MMA Preview – Aljamain Sterling vs TJ Dillashaw at UFC 280
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ALJAMAIN STERLING VS TJ DILLASHAW FACTS
When is UFC 280? Saturday 22nd October, 2022 -17:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 280? Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi (UAE)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 280? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 280
What channel is UFC 280 on? BT Sport 3 (prelims)
Where can I stream UFC 280? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
ALJAMAIN STERLING VS TJ DILLASHAW LOWDOWN
Aljamain Sterling (21-3) has emerged as the rightful bantamweight champion after two meetings with Petr Yan. It is hard to forget how he originally claimed the belt after putting some milk into a clearly illegal knee resulting in a disqualification. He then took a year out to recover from injuries letting Yan stew on his actions but when they finally got a second date, Sterling showed off his elite-level grappling to subdue Yan enough to keep his gold. That win has capped an impressive seven-fight win streak which will be tough to extend in this stacked division.
The former champion TJ Dillashaw (17-4) has recovered from knee surgery and is ready for his eighth UFC title fight. That injury occurred while fending off a submission attempt from Cory Sandhagen back in July last year. It happened early in the five round battle and considering he had not fought since his loss to Henry Cejudo in January 2019, to earn a split decision over one of the best fighters in the division was an incredible feat. He now faces another huge task and opportunity to cement his legacy as one of the best 135ers of all time.
ALJAMAIN STERLING VS TJ DILLASHAW PREDICTION
Sterling’s blueprint to beating Dillashaw has to be similar to Yan’s. He can strike, but like Yan, Dillashaw is on another level so expect him to lace up his wrestling boots again and try and cling on to the back for dear life.
You would have to fancy a prime Dillashaw to defend the takedowns and proceed to light Sterling up on the feet. However, there are a lot of miles on the clock now, he is recovering from a badly injured knee which is crucial to his movement and he has only fought once in nearly four years. Sterling however, is in his prime and full of confidence.
The champ has five-round experience with an elite striker and he will back himself to hang with Dillashaw on the feet and be able to control him on the canvas. So, expect him to patiently circle waiting to pounce on a single leg takedown.
However, Dillashaw is also an exceptional wrestler and even with an unhealthy knee and a bit of rust, we expect him to defend the majority of takedown attempts. That said, Sterling’s control is so strong, he only needs one takedown to steal the round.
If Sterling gains Dillashaw’s respect on the feet, particularly with his kicks, the takedown will be there. On the flip side, if Dillashaw successfully defends the first few takedowns, Sterling’s confidence will drop and he may expend more energy shooting in while Dillashaw begins to pick him apart.
Dillashaw has not had to wrestle for five rounds and Sterling’s jiu-jitsu is also top tier. That said, Dillashaw’s takedown defence is excellent and he has never been submitted. We feel Dillashaw will get taken down eventually, but he will do enough damage on the feet to sway the judges and do not be surprised if Duane Ludwig has conjured a plan to set up a knockout.
Prediction: Dillashaw via Decision
Value Bet: Dillashaw via KO/TKO
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