TJ Dillashaw (image via YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Petr Yan has said that after he faces Aljamain Sterling next month, he wants to fight former UFC bantamweight champ, T.J. Dillashaw next. But, the latter’s wondering if Yan’s hoping to catch him before he’s shaken off any cage rust.

Yan is booked to fight Sterling on March 6th at UFC 258. Leading up to the fight, the Russian fighter has made it clear he’s interested in fighting Dillashaw after.

Dillashaw hasn’t fought now since January, 2019, when he was quickly stopped by Henry Cejudo. After the loss, the American tested positive for recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) and was suspended for two years.

While talking to Mike Swick recently on the TUF pioneer’s podcast, Dillashaw had this to say about Yan’s callout (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“Everyone’s gotta kind of wrap their head around coming back and getting back in there, but no, I’m ready to go straight for the belt,” Dillashaw said. “If that’s the opportunity that comes at me, because I know that Yan wants it, he’s already been vocally talking about it and we’ll see what happens on March 6 when he fights Sterling. He’s got a tough test ahead of him, but that’s the fight he wants. I feel like I didn’t leave this sport by losing my belt. He knows that there’s a lot of speculation if he’s the real champ because he hasn’t beaten the champion to get that belt, so he wants it. As well as that, I’m the biggest draw for him right now to try to fight.

“Maybe he’s thinking me coming back for my first fight might be the best time to catch me as well too, try to catch me slipping. But that’s what I want. The ultimate goal for me is to be the champion. The greatest things come to you when you’re champion, the goal is to be the champion, so why not get out there and get it done.”

Prior to facing Cejudo, Dillashaw (16-4) had won four straight bouts and that included winning the bantamweight title in 2017 for a second time.

Yan (15-1) won the vacant bantamweight title last July by stopped Jose Aldo.

UFC 258 will be hosted by the Apex Facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.