![UFC 280: Oliveira vs Makhachev [Image courtesy: UFC.com]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/10/24b0e-16658995847666-1920.jpg)
![UFC 280: Oliveira vs Makhachev [Image courtesy: UFC.com]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIH/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA//aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAvWQm/8QAHhAAAwACAQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDAAQFERJRocH/2gAIAQEAAT8ATkU3uRSFloJrUntHmbeuvzNdxaE6MCC6hiM//8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACA//aAAgBAgEBPwDJW6T/xAAXEQEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAID/9oACAEDAQE/ANQKDP/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The UFC is headed to the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE, for its highly stacked pay-per-view event, UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev. The event will take place on October 22, and features a series of intriguing matchups for MMA fans.
The card will be headlined by a highly anticipated showdown between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev. The pair will step into the octagon with a combined 21-fight unbeaten streak and battle it out for the vacant UFC lightweight title.
Taking the co-main event spot at UFC 280 will be a bantamweight clash between defending champion Aljamain Sterling and former two-time bantamweight titleholder T.J. Dillashaw.
Check out the pre-fight press conference and weigh-ins schedule for the UFC 280 event below:
Press conference
The pre-fight press conference for UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev will take place on Thursday, October 20, and can be watched live on the promotion's official website, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch accounts.
Official and ceremonial weigh-ins
The official and ceremonial weigh-ins for the UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev event will take place on Friday, October 21, and can be followed live on the aforementioned platforms.
NOTE: The dates are estimated based on the usual schedule for UFC events and are subject to change as they are yet to be officially confirmed.
Check out the full card and betting odds for UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev below.
UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev main card
Check out the full card and betting odds for UFC 280 below:
(Lightweight title) Charles Oliveira +155 vs. Islam Makhachev -180 [favorite]
(Bantamweight title) Aljamain Sterling -170 [favorite] vs. T.J. Dillashaw +145
(Bantamweight) Petr Yan -305 [favorite] vs. Sean O’Malley +255
(Lightweight) Beneil Dariush +165 vs. Mateusz Gamrot -195 [favorite]
(Women's flyweight) Katlyn Chookagian +155 vs. Manon Fiorot -180 [favorite]
UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev preliminary card
(Welterweight) Belal Muhammad +120 vs. Sean Brady -140 [favorite]
(Middleweight) Makhmud Muradov +190 vs. Caio Borralho -225 [favorite]
(Light heavyweight) Volkan Oezdemir +145 vs. Nikita Krylov -170 [favorite]
(Featherweight) Zubaira Tukhugov -155 [favorite] vs. Lucas Almeida +135
UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev early preliminary card
(Welterweight) Abubakar Nurmagomedov -175 [favorite] vs. Gadzhi Omargadzhiev +150
(Middleweight) Armen Petrosyan -210 [favorite] vs. AJ Dobson +180
(Flyweight) Magomed Mokaev -645 [favorite] vs. Malcolm Gordon +480
(Women's bantamweight) Karol Rosa -250 [favorite] vs. Lina Lansberg +210
(Welterweight) Yamato Nishikawa vs. Magomed Mustafaev
Main card predictions for UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev
Katlyn Chookagian vs. Manon Fiorot
Manon Fiorot has quickly risen up the divisional rankings since joining the UFC ranks last year. In her octagon debut, the French fighter scored a second-round technical knockout win over Victoria Leonardo.
She then followed that up with another second-round TKO against then-unbeaten newcomer Tabatha Ricci five months later. Fiorot is currently unbeaten in her last nine bouts, which includes six finishes.
Katlyn Chookagian has also been on a roll lately with four straight victories. However, 'Blonde Fighter' hasn't finished an opponent since 2016.
Fiorot has certainly looked a lot more impressive than the American and is known for her power punches. The French fighter can also grapple and we expect her to leverage those skills to keep the fight on the feet and outstrike her opponent for a a win at UFC 280.
Verdict: Manon Fiorot
Beneil Dariush vs. Mateusz Gamrot
Beneil Dariush is riding a seven-fight win streak with four finishes. Mateusz Gamrot, meanwhile, is unbeaten in his past four fights, three of which were stoppage wins. Both lightweights have evolved as fighters and possess elite level grappling.
If they decide to grapple, the scrambles will be thrilling to watch, but it is likely that the majority of this will play out on the feet. That said, we are backing the power and technique of 'Gamer' to win the stand-up battle.
Verdict: Mateusz Gamrot
Petr Yan vs. Sean O’Malley
The No.12-ranked bantamweight in the pecking order, Sean O'Malley is gearing up for a major step-up in competition as he takes on top-ranked former champion Petr Yan.
'Sugar' broke into the bantamweight rankings with a win over Raulian Paiva in December 2021. The highly-touted prospect was recently on the receiving end of a no-contest ruling against Pedro Munhoz at UFC 275 due to an accidental eye poke.
Petr Yan has looked nearly unstoppable in the UFC with his only loss coming against current champion Aljamain Sterling. The Russian is also a heavy favorite in this matchup and it isn't hard to see why the odds are highly stacked in his favor. That said, we're going with the favorite Yan. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see how O'Malley performs against someone of Yan's caliber.
Aljamain Sterling vs. T.J. Dillashaw
Aljamain Sterling will be looking to make a second successful title defense following his hard-fought split decision win over Petr Yan at UFC 273 in April. T.J. Dillashaw, on the other hand, is also fresh off a split decision win against Cory Sandhagen in July 2021.
'Funk Master' has shown significant improvements in his striking game recently, however, Dillashaw is certainly ahead of his rivals in that department and very few fighters have got the better of him on the feet.
Sterling is known for his dominant wrestling style. He has displayed an ability to wear his opponents down on the ground and submit them. While Dillashaw clearly isn't far behind when it comes to wrestling, Sterling may have a slight edge here and is expected to rely heavily on his elite grappling to retain the title at UFC 280.
Verdict: Aljamain Sterling
Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev
Charles Oliveira is riding an impressive 11-fight win streak in one of the most stacked divisions. The Brazilian has dispatched the likes of Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, and Michael Chandler in his recent outings, establishing himself as the top lightweight in the world. 'do Bronx' will now aim to reclaim his throne that he lost to the scales against Gaethje in May earlier this year.
Islam Makhachev has dominated the majority of his competition en route to his first crack at the lightweight crown. The Dagestani has won 10 consecutive bouts with wins over the likes of Bobby Green, Dan Hooker, Thiago Moises, and Arman Tsarukyan.
The championship bout is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated fights of the year and promises to be nothing short of an exhilarating spectacle. Both men are specialists on the ground and have made significant improvements in their striking over the years.
While neither fighter can be overlooked in this matchup, Makhachev is expected to get his hands raised by combining his precise takedowns with relentless top pressure.
Verdict: Islam Makhachev
