Dillashaw: I'm already the 'greatest bantamweight' in UFC history
T.J. Dillashaw believes that a win over current bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling at UFC 280 will cement an already impressive legacy.
"I already believe I'm the greatest bantamweight in history," Dillashaw said Wednesday at the UFC 280 media day, according to MMA Junkie's Farah Hannoun and Mike Bohn. "I'm holding all the records, and I'll continue to run my reign, but yeah, I think it'll obviously cement that. But I already believe that. I mean, name a guy that’s got a better resume right now."
Dillashaw (17-4) is searching to reclaim the division title. A victory over Sterling on Saturday would place him alongside Randy Couture as the only two fighters in the promotion to win a title three times within the same division.
The former 135-pound champion was stripped of his title in 2019 following his flyweight match with Henry Cejudo after testing positive for a banned substance. He was handed a two-year suspension as a result.
Following a two-and-half-year layoff, Dillashaw scored a split-decision win over Corey Sandhagen in his return to the Octagon in July 2021. Unfortunately, the 36-year-old sustained a knee injury during the fight, ultimately requiring surgery.
Before losing his title in 2019, the Angels Camp, California, native scored back-to-back finishes over Cody Garbrandt.
Dillashaw believes that everyone, including his opponent on Saturday, is failing to remember just how dominant he can be in the Octagon.
"People forget when you're not out there competing," he said.
The former two-time champion aims to jog memories on Saturday against Sterling in the co-main event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.