5 frontrunners for Fight of the Night at UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev

The UFC returns to Abu Dhabi this weekend with UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev, one of the most highly anticipated pay-per-views (PPVs) of the year. The fight card is stacked from top to bottom, featuring numerous explosive matchups, and there'll be no shortage of competition for 'Fight of the Night' honors.

UFC 280 fan-made poster [Image via @needingart on Instagram]

Across the preliminary and main card of the upcoming pay-per-view, multiple top-ranked contenders and championship prospects are set to compete at the Etihad Arena this Saturday, and it remains to be seen which bout will steal the show.

Here are the five frontrunners for 'Fight of the Night' at UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev.

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#5. Volkan Oezdemir vs. Nikita Krylov

At UFC London earlier this year, perennial light heavyweight contenders Volkan Oezdemir and Nikita Krylov broke their respective two-fight skids to return to the win column. Oezdemir cruised to a decision win over Paul Craig, while Krylov knocked out Alexander Gustafsson.

At UFC 280 this weekend, both Oezdemir and Krylov will be eager to carry their momentum forward and compile a win streak when they square off in the prelims.

Volkan Oezdemir has struggled with consistency since his lone UFC championship loss to then-champion Daniel Cormier back in 2018. 'No Time' currently occupies the No.8 spot in the light heavyweight rankings, and at 33, he cannot afford to alternate between wins and losses if he is to contest the title again.

Nikita Krylov sits just two spots behind Oezdemir at No.10 and hasn't been able to string together a win streak since re-signing with the UFC in 2018. Across his 37-fight career, Krylov has been to a decision just thrice, with 12 knockouts and 15 submissions on his record.

Krylov's all-action style makes this light heavyweight matchup a can't-miss. The Ukrainian will attack Oezdemir right from the get-go, and considering his Swiss counterpart's undeniable fight-ending power and both fighters' questionable durability, this bout is unlikely to go the distance.

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#4. Aljamain Sterling vs. T.J. Dillashaw – UFC bantamweight title bout

With all the anticipation and fan-fare surrounding the UFC 280 headliner between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev and the highly intriguing clash between Petr Yan and Sean O'Malley, the co-main event has largely flown under the radar.

The bantamweight title will be up for grabs when current champion Aljamain Sterling and former two-time titleholder T.J. Dillashaw lock horns in the co-headliner and it's certainly a matchup that warrants more excitement.

Aljamain Sterling vs. T.J. Dillashaw [Image via @needingart on Instagram]

Aljamain Sterling hasn't quite got the respect he deserves from the MMA community following his two-fight series against Petr Yan, comprising a disqualification and a narrow split decision win in favor of the American. Nonetheless, 'Funk Master' could make a statement at UFC 280 if he defeats a big name like T.J. Dillashaw.

Sterling's grappling prowess makes this championship bout very interesting, as Dillashaw will be wary of utilizing his underrated offensive wrestling. Considering both fighters' strong wrestling base, this could well turn into a striking battle, which doesn't bode well for the champion.

Chasing three-time champion status, Dillashaw will fancy his chances on the feet against Sterling. The TUF alum's stand-up game is far more technical than his compatriot's, and if he can avoid Sterling finding his back, his route to victory becomes way easier.

Sterling notably struggled in the championship rounds of his last bout, and with Dillashaw having way more experience in five-round fights, the champion will likely need a finish if he is to retain his belt.

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#3. Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev – UFC lightweight title bout

Despite the fact that Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev aren't the biggest names in the sport, the UFC 280 main event has undoubtedly captured the imagination of the masses.

Oliveira has established himself as one of the most entertaining fighters on the planet over the course of his 11-fight win streak, comprising 10 finishes. Meanwhile, under the guidance of UFC Hall-of-Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev is being touted by many as a future long-reigning champion.

