Bret Harte grad T.J. Dillashaw wants to fight for a title after suspension ends
MMA fighter T.J. Dillashaw has eight months remaining of his two-year suspension due to testing positive for banned substances but when he returns, he hopes to fight for the bantamweight title.
“I was told I would get that title fight when I came back, but that doesn’t mean anything,” Dillashaw said in interview with MMA Junkie on Monday.
Dillashaw (17-4), a Bret Harte High School graduate, last faced Henry Cejudo for the flyweight title in January 2019 and lost in the first round.
He was issued a two-year suspension by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in April 2019 retroactive to January and forced to relinquish the 125-pound title.
“I’m hoping they just throw me to the dogs,” Dillashaw said. “If I can’t get that title fight, I want someone in the top five so that I can get my title fight. I’m not here to play around. I want my belt back. It’s still mine. I’ll be ready.”
Cejudo is the current bantamweight champion and is scheduled to fight Jose Aldo for the title in Brazil on May 9, however, that fight may be postponed due to COVID-19.
This story was originally published April 8, 2020 at 8:00 AM.
