TJ Dillashaw makes his highly-anticipated return to the Octagon after a two-year suspension for PED use ... and he's jumping right back into the fire.
Dillashaw clashes with No. 2-ranked bantamweight Cory Sandhagen in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
“They tried to offer me fights that weren’t top five, and I said no. I want someone top five," Dillashaw said during a recent episode of Food Truck Diaries with Brendan Schaub.
"Dude, I’m coming back. I’m 35-years-old. I want my belt back. I never lost it. I’m here to prove a point that I’m the best in the world, and what better way to do it then get back right to the top? Cory Sandhagen is a great opponent. I trained a ton with him. He’s a great athlete, but it’s a great fight for me."
Dillashaw last fought in January 2019, when he suffered a first-round TKO at the hands of Henry Cejudo. He then started a two-year suspension for testing positive for recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO).
He'll be facing a game Sandhagen who bounced back from a first-round submission loss to Aljamain Sterling in June 2020 with back-to-back stoppage wins over Marlon Moraes and Frankie Edgar in October and this past February, respectively.
Will Dillashaw immediately make a splash by finishing Sandhagen or will "The Sandman" get the best of his former training partner?
Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Cory Sandhagen vs. TJ Dillashaw at UFC Fight Night.
When is UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw? Date, start time
- Date: Saturday, July 24
- Time: 7 p.m. ET/12 a.m. BST
- Main event: 9:30 p.m. ET/2:30 a.m. BST
The UFC Fight: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw main card launches at 7 p.m. ET/12 a.m. BST. Sandhagen and Dillashaw are expected to make their walks to the Octagon at approximately 9:30 p.m. ET/2:30 a.m. BST although that depends on the length of the earlier fights on the card.
What channel/stream is UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw?
- US: ESPN/ESPN+
- UK: BT Sport 2
The Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw main card can be watched live on television on ESPN in the United States. You can also live stream the card via ESPN+. Meanwhile in the UK the event will be on BT Sport.
Where is Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw?
Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw at UFC Fight Night will take place live from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Sandhagen has fought at the venue twice. Dillashaw has never fought at the site, but isn't a stranger to competing in Las Vegas.
Cory Sandhagen record and Bio
- Nationality: American
- Born: April 20, 1992
- Height: 5-11
- Reach: 70 inches
- Total fights: 16
- Record: 14-2
TJ Dillashaw record and Bio
- Nationality: American
- Born: Feb. 7, 1986
- Height: 5-6
- Reach: 67 inches
- Total fights: 20
- Record: 16-4
UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw main card
- Cory Sandhagen vs. TJ Dillashaw; Bantamweight
- Aspen Ladd vs. Macy Chiasson; Women's Bantamweight
- Kyler Phillips vs. Raulian Paiva; Bantamweight
- Darren Elkins vs. Darrick Minner; Featherweight
- Miranda Maverick vs. Maycee Barber; Women's Flyweight
- Mickey Gall vs. Jordan Williams; Welterweight