TLDR
- Aljamain Sterling says punching T.J. Dillashaw was the best moment of his UFC career
- Sterling called Dillashaw a ‘lying cheat’ over his past performance-enhancing drug violations
- The comments reference their UFC 280 title fight in 2022 where Sterling knocked out Dillashaw
- Dillashaw previously served a two-year suspension for testing positive for banned substances
- Sterling’s remarks in a recent interview have reignited discussions about Dillashaw’s legacy
Sources: Bloody Elbow | MMA Junkie | BJPenn.com
Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has named his knockout victory over T.J. Dillashaw as the pinnacle of his fighting career. In a recent interview, Sterling did not hold back his feelings about Dillashaw, calling him a “lying cheat.”
Sterling defeated Dillashaw at UFC 280 in 2022, defending his bantamweight title with a second-round TKO. The former champion now says that moment of punching Dillashaw was more satisfying than any other achievement in his career.
The harsh words from Sterling stem from Dillashaw’s history with performance-enhancing drugs. Dillashaw tested positive for EPO in 2019 and received a two-year suspension from the UFC.
Sterling Takes Aim at Dillashaw’s Excuses
During the interview, Sterling mocked Dillashaw’s explanations for his positive drug test. He expressed resentment over what he views as dishonesty about the cheating incident.
“He’s a lying cheat,” Sterling said when discussing why the Dillashaw fight meant so much to him. The comments came during a podcast appearance where he revisited the heated buildup to their championship bout.
Sterling’s feelings about Dillashaw appear to run deeper than just their personal rivalry. The former champion referenced previous accusations made by Cody Garbrandt, Dillashaw’s former teammate at Team Alpha Male.
Garbrandt had publicly accused Dillashaw of cheating before the EPO scandal became public. Those accusations proved true when Dillashaw failed his drug test.
The UFC 280 fight took place in October 2022 in Abu Dhabi. Sterling dominated the contest, stopping Dillashaw in the second round to retain his bantamweight championship.
Dillashaw later revealed he had fought with a severe shoulder injury that required surgery. He announced his retirement from MMA in 2023.
Career Context and Rivalry Background
Sterling won the UFC bantamweight title in controversial fashion against Petr Yan in 2021. He successfully defended the belt three times before losing it to Sean O’Malley in 2023.
The Dillashaw victory was Sterling’s second title defense. Despite losing and regaining the belt against Yan, Sterling says beating Dillashaw topped them all.
Dillashaw’s career accomplishments include two separate reigns as UFC bantamweight champion. He defeated Renan Barao twice and defended his title multiple times before his suspension.
The 2019 EPO violation came after Dillashaw moved down to flyweight to challenge Henry Cejudo. He lost that fight by first-round knockout and then tested positive.
Sterling has since moved up to the featherweight division. He made his debut at 145 pounds in 2024 after his bantamweight title loss to O’Malley.
The candid interview comments from Sterling have sparked renewed debate in the MMA community. Fans and analysts are discussing both Dillashaw’s tainted legacy and Sterling’s outspoken nature.
Sterling’s revelation about the Dillashaw fight being his career highlight shows how much the doping issue affected him personally. He clearly viewed defeating someone he considers a cheater as more meaningful than other victories.
The story is currently circulating widely across MMA media outlets and social platforms. Sterling’s unfiltered take on Dillashaw continues to generate reactions from fans and fellow fighters.
