One of the biggest cards of the year takes place on Saturday with two title fights lined up when UFC 280 heads to the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev close out the night when they square off for the vacant lightweight belt.
Oliveira, priced at 11/8 to win, sealed the title courtesy of a TKO victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 262 and he successfully defended against Dustin Poirier at UFC 269.
However, the Brazilian missed weight ahead of his second defence against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274, meaning he was stripped of his champion status and only Gaethje was eligible to win the title on the night.
Oliveira, who has won 11 in a row, earned a first-round submission win over Gaethje and he has the chance to reclaim the vacant belt on Saturday when he takes on the formidable Makhachev.
Makhachev is riding a 10-fight win streak and is ranked #4 in the division as he looks to become a world champion for the first time in his professional career.
The Dagestan native has batted away all who have stood before him, winning his last two fights in the first round, and he is 8/13 to come out on top on Saturday.
The co-main event also sees a title up for grabs when bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, 10/17 to get the win, makes the second defence of his belt against 7/5 TJ Dillashaw.
Sterling won the belt on dramatic circumstances when holder Petr Yan was disqualified for an illegal knee to the head but he silenced his doubters by defending against the Russian last time out.
Dillashaw has held the bantamweight belt on two previous occasions, winning it 2014 and making two defences before reclaiming it in 2017.
He was stripped of his championship status in 2019 after one successful defence following a positive test for a banned substance.
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Earlier on the card in Abu Dhabi, Yan and Sean O'Malley meet in a contest that UFC president Dana White revealed will decide who gets the next shot at the bantamweight champion.
There's also a lightweight bout between Beneil Dariush and Mateusz Gamrot that is likely to lead the winner on to a title fight next time out.
| What | UFC 280: Oliveira vs Makhachev |
| Where | Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| When | 17:00, Saturday 22nd October 2022 |
| How to watch | Prelims on BT Sport 3, Main card BT Sport Box Office |
| Odds | Charles Oliveira 11/8, Islam Makhachev 8/13 |
When is UFC 280: Oliveira vs Makhachev?
UFC 280 is set to take place on Saturday 22nd October.
What time is UFC 280: Oliveira vs Makhachev?
The preliminary card, which is available on BT Sport 3, starts at 17:00 and the main card begins at 19:00 with Oliveira and Makhachev likely to be in action at around 21:00.
Where is UFC 280: Oliveira vs Makhachev?
The Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi plays host to UFC 280.
Can I watch UFC 280: Oliveira vs Makhachev?
Yes. The preliminary card is available to watch on BT Sport 3 and BT Sport Box Office will carry both the preliminary card and the main card.
Who is the favourite at UFC 280: Oliveira vs Makhachev?
Makhachev is the 8/13 favourite as he looks to extend his winning streak to 11. Oliveira, who is looking to reclaim the vacant lightweight title, is the 11/8 underdog.
Are there any belts on the line at UFC 280: Oliveira vs Makhachev?
Yes. There are two belts on the line at UFC 280. Sterling is set to defend his bantamweight title against Dillashaw in the co-main event before Oliveira and Makhachev meet for the vacant lightweight belt in the main event.
| What is Charles Oliveira's record? | 42 fights, 33 wins (9 KOs), 8 defeats, 1 no contest |
| What is Islam Makhachev's record? | 23 fights, 22 wins (4 KOs), 1 defeat |
| What is Aljamain Sterling's record? | 24 fights, 21 wins (2 KOs), 3 defeats |
| What is TJ Dillashaw's record? | 21 fights, 17 wins (8 KOs), 4 defeats |
Who is on the undercard at UFC 280: Oliveira vs Makhachev?
Main card:
Aljamain Sterling vs TJ Dillashaw
Petr Yan vs Sean O’Malley
Beneil Dariush vs Mateusz Gamrot
Katlyn Chookagian vs Manon Fiorot
Preliminary card:
Belal Muhammad vs Sean Brady
Makhmud Muradov vs Caio Borralho
Nikita Krylov vs Volkan Oezdemir
Zubaira Tukhugov vs Lucas Almeida
Magomed Mustafaev vs Yamato Nishikawa
Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs Gadzhi Omargadzhiev
Armen Petrosyan vs AJ Dobson
Muhammad Mokaev vs Malcolm Gordon
Karol Rosa vs Lina Lansberg
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