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On March 20, 2019, T.J. Dillashaw relinquished his UFC bantamweight title in response to a failed USADA drug test stemming from his failed flyweight title bid against Henry Cejudo at UFC Brooklyn that January. Dillashaw tested positive for EPO, and in lieu of fighting the claims, owned up to everything and accepted a two-year suspension. That suspension is now over halfway done, meaning Dillashaw will be eligible to compete again in nine months, and when he does, he says the UFC has told him he’ll be thrown right back into the title picture.
“I was told I would get that title fight when I came back, but that doesn’t mean anything,” Dillashaw told MMAJunkie recently. “I made a mistake – I don’t own rights to anything. But if it was my choice, it would be title fight, if not top-five to prove I should get that title fight. I think that makes sense.
“I’m hoping they just throw me to the dogs. If I can’t get that title fight, I want someone in the top five so that I can get my title fight. I’m not here to play around. I want my belt back. It’s still mine. I’ll be ready.”
As one might expect, Dillashaw’s admission of using performance enhancing drugs was met with a good deal of derision from fans and fighters. But despite all the bad that’s associated with it, Dillashaw says getting caught using EPO may have been a blessing in disguise because it has allowed him to heal his body and spend time with his family away from the every day grind of a champion’s life.
“At first it was super tough,” Dillashaw said. “Then I went through two shoulder surgeries back-to-back, so that kind of added to it. Down in the dumps. On the top of the world, then down as far to the bottom as you can get. It was tough. I’m not going to lie. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t. At first it was real, real tough. But I’ve always been mentally strong.
“I work my ass off and this has actually been – I wouldn’t choose to do this – but one of the best breaks I’ve had ever. I’ve got to focus on other parts of my life. I did something I highly regret and I’ve owned up to it and paid the price for it. I hate to say it’s a blessing in disguise, because I would never choose to do it again, but it is.”
Dillashaw is eligible to compete again starting Jan. 19, 2021, but when he does come back it will be to a very different bantamweight division. After he vacated his title, Henry Cejudo moved up to bantamweight and won the vacant belt. Cejudo his currently set to defend his title against former featherweight champion Jose Aldo and following that, there is a line of new contenders waiting to get their shot at the title, including Petr Yan, Aljamain Sterling, and Cory Sandhagen.
It’s a whole new world for Dillashaw when he returns, and that means a chance to undue some of the damage he did to his own name.
“I made the mistake,” Dillashaw said. “I dirtied my name myself. It’s not on anybody else. I gave them fuel. It hurts, but that’s part of the payment – part of the payment for how I dirtied my name up. I’ve got to live with it now. . . I’m ready to push for that next goal and getting my belt back.
“Now I guess I get the opportunity to be a three-time champion, which is absurd. I don’t feel like I should’ve lost it the first time. I get to recapture it all over again. I get to go through this process a (expletive) third time.”
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VIDEO STEW
The A-Side Live Chat with Cory Sandhagen.
Namajunas vs. Andrade.
Stipe’s UFC debut.
Izzy’s debut.
Urijah getting weird.
A video of the top-15 fighters by ELO from 1992 to present. There’s a lot to argue with here, but it’s still pretty interesting.
LISTEN UP
Coffee Talk. Discussing UFC 249 and the coronavirus with Pat Wyman.
Severe MMA. Discussing UFC 249’s status, Jon Jones, and Bellator.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Beef.
I own that weight class too! No where to hide @Cody_Nolove #bendtheknee https://t.co/QDaiNCzxgQ
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) April 5, 2020
We will see you. If you are calling the shots and picking your fights. Then I’ll see you soon. We all know when you’re the champ you call the shots. No easy way out for you at any weight class. https://t.co/UKHPhIU3f9
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) April 5, 2020
Did Ali write that for you?
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) April 5, 2020
We all know @AliAbdelaziz00 bends you over both of his knees https://t.co/UzgYPMHHAn
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) April 5, 2020
Cody Garbage you are funny! https://t.co/B8k1vMYxxx
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) April 5, 2020
More beef.
What happened to the plan to fight me? ♂️ https://t.co/jKdv33hu7K
— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) April 5, 2020
I’d fight you wherever! That was my plan to fight you and June/ July like I stated but you took a fight. ♂️ https://t.co/lr5MxT1OBz
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) April 5, 2020
I took the main event fight against #1 ranked in the division. Was I supposed to wait 6 months for a guy on 3 fight loosing streak? No Chin and No Logic ♂️ https://t.co/KQ6tO3oXo1
— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) April 5, 2020
Cold.
@TWooodley pic.twitter.com/z1H6ffTkMb
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) April 5, 2020
Dana responding to a fake account with real info it seems.
Absolutely NOT true!!! The card is happening but @TeamKhabib is out. I will announce the entire card tomorrow.
— Dana White (@danawhite) April 6, 2020
Izzy hit 25 very quickly.
UFC athletes still doing their part to protect clean sport. Last month's 25x perfect test history milestone goes to 2 athletes at the absolute TOP of their games:@stylebender @JanBlachowicz
— Jeff Novitzky (@JeffNovitzkyUFC) April 3, 2020
Thank you guys for your dedication and leadership.
Weird.
B.J. is apparently retired.
B.J. Penn apparently announced his retirement from MMA on Tito Ortiz’s Instagram Live. pic.twitter.com/MqZILIR7Pi
— Borrachinha Depot (@FullContactMTWF) April 5, 2020
Bisping, saying what everyone is feeling.
Fuck I’m bored
— michael (@bisping) April 6, 2020
John Kavanagh respecting the best book in MMA history.
When I got this it was for a joke. I didn't think one day it might be the difference in death or survival. Thank you @ForrestGriffin pic.twitter.com/6T8ToQnl4J
— Coach Kavanagh (@John_Kavanagh) April 5, 2020
Jim Miller: ‘This means war.’
Din Thomas even more out there than Jim Miller.
The REAL Tiger King!!! @tigerkingnetflix @netflix @joe_exotic @joerogan @danawhite @tiger.king.memes @rorykarpfdirector @slightlyaskewfilms @msjuliemcmahon @joshcohenradio @mattserrabjj @shaq #tigerking #netflix #joeexotic #coronapocalypse #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/3KRUpJzR8G
— Din Thomas (@DinThomas) April 5, 2020
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
N/A.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.
EXIT POLL
Poll
Should T.J. Dillashaw get an immediate title shot upon his return?
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