UFC 280: TJ Dillashaw believes Aljamain Sterling is playing 'mental warfare' with PED accusations

TJ Dillashaw has accused Aljamain Sterling of playing mental warfare following recent comments from the champion.

In the last couple of years, few fighters have been quite as controversial as TJ Dillashaw.

While the subject of doping in combat sports is one that often leads to a lot of debate, the case of TJ Dillashaw regularly stands out as one of the most high profile cases of a fighter being stripped of a belt for cheating.

In this instance, the former two-time UFC bantamweight champion was suspended for two years due to his testing positive for recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO). The news broke after he was beaten in just 32 seconds by Henry Cejudo, leaving the masses to wonder whether or not Dillashaw would ever compete again.

Read more: UFC 280: Aljamain Sterling shows off lean and ripped physique ahead of TJ Dillashaw fight

Alas, the veteran did wind up returning, and he did so triumphantly by grinding out a close decision win over Cory Sandhagen last summer.

The result has set him up nicely for a crack at the belt with the current king of the division being Aljamain Sterling.

‘Funk Master’ hasn’t been shy about poking fun at his rival and in a recent interview, TJ gave his thoughts on Sterling’s suggestion that he’s still using performance-enhancing drugs.

“I try not to hold much ill will when I fight, man. I know I fight better when I’m just relaxed and having fun,” Dillashaw said. 

“I don’t hold a grudge or nothing. I feel he’s [Sterling] got to build something up. I think he’s already building excuses of why I’m gonna beat him, trying to play mental warfare, but it ain’t gonna work with me.”

He may not be planning on testing the waters at flyweight again anytime soon, but TJ Dillashaw definitely stands a