Sterling vs Dillashaw

Who won Sterling vs Dillashaw?

Aljamain Sterling beat T.J. Dillashaw by knockout in the 2nd round during the co-main event of UFC 280, on Saturday 22nd October 2022 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 5 rounds in the Bantamweight division, which meant the weight limit was 135 pounds (9.6 stone or 61.2 KG).

This contest was for the UFC Bantamweight championship.

Sterling vs Dillashaw stats

Aljamain Sterling stepped into the octagon with a record of 21 wins, 3 losses and 0 draws, 2 of those wins coming by the way of knock out and 8 by submission.

T.J. Dillashaw made his way to the cage with a record of 17 wins, 4 losses and 0 draws, 8 of those wins coming by knock out and 3 by submission.

This was Aljamain Sterling's 20th fight in the UFC, having made his debut for the promotion in 2014.

Aljamain Sterling's UFC record stood at 16-4-0, while T.J. Dillashaw's came in at 13-5-0.

The stats suggested Dillashaw had a massive power advantage over Sterling, boasting a 47% knock out percentage over Sterling's 10%.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested Sterling had an advantage over Dillashaw, with a 38% submission rate over Dillashaw's 18%.

Aljamain Sterling was the younger man by 3 years, at 35 years old.

Sterling had a height advantage of 1 inch over Dillashaw. That also extended to a 3-inch reach advantage.

Sterling was arguably the more experienced fighter, having had 3 more fights, and made his debut in 2011, 1 year later than Dillashaw, whose first professional fight was in 2010. He had fought 18 more professional rounds, 76 to Dillashaw's 58.

Sterling vs Dillashaw form

Sterling had beaten 4 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 1 of them, going to the judges 3 times.

In his last fight leading up to this contest, he had won against Calvin Kattar at UFC 300 on 13th April 2024 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States.

Previous to that, he had lost to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 on 19th August 2023 by knockout in the 2nd round in their UFC Bantamweight championship fight at TD Garden, Boston.

Going into that contest, he had beaten Henry Cejudo at UFC 288 on 6th May 2023 by split decision in their UFC Bantamweight championship fight at Prudential Center, Newark.

Before that, he had defeated T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 280 on 22nd October 2022 by knockout in the 2nd round in their UFC Bantamweight championship fight at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

He was victorious against Petr Yan at UFC 273 on 9th April 2022 by split decision in their UFC Bantamweight championship fight at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, United States.

Dillashaw had beaten 4 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 2 of them, going the distance twice.

In his last fight before this contest, he had won against Cory Sandhagen at UFC Vegas 32 on 24th July 2021 by split decision in their 5 round contest at UFC APEX, Las Vegas, United States.

Previous to that, he had been beaten by Henry Cejudo at UFC on ESPN+ 1 on 19th January 2019 by knockout in the 1st round in their UFC Flyweight championship fight at Barclays Center, Brooklyn.

Going into that contest, he had beaten Cody Garbrandt at UFC 227 on 4th August 2018 by knockout in the 1st round in their UFC Bantamweight championship fight at Staples Center, Los Angeles.

Before that, he had defeated Cody Garbrandt at UFC 217 on 4th November 2017 by knockout in the 2nd round in their UFC Bantamweight championship fight at Madison Square Garden, New York City.

He was victorious against Raphael Assuncao at UFC 200 on 9th July 2016 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.

Activity check

In terms of activity leading into the fight, Aljamain Sterling had been fighting more than T.J. Dillashaw.

Going to this contest, Aljamain Sterling had last fought 4 months and 29 days ago, while T.J. Dillashaw's last outing had been 3 years, 1 month and 18 days ago.

Sterling's last 5 fights had come over a period of 2 years, 5 months and 2 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 5 months and 26 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 17 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 3.4 rounds on average.

Dillashaw's last 5 fights had come over a period of 8 years, 2 months and 2 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 1 year, 7 months and 20 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 12 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.4 rounds on average.

What were the odds on Sterling vs Dillashaw?

Aljamain Sterling was a 57/100 (-180) favourite going into the contest, while T.J. Dillashaw made his way into the ring at 3/2 (+150) with oddsmakers.