T.J. Dillashaw Reflects on Controversial Sterling Bout, Citing Injury and Perceived Vulnerabilities

Former two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw has provided an in-depth explanation for his decision to proceed with his final professional fight against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 280, despite entering the contest with a significant shoulder injury. The bout, which took place over three years ago, resulted in a lopsided second-round technical knockout loss to then-reigning champion Sterling, sparking considerable fan and critic scrutiny after Dillashaw disclosed the extent of his physical impairment post-fight.

Speaking recently with former rival Dominick Cruz on the Love & War podcast, Dillashaw addressed the controversial decision, detailing his long-standing history of competing through physical adversity and his strategic assessment of Sterling’s championship reign. His rationale hinges on a perceived vulnerability in Sterling’s game and a personal track record of overcoming injuries to secure pivotal victories.

"The point of the story was that I’d dealt with adversity and got wins," Dillashaw stated, referencing past fights where he secured victories despite injuries. He cited his bouts against Cody Garbrandt and Cory Sandhagen as examples where he navigated physical setbacks, including shoulder and knee issues, respectively, to emerge triumphant. These experiences, he explained, fostered a belief in his ability to perform under less-than-optimal conditions.

Central to Dillashaw’s controversial justification was his assessment of Aljamain Sterling as a champion. "Aljamain Sterling to me was the weakest champion that had been and I don’t mean that disrespectful, just like he’s got some holes in his game that I felt like I could exploit," Dillashaw asserted. This perspective was critical in his decision-making, particularly concerning the impact of his shoulder injury. He believed that Sterling’s perceived weaknesses, especially in striking, meant that the fight presented a manageable challenge, provided he could keep the contest standing and leverage his superior grappling without relying heavily on his compromised arm for striking power.

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Dillashaw, whose professional record concluded at 17 wins and 5 losses (12 by knockout), had a decorated career marked by two reigns as the UFC bantamweight champion. His first title reign began with a stunning upset over Renan Barão at UFC 173 in 2014, followed by a successful defense in their rematch. After losing the belt to Dominick Cruz in a closely contested bout, he reclaimed it by defeating Cody Garbrandt at UFC 217 in 2017, defending it once more against Garbrandt. His career, however, was also marked by a two-year suspension for using EPO in 2019, which he served before returning to defeat Cory Sandhagen in a closely contested bout in July 2021, setting the stage for his championship challenge against Sterling.

Aljamain Sterling, meanwhile, had ascended to the bantamweight throne in a controversial manner, winning the title via disqualification against Petr Yan at UFC 259 in March 2021, becoming the first UFC fighter to win a championship by DQ. Despite the contentious nature of his title acquisition, Sterling solidified his reign by defeating Yan in their highly anticipated rematch at UFC 273 in April 2022, followed by a successful defense against Dillashaw at UFC 280. At the time of the Dillashaw fight, Sterling’s professional record stood at 22 wins and 3 losses, showcasing his formidable grappling and evolving striking.

The path to UFC 280 for Dillashaw was fraught with escalating physical challenges. The initial injury occurred during a routine mitt session with coach Tyler Wombles. "I’m hitting mitts with Tyler Wombles and I’m doing this bag drill where I’m slipping and hitting a left hook and I threw a little bit too wide and instantly just felt a tear," Dillashaw recounted. At this point, the injury was characterized more as a limitation in arm elevation and striking ability rather than a complete compromise or dislocation. He maintained confidence, reasoning that Sterling’s striking prowess was not on par with a fighter like Petr Yan, which might have prompted a withdrawal. His grappling, a key component of his game, remained unaffected, bolstering his belief in his ability to compete.

However, the injury’s severity dramatically worsened in the weeks leading up to the Abu Dhabi event. "Four weeks before the fight, I sublux my shoulder," Dillashaw explained, referring to a partial dislocation. This initial subluxation marked a significant escalation. The situation deteriorated further upon his arrival in Abu Dhabi two weeks before the fight, as weight cutting exacerbated the instability. "I would just be doing grappling matches with Juan Archuleta, like wrestling around, and it would dislocate," he revealed.

By this critical juncture, Dillashaw felt irrevocably committed to the fight. "It’s way too late to pull out. I just trained for months for this fight and, to be honest, I don’t want to go back and get another shoulder surgery and just all this s***, so I’m like, I’m going to take the fight," he elaborated on his mindset. The prospect of enduring another lengthy recovery and further surgical intervention weighed heavily on his decision to push through the pain and severe impairment.

The UFC 280 co-main event took place on October 22, 2022, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. On paper, a fully healthy Dillashaw presented a complex stylistic challenge for Sterling. Dillashaw’s reputation for elite wrestling and diverse striking could, theoretically, have neutralized Sterling’s formidable grappling while exposing any perceived deficiencies in the champion’s stand-up game. However, the reality of his injury quickly manifested once the fight began.

In the opening moments of the first round, Dillashaw’s compromised shoulder dislocated, significantly hampering his ability to defend and launch offense. Despite this severe setback, Dillashaw, exhibiting remarkable composure under duress, managed to defend himself from his back for a period. His prior preparation for such an eventuality became evident in the corner between rounds. "I went to my doctor and I asked him, ‘Hey, teach me how to put this back into socket,’" Dillashaw disclosed. This foresight allowed him to manually reset his shoulder before medical personnel could intervene, enabling him to declare himself fit to continue the bout. His aspiration was to "get the knockout and be like that insane, awesome story," a testament to his unwavering, albeit ultimately futile, belief in a miracle comeback.

Despite his valiant efforts and the temporary re-setting of the joint, the damage was too profound. Sterling, seizing the opportunity presented by Dillashaw’s severely compromised state, continued his assault, eventually securing a technical knockout victory in the second round. The fight’s conclusion effectively ended any chance Dillashaw had of reclaiming the bantamweight title and, indeed, marked the end of his illustrious career.

The revelation of Dillashaw’s injury post-fight sparked a wide-ranging debate within the mixed martial arts community regarding fighter welfare, competitive integrity, and the pressures athletes face to compete despite severe physical ailments. In December 2022, just two months after the Sterling bout, T.J. Dillashaw officially announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, citing the chronic nature of his shoulder issues and the necessity for further surgery. Aljamain Sterling went on to successfully defend his title against Henry Cejudo at UFC 288 before losing the belt to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292, further solidifying his place in bantamweight history. Dillashaw’s final fight remains a poignant and controversial chapter in his career, underscoring the immense physical and psychological demands of elite-level competition.

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