaw.
The American champ was back in action in the co-main event of UFC 273 on Saturday night in Jacksonville, Florida, where he defended his belt with a hard-fought split decision victory over Russia’s Petr Yan.
Speaking at the event’s post-fight press conference, Sterling left no doubt as to who he would like to fight next, spitting a venomous tirade at the former champion Dillashaw, who infamously tested positive for the banned substance recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) in 2019.
“He’s been a big critic [of mine],” Sterling said. “The guy’s been non-stop talking about me, talking about my heart and this and that, the spirit of a fighter. I mean, the spirit of a fighter is someone who’s never going to give up, if you ask me. I think I showed that [against Yan].”
“If anyone’s mentally weak, it’s that guy,” he added, continuing his criticism of his fellow American. “The guy needed steroids and EPO to catapult his career, to win even as many fights as he did in the UFC. His whole UFC tenure is tainted, so I can’t wait to punch him in the face. That would be somebody I would enjoy punching. He’s got good skill, but he’s dirty, and I’d like the opportunity to slap him up.”
Sterling did not make a prediction for a potential fight with Dillashaw, but conceded that it would be an interesting challenge.
“It’s an interesting fight,” he said. “I think it would be a fun fight. The fans are going to have a good time watching that one.”
