Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw recently reignited his rivalry with Aljamain Sterling by describing Sterling`s striking as `pure garbage`, despite their title fight at UFC 280 taking place years ago.
At UFC 280, Sterling successfully defended his bantamweight championship against Dillashaw, securing a TKO victory in the co-main event. This fight marked Dillashaw`s return to the Octagon after a significant leg injury and a two-year suspension from USADA.
Even though Sterling finished their bout decisively with powerful ground-and-pound, Dillashaw continues to dismiss the effectiveness of Sterling`s striking abilities.
Dillashaw`s `Garbage Striking` Comment
During a recent appearance on the JAXXON Podcast, Dillashaw reflected on the loss and offered a harsh assessment of Sterling.
“I was fighting a guy that I felt like I could still beat with the arm that I had,” Dillashaw said on the podcast.
“I felt like I could’ve knocked him out. Yeah, [with one arm]. His striking is complete garbage.”
Sterling has historically been known primarily for his elite grappling skills, often considered his main weapon. However, he has shown considerable improvement in his striking over recent years, particularly in preparation for his clash with Dillashaw at UFC 280.
Dillashaw`s comments quickly gained traction online, and it wasn`t long before Sterling issued a response via social media platform X.
“Respect to TJ, but 3 extra arms wouldn’t change that fight outcome. I was bigger and BETTER,” Sterling wrote.
“What’s appears as “garbage” isn’t the same until we step in there and you see firsthand how I beat so many guys.”
When a follower questioned Dillashaw`s apparent confidence despite the outcome, Sterling agreed that the win was significant precisely because Dillashaw genuinely believed he would win and even knock Sterling out. Sterling concluded that Dillashaw`s mistake was underestimating him and not realizing he was “out of his league.”
Following the loss at UFC 280, where he suffered a severe shoulder injury during the fight, Dillashaw announced his retirement. While he has occasionally hinted at a comeback, his history of medical issues makes his return to professional competition unlikely.
Sterling on Sean O`Malley`s Immediate Rematch
Separately, Aljamain Sterling weighed in on the controversial decision to grant Sean O`Malley an immediate title rematch against Sterling`s teammate, Merab Dvalishvili. Dvalishvili had recently defeated O`Malley to claim the bantamweight title.
While many observers criticized giving O`Malley an instant second fight, Sterling offered a surprisingly balanced perspective. He stated that although he felt he himself deserved an immediate rematch after losing his title to O`Malley, he also understood that O`Malley`s popularity as a `star` likely influenced the promotion`s booking of the second fight.
Between his fights with O`Malley, Dvalishvili successfully defended his newly won title against the previously undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov, whereas O`Malley had been inactive, recovering from hip surgery.
