TJ Dillashaw literally went out on a limb in his eighth UFC title fight.
The former two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion is one of the greatest fighters ever at 135lbs, having beaten then-champion Renan Barao and Cody Garbrandt twice as well as #4-ranked contender Cory Sandhagen.
Despite his resume, TJ Dillashaw had one of the most controversial final chapters in UFC history.
Following a two-year suspension for the performance-enhancing drug EPO, Dillashaw returned to the win column against Sandhagen in 2021 and was given a title fight a year later against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 280 in Oct. 2022.
Prior to the fight, Dillashaw failed to disclose a career-ending shoulder injury and refused to withdraw. On fight night, Dillashaw would lose in a lopsided second-round TKO after his shoulder popped out.
This would be Dillashaw’s last MMA fight. Years after his retirement, the former champion explains what made him so confident in beating Sterling even with the brutal handicap.
TJ Dillashaw thought he’d KO Aljamain Sterling with one arm: ‘His striking was garbage’
While on ‘The Jaxxon Podcast’, Quinton Jackson said he was at the gym the day Dillashaw’s shoulder popped out in training and told Dillashaw he wished he had pulled out of the Sterling fight.
Dillashaw explains why he didn’t.
“I was fighting a guy that I felt like I could still beat with the arm that I had,” Dillashaw said of Sterling.
“I felt like I could’ve knocked him out. Yeah, [with one arm].
“His striking is complete garbage,” Dillashaw added.
A wrestler at heart, Sterling dominated Dillashaw with his takedowns as Dillashaw grimaced in pain with his shoulder injury.
Dillashaw was heavily criticized for not withdrawing from the bantamweight title fight.
TJ Dillashaw says being ‘delusionally optimistic’ got him to the UFC title in the first place
The odds weren’t great for Dillashaw at UFC 280 but neither were his chances of fighting again after shoulder surgery. Dillashaw can’t raise his left arm too high nowadays because of the injury.
Still, Dillashaw pushed through and made it to his title fight against Sterling, where he attempted to become a three-time champion—a feat only Jon Jones and Randy Couture have been able to accomplish in the UFC.
“I know I’m gonna have to have shoulder surgery, so I’m gonna be out for another year and a half. I’m 36 years old. It’s kinda like, this might be my last f—— shot,” Dillashaw said.
“Ends up, yes, it was because my shoulder was so bad…
“So it’s like, why am I gonna pass up this opportunity? Might be my last shot ever to be a three time world champion [and] get my belt back.
“[The odds] were f—— awesome,” Dillashaw joked.
“I’m delusionally optimistic but I really believe that’s also what got me to the belt. I believed in myself so much that I was able to push through so much negativity and get to the top,” Dillashaw said.