Ricky Simon is not a fan of T.J. Dillashaw, and he doesn’t believe the former champion will be able to recapture the title later this year.
A bantamweight title fight between champ Aljamain Sterling and Dillashaw is set for the co-main event of UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi in October, and when that fight ultimately happens, Simon — who picked up his fifth straight win at UFC Long Island this past weekend with a second-round submission of Jack Shore — is going with the champion to retain.
“I got ‘Aljo,’ honestly,” Simon said on The MMA Hour. “I don’t think clean juice T.J. can get it done. I think he’s getting old and I’m just so salty with that guy. Cheating is not something I like, nor do I like the fact that he holds the highest ranking in the division. This is someone that I would like to fight. I match up [well] with any of these guys, but I think the wrestling and the physicality of ‘Aljo’ will be able to beat T.J., ultimately.
Dillashaw returned after a two-year USADA suspension and picked up a controversial split decision win over Cory Sandhagen in the main event of UFC Vegas 32 in July 2021. Dillashaw was suspended after testing positive for recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) stemming from his failed bid to capture the flyweight title against Henry Cejudo in January 2019 and was subsequently stripped of his 135-pound championship.
Simon was asked his thoughts on Dillashaw getting a title shot after just one win following the lengthy suspension.
“He is popular, so it was expected that this would occur. And that Sandhagen fight was very sick,” Simon stated. It was close. But he’s ex-champ, he’s popular like that. He cheats, so it doesn’t make sense. It’s business, I understand it. Let him continue fighting for his title. But, I doubt he will be around much longer .”
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The 29-year-old Simon is hoping to climb the ranks and earn himself an opportunity to fight a Dillashaw, or someone in the top 10 sooner rather than later. But to get there, he’s going to do things the right way. He still has issues with Dillashaw’s situation from three years ago.
“I’m out here and my body hurts, too, but everyone wants a shortcut,” Simon explained. “I don’t know what it is about it, but it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I don’t like that.
“USADA came to me and tried me. I’m usually there in the morning and at night. I like it, because I feel like if this is happening, it’s better for the sport and my opponents are going to get tested like this too, so I’m up for it. However, I don’t enjoy it when men try to take shortcuts. I get tired after hours of hard practice, including in the sauna and hyperbaric treatment. I need to recover so I can continue my efforts.
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