Dillashaw: 2-year suspension 'somewhat of a blessing'

HOLLYWOOD, California - Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw may be currently barred from dominating in the Octagon, but he's using his two-year USADA suspension as an opportunity to excel in the business world.

"This suspension has been somewhat of a blessing," Dillashaw told theScore at the Bellator 228 open workouts. "Obviously it's a real shitty situation. ... (But) you've got to turn a negative into a positive as best you can. I've really got to focus on my business side of things. I have a cold press juice company that I'm opening here in Yorba Linda. I'm actually becoming the area developer for all of Southern California, which is a real big deal. We plan on opening 63 stores in Southern California. ... I have some other projects in the works where I'm a silent (partner) in."

Dillashaw was stripped of his bantamweight title and suspended for two years after testing positive for recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) following his loss to Henry Cejudo at UFC Brooklyn. Aside from taking the extra time afforded to him to grow his businesses, the 33-year-old is also dedicating more time to being a father.

"I've also got a one-and-a-half-year-old son that I've got to spend a lot of time with," Dillashaw said. "That first year of his life, I didn’t get to put in as much time as I wanted to because I was so busy worrying about the next fight ... So it's been a good distraction for me."

Bellator 228 takes place Sept. 28 at The Forum in Inglewood, California. Dillashaw's teammate Juan Archuleta faces featherweight champion Patricio "Pitbull" Freire in the main event as part of the 145-pound Grand Prix.

Watch the full interview with Dillashaw below and subscribe to theScoreMMA Youtube channel here.