Former champ Dillashaw retires from UFC

Former bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw has retired from the UFC, his agent told ESPN's Marc Raimondi.

Dillashaw recently underwent extensive shoulder surgery following his loss to Aljamain Sterling in October at UFC 280. The 36-year-old, who'll be sidelined for at least a year, also had other shoulder surgeries over the last three years, according to Damon Martin of MMA Fighting.

Dillashaw, one of the greatest bantamweights in UFC history, had two separate title reigns in the promotion.

He won his first championship with a surprising victory over Renan Barao in March 2014 and successfully defended it twice. He eventually lost the belt after a split-decision defeat to Dominick Cruz in 2016.

Dillashaw became the champion again in 2017 after taking down Cody Garbrandt. He received a two-year suspension and relinquished his bantamweight title after testing positive for recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) in April 2019.