Brazil is out, Dagestan is in.
That’s assuming lightweight contender Islam Makhachev can steamroll former champion Charles Oliveira when they collide in the UFC 280 pay-per-view (PPV) main event on Sat. (Oct. 22, 2022) at Etihad Arena on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi.
Makhachev hopes to pick up where Khabib Nurmagomedov left off.
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24116248/Islam_Charles_UFC280.png)
LIVE! Watch UFC 280 PPV On ESPN+ Here!
BLOCKBUSTER LIGHTWEIGHT SHOWDOWN! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Etihad Arena In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Sat., Oct. 22, 2022, featuring a highly anticipated match up for the vacant 155-pound title between former division kingpin, Charles Oliveira, against Islam Makhachev, who enter “Fight Island” with a combined 21-fight unbeaten run. In UFC 280’s ESPN+-streamed pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event, Bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling defends his title against former two-time division roost-ruler, T.J. Dillashaw. Last, and certainly not least, former 135-pound champion, Petr Yan, will lock horns with superstar in the making, “Sugar” Sean O’Malley.
“This legacy is an incredible thing, I don’t think ever in the history have two fighters from the same gym get the lightweight title almost one after the other one,” manager Rizvan Magomedov told the “Embedded” cameras. “After Khabib retired, Islam Makhachev was one of the favorite students of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. I truly believe the lightweight division belongs to Dagestan guys. I know there is some other young and hungry beast in this gym and other gyms who are gonna keep this threat and grab the title even after Islam will retire.”
For Episode 1 of UFC 280 “Embedded” click here.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 280 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 10 a.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN+/ESPNews at 12 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 280: “Oliveira vs. Makhachev” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the complete UFC 280 fight card and PPV line up click here.