
via Getty
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 19: TJ Dillashaw reacts after his loss to Henry Cejudo in their flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at the Barclays Center on January 19, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

via Getty
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 19: TJ Dillashaw reacts after his loss to Henry Cejudo in their flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at the Barclays Center on January 19, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The former two-time bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw is in store for a return to the UFC after a two-year drug suspension. There have been talks of inserting him into the title picture against the winner of Petr Yan vs Aljamain Sterling. However, fellow bantamweight, Cory Sandhagen, has an issue with the same.
Sandhagen called for a title fight after beating Frankie Edgar viciously in 28 seconds in the first round. He also asked for a fight with Dillashaw if there is a need for a No.1 Contenders match.
FLYING KNEE 🤯@cors_life landed the highlight reel KO against Frankie Edgar at #UFCVegas18 pic.twitter.com/JUxFxF2EN9
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 7, 2021
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In light of these advancements, an old video has resurfaced where Dillashaw is talking about sparring with Sandhagen. “The Sandman” wasn’t fighting in the UFC at this time.
“All of my days where I would get my butt kicked, I’ll come home just distraught, just so mad about it and just like I am supposed to be the best in the world, and I just got my butt handed to me in practice,” Dillashaw said.
The current bantamweight prospects of Cory Sandhagen
The two-time UFC bantamweight predicted that Sandhagen will one day become the fighter that he is today.
“We got kids like one of my buddies Cory Sandhagen that I train with now at Muscle Farm in Colorado, and he’ll get the better of me, and he’s not been in the UFC yet, but he’ll be a great fighter, and damn if I can’t beat this guy what’s going on?” He concluded by talking about how he had to let go of his ego and to lose the metaphorical chip on his shoulder.
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‘The Sandman’ is coming off of back-to-back wins against Marlon Moraes and Frankie Edgar. He lost to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 250 which snapped his incredible win streak of seven. Given his recent form, it would be hard to argue against him giving a title shot. However, the dynamic gets interesting when you insert Dillashaw in the equation.
Sandhagen has been campaigning for a fight with Dillashaw even before he fought Edgar. The number two ranked even believes that Dillashaw should be kept out of title contention given his tainted history.
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Do you think TJ Dillashaw deserves a title shot after his USADA suspension?
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