Sunday’s UFC 280 is set to be a massive event at Abu Dhabi – and Friday only cemented the lofty expectations as fighters clashed in a heated public press-conference, with one face-off seeing a superstar shove his rival in the chest.
T.J Dillashaw (17-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) takes on bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (21-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) in Saturday’s co-main event on Yas Island, and the pair’s long-running war of wards lit up again.
Dillashaw will become the 135-pound champion for a third time should he overcome Sterling, completing his long road back to the top after a doping ban.
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‘You can test these nuts in your mouth’ | 00:35
The American tested positive for recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) after losing a flyweight title fight to Henry Cejudo in January 2019, subsequently copping a two-year suspension.
And Sterling has spent months stating again and again that he believes Dillashaw is still doping – an allegation that made Sterling explode at the press conference.
Asked about his claims, Sterling said: “Actually I got a couple questions. For some reason, I haven’t seen T.J. in any of the ‘Embedded’ episodes (UFC’s behind-the-scenes footage). That’s how he got caught last time. I wonder if there’s something going on again that might be a little fishy T.J.”
Dillashaw’s initial response was composed, saying: “Look, I’ve come to terms with it. It’s time now.”
But Sterling prodded further, asking him to speak up and talk “like a man.”
Dillashaw had had enough. “You’re gonna get your ass-whooped by a cheater, mother***er … He’s so worried about it, he can come test me himself. He can test these nuts in his mouth.”
The crowd erupted – but that wasn’t the only time they were sent into a frenzy.
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Bantamweight contenders Petr Yan and Sean O’Malley were also vicious in their exchanges. Yan (16-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) had labelled O’Malley (15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) a “Conor McGregor wannabe” in the lead-up to their bout.
Asked about his reaction, O’Malley said today: “I mean, Conor, some of the stuff he’s done recently, I don’t want to be. But he’s had a pretty sweet career, so that’s someone that’s not too bad to (be compared with),” O’Malley said. But as fans began to boo, he changed tack, saying: “I’m going to smash Petr, how about that? Is that a better answer?”
After O’Malley went on to question Yan’s official listed height of 5 foot 7 – “There’s no way, he’s 5-5” – Yan went off.
“It’s not about the height,” Yan said. “Just look at him. He’s like a whore on the side of the road.”
Their rivalry went to another level when they faced off on stage. In an intense staredown, Yan shoved ‘Suga’ across the stage. But O’Malley appeared unbothered, simply raising his arms to invoke cheers from the crowd.
He took to Instagram afterwards to share a photo of the stare-down, joking: “I’d push me too.”
Volk ready for late UFC 280 call-up | 00:48
OLIVEIRA SLAMS ‘BULL****TING’ ISLAM
In the highly-anticipated main event, Charles Oliveira (33-8 MMA, 21-8 UFC) will face Islam Makhachev (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) for the vacant lightweight title.
Oliveira missed weight for what should have been his second title defence in May at UFC 274, before submitting Justin Gaethje in a wild fight.
Now he’s out to reclaim the belt he lost due to the weight mishap – but there’s no love lost between the rivals.
The Dagestani/Russian Makhachev is based in Abu Dhabi, with Brazil’s Oliveira saying he was feeling increasingly confident fighting on enemy territory after a win in Gaethje’s hometown.
“I’m home. I like being in places like this,” Oliveira said. “I always invite them to come to my house. They never come to my house, so I knock on people’s doors and go to theirs.”
But Mackhachev hit back, claiming he had asked to fight Oliveira in Brazil next January at UFC 283.
“When they announce the fight in Brazil, I ask Dana (White, UFC boss), ‘Please, my team is ready,’” Makhachev said. “‘Let’s go. I want to make this in Brazil.’ We ask about Brazil many times. If you don’t know this, ask Dana.”
But Oliveira was having none of it.
“This fight was not meant to happen in Brazil. You guys are just bulls***ting all the time,” Oliveira said.
He added: “In no moment, you never wanted this fight to be in Brazil. You never mentioned Brazil. Don’t worry, daddy’s here.”
Makhachev hit back by claiming Oliveira had been avoiding a fight with him.
“You tried to avoid this fight how many months? You don’t say my name,” Makhachev said. “I never heard you say my name. Conor, Nate Diaz, someone, but you never say Islam. Never.”
It all adds up to a stacked card that should deliver plenty of fireworks in the cage.
