UFC president Dana White believes it’s possible that former bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw eventually shakes his reputation of using performance-enhancing drugs.
Ahead of UFC 280, which takes place Saturday in Abu Dhabi and features Dillashaw (17-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) challenging champion Aljamain Sterling (21-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) for the title, White explained how Dillashaw handled his positive drug test and subsequent punishment exceptionally well compared to the status quo.
“First of all, the guy is probably, and I don’t know this for a fact, but I would assume he’s one of the most tested guys in the company right now,” White recently told Barstool Sports. “USADA is probably all over him. But I think he made a mistake, and he handled it like a man. I’ll tell you what: We’ve had a lot of guys in the history of this company who have been busted for steroids and handled it the exact opposite way. They handled it not like men. Dillashaw did. He took it on the chin. You’ve got to respect him for that.”
Dillashaw, now 36, tested positive for recombinant human erythropoietin (better known as EPO) following a failed flyweight title challenge against Henry Cejudo in 2019. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency suspended Dillashaw two years for the positive test.
In the wake of the failure, Dillashaw openly admitted to his use of banned substances and pointed to his struggle to shed 10 pounds and drop to flyweight as the reason for his poor decision.
“It’s hard to hold grudges, because I did it,” Dillashaw told MMA Junkie mid-suspension in 2020. “I made the mistake. 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. Trying to hold onto those grudges, that’s like holding onto the past. I’ve already moved on. I’m ready to push for that next goal and getting my belt back.”
On Saturday, Dillashaw will have the chance to do that. Since his suspension and multiple shoulder surgeries, Dillashaw is 1-0 with a victory over Cory Sandhagen. If he wins, he’ll be the first fighter in UFC history to have three bantamweight title reigns.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 280.
