Paul Felder thinks Aljamain Sterling vs. T.J. Dillashaw likely will play out standing.
Bantamweight champion Sterling (21-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) meets Dillashaw (17-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) in the co-main event of UFC 280 on Oct. 22 in Abu Dhabi. With Sterling’s suffocating grappling style and Dillashaw’s collegiate wrestling background, Felder doesn’t expect either man to control the fight on the ground.
Sterling’s style is more unorthodox. The champion was able to take Petr Yan’s back on multiple occasions in their UFC 273 title fight, as well as quickly cinching in a rear-naked choke on Cory Sandhagen to tap him out in their fight in June 2020. But Felder thinks it’ll come down to how Sterling is able to handle the striking exchanges.
“You’ve got two really good wrestlers,” Felder told ESPN. “Aljamain for sure has the ability to take you down, backpack you, wear on you, be on that neck from behind and even if he doesn’t tap you, he’s just dragging those rounds on and winning rounds. But T.J.’s striking is kind of on a different level than Aljamain’s by a little bit. Aljamain has shown a lot of improvements in the striking, really good there, but I think this one in particular really will take place on who’s gonna dictate theirs.
“I don’t see either guy dominating the wrestling exchanges. I think it could be back and forth, both guys getting down. I think Aljamain might be able to get the back and maybe get a submission, but I think it’s gonna be tough, and I think that he’s gonna really have to work on being able to win the boxing and kickboxing exchanges in that one.”
Sterling, who was a big underdog for his rematch against Yan, appears to have gained the respect of the oddsmakers. According to Tipico, Sterling is currently a slight favorite at -180 over Dillashaw, who is a +140 underdog.
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