Big-Time Bantamweights
By Eddie Sanchez
Just over two weeks have passed since the disappointing ending to Petr Yan’s (15-2) disqualification loss, against Aljamain Sterling (20-3), at UFC 259. The division has a new champion in Sterling, but there was some criticism from fans regarding the ending.
The criticism wasn’t necessarily directed to whether it was a legitimate stoppage, but rather the post-fight attitude from Sterling. “I’m just gonna give my brain the time it needs to heal,” Sterling said to The Schmo.
“I was very eager. I was kind of emotional. I was like, ‘I just wanna run this back right away.’ But then, when I came down from the high of the adrenaline dump, I really started to feel everything. And I was like, ‘Yeah, maybe I should chill.’ I just did two training camps back to back for Yan. He pulled out of the first one. We had this one. He threw an illegal knee. The guy doesn’t know the rules. He’s a ‘champion’ but doesn’t know the rules. Crazy.”
While he is justified to carry this opinion, I can also understand the disappointment from fans who wish to see the division truly settled. Although he states he would like to have some time before a rematch, I’m sure Dana and the UFC will secure a rematch between the rivals sooner rather than later.
As frustrating as this minor tie-up can be for fans, there are potential shake-ups within the rankings scheduled to take place with some familiar names.
TJ Dillashaw (16-4) is set to make his return following a two year suspension for taking EPO against the number two ranked Cory Sandhagen (14-2).
This is a HUGE fight for a few reasons. Dillashaw has a loyal following, even despite the PED suspension and Sandhagen is surging at the moment. This is a sink-or-swim opportunity for the former champ and fans will get a clear answer about how much TJ has left in the tank.
Sadhagen will not make it easy on TJ though. He will enter this matchup coming off two knockout victories against Marlon Moraes and Frankie Edgar respectively.
It’s likely that the winner of this fight will get the next title shot after the inevitable Sterling-vs-Yan rematch, but in the case that the UFC would like another bout in between that possibility, there is another fight scheduled that would produce a great opportunity to cash-in if a certain somebody is to win.
Number three ranked Rob Font (18-4) will take on number four Cody ‘No Love’ Garbrandt (12-3) two weeks after Dillashaw’s return. Font is riding a three fight winning streak, but Cody is motivated to continue his redemption tour.
Given that these two bouts are on schedule with each other, if Cody Garbrandt is victorious in his return from injuring his elbow, we could potentially get an emotional trilogy between Dillashaw and No Love.
There is bad blood between the two Americans as Dillashaw knocked out Cody twice in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Following the second knockout, Dillashaw lost his bid on becoming champ-champ when he got knocked-out by Henry Cejudo. Compounding this loss even more, Dillashaw was then suspended for EPO use, which Cody believes was a regular occurrence which dated back to their two meetings.
Whether or not Cody’s beliefs are true, the bad blood felt between the rivals will be on everyone’s mind as we watch their respective returns.
There are a lot of If’s that need to be settled for that trilogy to take place, but regardless of what happens, the Bantamweight division has some excitement with six of the top fighters ready to make a claim for their bid to becoming champion.
