The UFC has returned to Abu Dhabi. The promotion will likely have its strongest fight card of the year on hand when it hosts UFC 280 on Saturday night from the now-famous Yas Island. The lightweight title fight between former champion Charles Oliveira and up-and-coming contender Islam Makhachev is the main event of this huge event.

The two have a combined winning streak of 21 matches, and both have amazing ground strategies that result in finishes.

Makhachev said to CBS Sports, “I just always get ready for the hard fight. “I have to respect this guy, so I won’t suggest that this will be a simple match or anything like that. He came from a difficult life. a challenging manner due to his several challenging UFC battles. He avoided taking the simple route.

“I have to respect Charles, but I can’t appreciate other people who talk too much, like Michael Chandler. Who has defeated [Chandler]? He defeated only Tony Ferguson, who was on the verge of retiring but is still competing. He also defeated Dan Hooker. With a 2-2 record in the UFC, [Chandler] keeps pursuing a title bout. That is not how it operates.

Along with the exciting main event, the co-feature also features a title bout that is sure to catch the attention of viewers. Aljamain Sterling, the current bantamweight champion, will face former champion TJ Dillashaw. After his two-fight series with Petr Yan, Sterling will be making his first defence of the 135-pound championship. Following knee surgery in 2021 and a two-year USADA suspension that robbed him the crown, Dillashaw has returned.

UFC 280 FIGHT, ODDS

• Islam Makhachev -190 vs. Charles Oliveira +160, vacant lightweight title
• Aljamain Sterling (c) -175 vs. TJ Dillashaw +150, bantamweight title
• Petr Yan -270 vs. Sean O’Malley +220, bantamweights
• Matuesz Gamrot -190 vs. Beneil Dariush +160, lightweights
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• Manon Fiorot -210 vs. Katlyn Chookagian +175, women’s flyweights
• Sean Brady -140 vs. Belal Muhammad +120, welterweights
• Caio Borralho -200 vs. Makhmud Muradov +170, middleweights
• Nikita Krylov -170 vs. Volkan Oezdemir +145, light heavyweights
• Abubakar Nurmagomedov -165 vs. Gadzhi Omargadzhiev +140, welterweights
• Armen Petrosyan -220 vs. A.J. Dobson +180, middleweights
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• Muhammad Mokaev -1000 vs. Malcolm Gordon +650, flyweights
• Karol Rosa -300 vs. Lina Lansberg +240, women’s bantamweights

UFC 280 INFO

• Date: Oct. 22
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• Location: Etihad Arena — Abu Dhabi
• Start time: 2 p.m. ET (Main card)
• How to watch: ESPN+ PPV