UFC Bantamweight champion Petr Yan sees T.J. Dillashaw as the potential opponent after Aljamain Sterling.
Petr Yan is booked to face Aljamain Sterling next, however, the Bantamweight champion is already mulling over what lies ahead of UFC 259. The Russian got hold of the UFC gold in July 2020 but hasn’t entered the Octagon as the champion yet.
On March 6, against Sterling, it will be Yan’s first title defense stint and according to him, it will not be his last. The 27-year-old has a deep knowledge of the division and says after getting over Sterling he will look to fight T.J. Dillashaw.
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UFC Bantamweight champion Petr Yan wants to face T.J. Dillashaw Post UFC 259
Speaking to Fanatics View, Yan went through the top contenders of the 135-pound weight class, and zeroed down on the name of T.J. Dillashaw, as an ideal challenger.
“Edgar, older. It’s not big,” Yan said, discussing potential opponents. “Fan base is not good. Sandhagen, he lose to Sterling. I think maybe Dillashaw. T.J. Dillashaw is back after doping tests. I want a fight with him.”
Dillashaw has completed his 2-year suspension for violating the doping regulations, and is now eligible to compete again, however, will he be in the title contention straightaway is a matter of discussion. When asked the same to Yan, he said it’s up to the matchmakers to decide.
“It’s up to the UFC,” Yan said via a translator. “However they decide, if the term is right, then I’m going to fight him whenever. Just let’s make sure that he’s not going to use anything prohibited this time.
“I think it’s a real great fight and I win. He’s older. He took two years, don’t fight and now, if I remember, he’s 34 years. It’s older for bantamweight division.”
While Yan Vs. Sterling is a much-anticipated fight and on papers, it appears to be an evenly contested contest, so, whoever will win will become the new king of the division but in order to cement the legacy in the division, one has to get the better of T.J. Dillashaw at some point.
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