Aljamain Sterling vs T.J. Dillashaw Prediction: Bet title would be won inside the distance

Number one-ranked and number three-ranked UFC Bantamweights will clash in a championship battle at the co-main event of UFC 80 at Etihad Arena in Dubai in a fight that is already spilling bad blood with both fighters exchanging verbal jabs. The 135-pound champion and number one ranked Bantamweight, Aljamain Sterling will be making his second title defense against two-time title holder T.J. Dillashaw. The lead-up to the fight has been shadowed by comments made by Sterling that Dillashaw is still taking performance-enhancing drugs to which the former champion has responded by saying that Sterling is already making excuses for his imminent loss of the Bantamweight championship.

The 33-year-old Jamaican is number seven in the UFC men’s pound-for-puns rankings. He became the first person in UFC history to win a championship by disqualification when he was hit by an intentional illegal knee in the fourth round by Petr Yan. His first title defense was a rematch against Yan this past April at UFC 273. He prevailed against the challenger with a split-decision win. “Funk Master” is on a seven-match win streak. He made his UFC debut in 2014 and some of his best victories came against Cory Sandhagen, Pedro Munhoz, Cody Stamann, and Brett Johns. 

The American fighter first became the UFC Bantamweight champion in 2014 after defeating Renan Barão who came into the bout on a 32-match unbeaten run. In 2016 he lost the championship to Dominick Cruz via split decision. He regained the title against Cody Garbrandt in 2017. After competing for the UFC Flyweight championship he tested positive for erythropoietin, a banned substance. This led to a two-year ban. He came back to defeat Cory Sandhagen in 2021 at UFC on ESPN. Dillashaw has the most knockout wins in UFC Bantamweight division history with seven KOs and most wins in UFC Bantamweight title bouts. 

This fight is going to be phenomenal. Dillashaw has a great record in the Bantamweight division and has been a two-time champion. In spite of that record, the betting lines opened with him as a huge underdog. The Bantamweight division has experienced a lot of churn in champions. Sterling will know this and will be trying to cling to his title much longer. He has the advantages of being younger, having an impressive win streak, and a grappling game. Dillashaw is primarily a striker who fights best on his feet, wherein Sterling has developed a brutal reputation for being a backpacker. These are some of the reasons that have led punters to lean towards the champion retaining his title. The odds also point towards a decision win with no value available in the over rounds betting. Both fighters have been involved in a lot of decision wins. Dillashaw’s last victory in 2019 over Cory Sandhagen was met with controversy because many fans thought he lost the bout. Getting injured too and taking over one year to convalesce means that we cannot guarantee the form of T.J., irrespective of the fact that he has not lost in Bantamweight since a January 2016 loss to Dominick Cruz. We, therefore, think that Aljamain Sterling will find a way to find finish inside the five rounds.

• Under 4.5 rounds at 2.37 odds on Bet365
• Method of Win SD at 2.2 odds on 1Xbet
• Will the fight go the distance, No at 2.27 odds on Betway