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 4 years, at 34 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

Aljamain Sterling had beaten 4 of his last 5 opponents.

In his last fight leading up to this contest, he had won 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.

Previous to that, he had beaten Petr Yan at UFC 259 on 6th March 2021 by split decision in the 4th round in their UFC Bantamweight championship fight at UFC APEX, Las Vegas.

Going into that contest, he had defeated Cory Sandhagen at UFC 250 on 6th June 2020 by submission in the 1st round at UFC APEX, Las Vegas.

Before that, he was victorious against Brett Johns at UFC Fight Night 128 on 21st April 2018 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City.

He had lost to Marlon Moraes at UFC Fight Night 123 on 9th December 2017 by knockout in the 1st round at SaveMart Center, Fresno.

Activity check

Sterling's last 5 fights had come over a period of 6 years, 4 months and 15 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 1 year, 3 months and 10 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 14 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.8 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.