Aljamain Sterling-T.J. Dillashaw Title Bout Targeted for UFC 279 on Sept. 10

Aljamain Sterling is expected to defend his bantamweight crown against T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 279 on Sept. 10.

MMAjunkie.com was first to report the booking. The bout is expected to be finalized soon, as contracts have not yet been signed. UFC 279 doesn’t yet have an official location or venue.

After winning the 135-pound belt with a controversial disqualification victory over Petr Yan at UFC 259, Sterling defeated Yan via split decision in their rematch at UFC 273 on April 9. The “Funk Master” has won seven consecutive fights in UFC competition, with other notable victories over the likes of Cory Sandhagen, Pedro Munhoz and Jimmie Rivera.

A former two-time bantamweight champion, Dillashaw returned following a two-year USADA suspension at UFC on ESPN 27 last July, when he took a split verdict over Sandhagen. It was Dillashaw’s first appearance since a failed bid to capture flyweight gold at UFC Fight Night 143, when he was stopped by Henry Cejudo in 32 seconds in January 2019.