Bluntly, Covington explains why he thinks Dillashaw won't be successful in his return to MMA

C. Covington (photo) does not believe in the success of T. Dillashaw's return. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

Just a few days until the return of TJ Dillashaw to the Octagon, after serving a two-year suspension for doping, expectations are rising to see how the former bantamweight champion will perform this Saturday (24). If, for some, the performance of the former bantamweight champion (up to 61,2kg.) against Cory Sandhagen is an unknown, for Colby covington there is no mystery. Representative of the welterweights (up to 77kg.) of Ultimate, 'Caos' is categorical in stating that his compatriot will not be successful in the UFC Las Vegas 32.

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“Usually when you come back from a steroid suspension you don’t do well. It doesn't matter who they put against him (Dillashaw). I don’t see him as the same guy from the past,” said Colby, in an interview with James Lynch.

For Covington, TJ's success is directly related to trust. According to the former interim welterweight champion, the victory of the former Ultimate champion will come up against mental issues.

“Mentally, when you take steroids, you have a laboratory-obtained advantage. When you don't have that, some points change. He's probably doubting himself. That's why he (TJ) postponed the fight (from May to July). (…) I don’t see him having a successful comeback or a win after returning from suspension,” he concluded.

Bantamweight champion between 2017 and 2019, Dillashaw hasn't performed for more than two years, when he dropped to flyweight (up to 56,7kg) and tried to win his second UFC title. On that occasion, the athlete ended up being severely beaten by Henry Cejudo. About three months later, USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) confirmed the maximum punishment for the fighter for using the banned substance EPO (erythropoietin). Even before the sentence, the veteran had relinquished his title in the under-61,2kg category.