Aljamain Sterling laid-out his prediction ahead of his UFC 280 bantamweight title defense against TJ Dillashaw.
The Octagon door will close on Aljamain Sterling and TJ Dillashaw this Saturday in Abu Dhabi, and the champion believes he stops Dillashaw in the very first round of their highly anticipated meeting.
Many fans, fighters, and analysts have labelled Saturday’s event as the ‘card of the year’ with Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev clashing for lightweight gold in the main event. The fight card also consists of a vital bantamweight number one contender fight between rising star Sean O’Malley and former champion Petr Yan.
Sterling has been criticised by the entire MMA community after winning the belt at UFC 259, and the aftermath. Petr Yan threw an illegal knee which resulted in Sterling rightly winning the bantamweight title. However, in the pairs second clash, Sterling left no stone un-turned and edged a split decision over Petr Yan at UFC 273.
On the other hand, Dillashaw is seeking activity after undergoing a two-year suspension after testing positive for the use of EPO. The former two-time bantamweight champion returned in July this year winning a split decision over Cory Sandhagen.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Sterling predicted how he envisions the fight with Dillashaw unfolding:
Aljamain Sterling Predicts First Round Stoppage Victory at UFC 280
“I respect TJ Dillashaw’s credentials and what he’s done, despite what I still think or should I say what I know. He is the most winningest bantamweight right now.
“I take pride in being right there neck and neck with him, and now we get the opportunity, both of us to step in the cage, now the fans are in for a great show because of his style vs my style and we’re gonna see which one prevails.
“He’s a great wrestler, makes fun of my D3 wrestling and he downplays it, and I can’t wait to go out there and just show what D3 wrestling is about.”
“I like to think this is going to be a super competitive fight, and with that said, I think I finish him in one!”
Do you agree with Aljamain Sterling? Can he get TJ Dillashaw out of there in the first five minutes?
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images and Embed from Getty Images
