One of the most anticipated UFC cards of the year takes place this weekend in the United Arab Emirates as Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev headline a blockbuster UFC 280.
The superstar duo will lock horns at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena in the main event to decide who will claim the vacant lightweight championship belt.
Oliveira (33-8, 1 NC) was controversially stripped of the title in May when he failed to make weight by half a pound prior to what should have been his second title defence against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Watch UFC280: Oliveira v Makhachev LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo, Sunday 23 October from 15am AEST. ORDER NOW >
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The stunning turn of events sparked a huge debate over the scales that the UFC use for their athletes, and led to a deflated president Dana White to proclaim: ““Listen, he (Oliveira) is the guy. He’s the guy … I’m sure in the minds of the media and fight fans, Oliveira is the champion. You know?”
And Oliveira certainly proved he was “the guy” against Gaethje, finishing him in little over three minutes via submission with a rear-naked choke hold.
Not only did that result extend Oliveira’s winning streak to 11 fights, dating back to June 2018, but it also further improved the records he already holds for most finishes (19) and submissions (16) in UFC history.
And after only owning the belt for just under a year, after defeating Michael Chandler at UFC 262 in May last year for the title vacated by Khabib Nurmagomedov, Oliveira will be hellbent on recapturing the gold.
However, standing in his way is Dagestani wrecking ball, and Nurmagomedov disciple, Islam Makhachev (22-1) who is riding a 10-fight winning run of his own which dates back six years.
Like Oliveira, Makhachev is a submission machine, with 10 of his 22 victories ending via that method, and the No.4 contender now gets his shot at glory.
Makhachev has been installed a clear favourite for this fight, and he is sure to have the crowd advantage in Abu Dhabi given the affinity Dagestani fighters have with that part of the world.
Australian megastar Alexander Volkanovski will be a keen observer in Abu Dhabi as he sets his sights on a switch to lightweight and the title, with White confirming he will get the next shot.
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But Oliveira vs. Makhachev isn’t the only mouth-watering fight on this card – not by a long shot.
The UFC 280 card is stacked by any measurement.
The co-main event pits Aljamain Sterling against TJ Dillashaw for the bantamweight title, while No.1 contender Petr Yan and 11th-ranked Sean O’Malley also do battle in the bantamweight division in what promises to be the biggest test of O’Malley’s career. Is he a ‘hype train’? Or is he the real deal? We will find out soon enough.
Rounding out the main card is a lightweight contest between No.6 contender Beneil Dariush and ninth-ranked Mateusz Gamrot while No.1 contender Katlyn Chookagian and sixth-ranked Manon Fiorot lock horns in the women‘s flyweight.
All of the action kicks off at 1am AEDT on Sunday with the preliminaries, and then the main card begins at 5am.
It might be an early get-up, but these fights are so tantalising that they simply demand MMA fans all around the country set their alarm clocks!
OLIVEIRA v MAKHACHEV TALE OF THE TAPE
MMA record: Oliveira 33-8 (1 NC), Makhachev 22-1
Age: Oliveira 33, Makhachev 31
Height: Oliveira 5’10”, Makhachev 5’10”
Weight: Oliveira TBC, Makhachev TBC
Reach: Oliveira 74”, Makhachev 70”
ODDS
Oliveira $2.55, Makhachev $1.50
HOW CAN I WATCH UFC 280?
PRELIMS: Watch Live UFC with ESPN on Kayo. Full Fight Night Events, PPV Prelims, Ultimate Fighter Series & More. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial >
MAIN CARD: Watch UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo and Foxtel, Sunday 23rd October from 5am AEDT. ORDER NOW >
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WHEN DOES UFC 280 START?
The main card starts at 5am AEDT
The prelims start at 1am AEDT
UFC 280 CARD
Main card (from 5am AEDT)
Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev – lightweight championship
Aljamain Sterling (c) vs. TJ Dillashaw – bantamweight championship
Petr Yan vs. Sean O’Malley – bantamweight
Beneil Dariush vs. Mateusz Gamrot – lightweight
Katlyn Chookagian vs. Manon Fiorot – women‘s flyweight
Preliminary card (from 1am AEDT)
Belal Muhammad vs. Sean Brady – welterweight
Makhmud Muradov vs. Caio Borralho – middleweight
Nikita Krylov vs. Volkan Oezdemir – light heavyweight
Zubaira Tukhugov vs. Lucas Almeida – featherweight
Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs. Gadzhi Omargadzhiev – welterweight
Armen Petrosyan vs. AJ Dobson – middleweight
Muhammad Mokaev vs. Malcolm Gordon – flyweight
Karol Rosa vs. Lina Länsberg – women‘s bantamweight
