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TJ Dillashaw is set to face Aljamain Sterling at UFC 280 in a bid to become bantamweight champion for the third time.
Dillashaw was asked to weigh in on Sterling's tenure as champion in a press conference. He said:
"I mean, is it really a reign? I mean, I don't feel like, the way he even got the belt, you know, kind of sucks, even for himself. I don't think he handled it very well and then the way he squeaked that win out too, I mean, it's pretty lackluster."
Catch TJ Dillashaw's full press conference via TheMacLife channel on YouTube:
Aljamain Sterling won the title in unprecedented fashion. He won his first championship fight due to Petr Yan's disqualification at UFC 259. Yan was found guilty of landing an illegal knee intentionally and was duly stripped of his title. 'Funk Master' became the first to ever win a championship by disqualification
At UFC 273, Sterling successfully defended his championship after a five-round close battle with the favorite Yan. The result came via split decision and many believed the fight could have gone either way.
Aljamain Sterling calls out Dana White for his comments on TJ Dillashaw handling suspension
UFC president Dana White was all praise for TJ Dillashaw upon his return to the big stage. White complemented the former bantamweight champion for handling his suspension "like a man."
In an interview with Robbie Fox, Dana White said:
"I think he made a mistake, and he handled it like a man. We’ve had a lot of guys in the history of this company who have been busted for steroids and handled it the exact opposite way. They handled it not like men. Dillashaw did. He took it on the chin. You’ve got to respect him for that."
Check out his full interview on My Mom's Basement with Robbie Fox:
Champion Aljamain Sterling was puzzled by Dana White's comments and questioned them. He expressed his confusion over any of Dillashaw's actions being "manly" and called out his boss over it.
Sterling said in a press conference ahead of UFC 280:
"Very strange, man. I like Dana a lot, but some of the things that I just have to wonder, his reasoning and rationale. What about that was manly? The guy got caught. He didn't come clean, Dana. I don't get it and I think it's a very odd thing to say. What makes this situation more like a man versus anybody else?"
Check out Aljamain Sterling's full press conference on YouTube (via MMA Fighting):
