T.J. Dillashaw is not sold on Aljamain Sterling as UFC bantamweight champion.
Dillashaw (17-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) is expected to challenge Sterling next, and the former champ doesn’t see any threat from “The Funkmaster,” who called him out right after he unified his title against Petr Yan at UFC 273.
“I’m not too worried about Sterling,” Dillashaw told ESPN. “That callout, it’s a pretty easy fight for me to be honest.”
He continued, “I think it’s gonna be real good. I mean, congratulations to him, implementing his game plan in the fight. He showed some weaknesses in Yan, but stylistically that fight is perfect for me, so he can say anything he wants, but he ain’t gonna be champion for much longer.”
Despite Sterling (21-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) proving Dillashaw wrong by besting Yan in the rematch, Dillashaw doesn’t think he stacks up on the same level as his past opposition.
“He’s good, don’t get me wrong,” Dillashaw said. “He’s got some attributes. He wouldn’t be where he is without being good, but he’s definitely not champion caliber. The guys that I’ve fought already in the past (are) much better than he is, a lot more dangerous. There’s no danger fighting Sterling. Has he ever even knocked anyone out?
“I don’t know. I didn’t even look at his record. It’s a guy that you don’t have to be worried about. There’s no way he’s gonna be out-grappling me. His striking is straight pathetic, so yeah, I’m surprised that he is where he is, and stylistically it’s a great fight for me.”
Dillashaw is confident wherever the fight goes against Sterling but was particularly critical of the champion’s stand-up game.
“He’s scared,” Dillashaw said. “He’s not a true fighter. He’s scared to fight. He’s scared to throw down. There’s a lot of stuff that I could be picking apart, but ultimately it comes down to him just being scared to fight. He doesn’t pack a punch. He’s desperate for them takedowns, and they were ugly takedowns, but he’s able to continue that pressure to get them.”
He continued, “If we do turn this into a grappling match, I’ll show skills that haven’t been shown to their fullest yet, and I can easily dominate on the feet. I think that’s the fun thing is that I can take this fight anywhere. There’s not really any kind fight that I’m worried about … he’s not dangerous. That technique – he’s not gonna submit me, he’s not gonna be able to hold me down. I got better wrestling. D-1 wrestling compared to his Division III, it’s not gonna handle.”
T.J. Dillashaw: Aljamain Sterling isn’t UFC ‘champion caliber,’ stylistically ‘perfect for me’