UFC 280 main event [Image via @@momoCzhetin on Twitter]

Both lightweights' approach to fighting couldn't be further apart. Charles Oliveira tends to start fights like a house on fire and prefers a high pace. The Brazilian's relentless forward pressure forces his opponents into a slugfest, and his newfound confidence and resilience often plays a crucial role as he finds a finish.

Islam Makhachev's style, on the other hand, is slower, more technical and more calculated. The Russian Sambo phenom has a polished striking game to compliment his seemingly unstoppable ability on the mat, with his last four fights ending in dominant fashion.

Whoever manages to control the pace of this mouthwatering matchup will likely emerge victorious. Makhachev's strength could prove to be too much for his Brazilian counterpart in the grappling exchanges, but Oliveira's explosive striking and submission threat could prevent the fight from hitting the ground in the first place.

Oliveira's kill-or-be-killed mentality could work both ways against a well-rounded fighter like Makhachev. While a five-round wrestling-heavy masterclass from Khabib Nurmagomedov's protégé is certainly plausible, 'do Bronx' has the tools to upset the odds and re-claim the lightweight strap.

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#2. Petr Yan vs. Sean O'Malley

Sean O'Malley has long been accused of cherry-picking opponents and refusing to fight top-ranked contenders. The flamboyant fan-favorite has been slow-played by the UFC thus far and is now finally on the cusp of shaking up the bantamweight title picture.

Currently ranked No.11, O'Malley will look to make a huge leap up the bantamweight ladder when he takes on former champion Petr Yan, who occupies the No.1 spot.

Sean O'Malley is a sizeable betting underdog and rightly so. The American has only ever fought in Las Vegas during his time in the UFC and has flown halfway around the world for his upcoming fight. His opponent, Petr Yan, is considered by many to be among the best pound-for-pound fighters around, irrespective of his recent razor-thin defeat to the champion.

Yan has been fighting the cream of the crop at 135 pounds for quite some time now, unlike O'Malley, whose most notable win so far came against Thomas Almeida, who is no longer on the roster. While this could turn out to be too much-too soon for 'Sugar', he does match up pretty well against Yan stylistically.

'No Mercy' is primarily a striker. The Russian has a boxing-heavy style which could work against him against O'Malley, who will have a five-inch reach advantage. Moreover, 'Sugar' knows how to use his height and reach effectively, and is one of the hardest-hitting bantamweights around.

The fact that this is a three-rounder also favors the Arizona-native. Yan is notoriously a slow starter, so if O'Malley can stay busy on the feet and uses lateral movement to pick his moments to attack, an upset is definitely on the table.

This one will likely come down to who has the faster hands, making it one of the most explosive fights on tap at UFC 280.

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#1. Beneil Dariush vs. Mateusz Gamrot

More often than not, the best matchups are the most competitive ones. At UFC 280, a pivotal lightweight bout between Beneil Dariush and Mateusz Gamrot has all the makings of an absolute barnburner, despite the lack of attention it's currently getting.

With the 155-pound title set to be contested in the main event, Dariush and Gamrot will be itching to make a statement and stake their claim to a title shot with an impressive performance.

Both Beneil Dariush and Mateusz Gamrot are world-class grapplers with decent striking. Unlike the Charles Oliveira-Islam Makhachev headliner, which is an unofficial Brazilian jiu-jitsu vs. Combat Sambo matchup, Dariush vs. Gamrot pits two fighters with eerily similar games against one another.

After a dominant run at Polish promotion KSW where he became a two-division champion, Gamrot signed with the UFC in 2020. He has since accrued four post-fight bonuses, including two 'Fight of the Night' checks. His last outing was a five-round thriller against Arman Tsarukyan, one of the best fights of the year so far.

Beneil Dariush is no stranger to bonuses as well, having picked up five thus far in the UFC career. In the fights that Dariush has dominated inside the octagon, he has outwrestled his opponents en route to decision or submission wins.

However, when he's forced to stand-and-bang with his opponents, typically against fellow high-level grapplers, fireworks ensue.