T.J. Dillashaw intends to fight for the bantamweight title in his return to the UFC from suspension, assuming all goes according to plan.

Dillashaw (16-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) still has roughly eight months remaining in a two-year suspension issued by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency beginning in January 2019. The then-UFC bantamweight champ tested positive for banned substances around the time of a quick TKO loss to flyweight champ Henry Cejudo at that month’s UFC on ESPN+ 1.

The doping failure caused Dillashaw to relinquish the UFC’s 135-pound strap, and he’s been on the sidelines since. Dillashaw has taken ownership for his error and is now keen to get back to work once he’s cleared in January. Where does he fit into the scheme of the division? Dillashaw said he was told of a title fight for his comeback but understands there’s still a lot of time to go and the circumstances could change.

“I was told I would get that title fight when I came back, but that doesn’t mean anything,” Dillashaw told MMA Junkie. “I made a mistake – I don’t own rights to anything. But if it was my choice, it would be title fight, if not top-five to prove I should get that title fight. I think that makes sense.

“I’m hoping they just throw me to the dogs. If I can’t get that title fight, I want someone in the top five so that I can get my title fight. I’m not here to play around. I want my belt back. It’s still mine. I’ll be ready.”

Dillashaw has kept a relatively low profile since his suspension began, but he said the time away has been a period of self-improvement. The early months of being on the sidelines were dark and difficult, he said, especially when he was recovering from a pair of surgeries. Dillashaw said he’s come out the other end of it, though, and is very positive about where things currently stand.

“At first it was super tough,” Dillashaw said. “Then I went through two shoulder surgeries back-to-back, so that kind of added to it. Down in the dumps. On the top of the world, then down as far to the bottom as you can get. It was tough. I’m not going to lie. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t. At first it was real, real tough. But I’ve always been mentally strong.

“I work my ass off and this has actually been – I wouldn’t choose to do this – but one of the best breaks I’ve had ever. I’ve got to focus on other parts of my life. I did something I highly regret and I’ve owned up to it and paid the price for it. I hate to say it’s a blessing in disguise, because I would never choose to do it again, but it is.”

Dillashaw said that 2019 was the “hardest year” of his life. Not only did he have to give up his UFC title and endure the embarrassment of being caught cheating, but he was relentlessly mocked by fellow fighters, who seemed to revel in his demise.

Those fighters don’t cause Dillashaw to lose any additional sleep, though, he said. It’s not easy to be put on blast, but in this situation, Dillashaw understands it’s deserved.

“It’s hard to hold grudges, because I did it,” Dillashaw said. “I made the mistake. I dirtied my name myself. It’s not on anybody else. I gave them fuel. It hurts, but that’s part of the payment – part of the payment for how I dirtied my name up. I’ve got to live with it now. Trying to hold onto those grudges, that’s like holding onto the past. I’ve already moved on. I’m ready to push for that next goal and getting my belt back.”

At 34, Dillashaw is not looking to waste time when he gets his career back on track. He has already won UFC gold twice before, and his intention is to do it again.

“Now I guess I get the opportunity to be a three-time champion, which is absurd,” Dillashaw said. “I don’t feel like I should’ve lost it the first time. I get to recapture it all over again. I get to go through this process a (expletive) third time.”