UFC 280 Oliveira vs. Makhachev 

When Khabib Nurmagomedov vacated the UFC's light-weight championship and retired from blended martial arts two years in the past,

[{"selector":"#anim-04fa640a-93f9-4f14-83e2-ea592394a338 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(13.602940955614645%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] The game's expectations turned to his longtime teammate and protégé, Islam Makhachev. And now his time has come.

[{"selector":"#anim-f210537b-b4cc-4081-acae-ce30b020dbc9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(13.602940955614645%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] Makhachev (22-1) will try and win the UFC's 155-pound title on Saturday

[{"selector":"#anim-2a923f7d-186f-405a-9937-4aab9448b616 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(13.602940955614645%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] When he meets Charles Oliveira (33-8) on the principal occasion of UFC 280 inside Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi

[{"selector":"#anim-e72d9125-a4f5-4494-a450-5dc7f4892f47 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(13.602940955614645%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] The timing of the matchup in all probability could not be any higher.

[{"selector":"#anim-221ab440-aa4a-4feb-92f2-de3e9567f4e6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(13.602940955614645%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] Makhachev was all the time anticipated to combat for the belt sooner or later, and he'll now achieve this towards a foe in Oliveira whom nobody desires to guess towards.

[{"selector":"#anim-6c609cca-26b4-476c-aadc-9d6f6c8b80c0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(13.602940955614645%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] Oliveira has battled by adversity in every of his three title defenses towards Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje earlier than income end.

[{"selector":"#anim-8b7b8a05-378e-4b15-8bc2-08918c89097d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(13.602940955614645%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] The Brazilian fighter has received 11 in a row, securing 10 finishes within the course of.

[{"selector":"#anim-5e9a4268-be3c-438e-b4cf-cbb576cafb6c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(13.602940955614645%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] The only reason he isn't technically the lightweight champion this week is that he missed weight by one-half pound forward of his most up-to-date win towards Gaethje in May.

[{"selector":"#anim-937ad8a4-720a-4880-b844-12cf83f701a7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(13.602940955614645%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] Along with the principal occasion, bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (21-3) will defend his title against TJ Dillashaw (17-4)

[{"selector":"#anim-d12ab043-fe0b-4e5e-b20b-77d6e62662d0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(13.602940955614645%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] And fan favorite Sean O'Malley (15-1) will face the most important check of his profession in Petr Yan (16-3). Learn more