Former two-time UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw believes current division king Aljamain Sterling may never compete in the Octagon again.

Dillashaw (17-4), the top-ranked fighter in the 135-pound division, is sidelined until 2022 after undergoing knee surgery for ligament damage he sustained during his split-decision win over Cory Sandhagen in July. The injury scrapped any plans he had for trying to win the bantamweight title a third time this year.

Although he had no choice but to get this recent surgery, he has pushed back surgically repairing other major injuries in the past. Most notably, he repaired damage to the rotator cuffs, labrums, and more in both shoulders during his two-year ban for testing positive for performance enhancers. However, if not for his suspension, he may not have gotten the work done as soon as he did.

Dillashaw, 35, believes current bantamweight champion Sterling (20-3) should have done the same when it comes to the neck issues the New Yorker claims he has had since his collegiate wrestling days.

TJ Dillashaw is unsure if Aljamain Sterling ever returns to the UFC

Following his disqualification title win over Petr Yan in Mar., the “Funkmaster” went under the knife to fix his neck issues. The surgery pushed a rematch back to October. However, last week Sterling removed himself from the bout because of nerve issues in his surgically repaired neck. Cory Sandhage will now face former champ Yan in an interim title fight at UFC 267. Dillashaw believes that surgery was a bad decision.

You’re on top of the world. You’re champion. Yeah, you won it the way you did but now you’re going to start getting paid like a champion. You’re going to have these big fights. Take advantage of them while you can. Don’t go out and get this neck surgery,” Dillashaw said during a Tuesday appearance on “>The MMA Hour. … I understand he’s got the problem, he has the injuries. I was dealing with two blown-out shoulders when I was the champion but I wasn’t willing to sit out for a year cause I had big paydays.

Nerve damage in the neck is a very serious problem to have for an athlete competing in such a physically demanding sport as MMA. It’s understandable to get such an issue fixed, but that sort of procedure, and returning to form, is far from guaranteed. Most notably, NFL legend Peyton Manning had neck surgery in 2011 and wasn’t nearly the same player in the back half of the four years he played after the procedure.

Dillashaw has his doubts on if the champ can fully recover from such an issue, and he feels that way based on intel he has received about the surgery from folks in his camp.

I don’t even know if Aljo’s ever going to come back to be honest. From what he had done, it’s kind of crazy. If I was him, I would have waited to get that done. My coaches, my strength and conditioning coach as well as my wrestling coach sell the medical equipment that did his neck, don’t believe he’s ever going to come back,” said Dillashaw.

I think he’s just holding onto this belt as long as he can. I’ve had that feeling already so when he pulled out of the fight, I wasn’t surprised. I bet he’s dealing with nerve damage. I bet he’s dealing with a lot of stuff. You go get your neck cranked on with what he’s had done, it’s definitely not good. We’ll see. I could be completely wrong but I don’t know if he’s ever going to come back.

What do you think? Will Sterling bounce back from his neck issues and regain his championship level upon his return?