Charles Oliveira will fight Islam Makhachev for the vacant lightweight title at the main event of UFC 280. Photo USA Today Sports
Former champion Charles Oliveira will fight Islam Makhachev for the vacant lightweight title on UFC 280. The event will be held in Abu Dhabi on October 22.
The organization just announced the title bout on the UFC on ABC 3 broadcast.
Charles Oliveira won the lightweight title in May 2021
On May 15 last year, Charles “do Bronx” Oliveira won the vacant UFC lightweight championship when he defeated Michael Chandler via a second-round TKO. He then defended the world title against Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier on December 11, 2021.
On May 7, 2022, Oliveira missed weight and was stripped of the lightweight title before his second title defence against challenger Justin Gaethje. The Brazilian won the fight with a first-round submission.
No. 3 ranked Islam Makhachev rides a 10-fight winning streak with victories against fighters like Bobby Green, Dan Hooker and Arman Tsarukyan. He made his promotional debut in May 2015 with a submission win over Leo Kuntz.
UFC 280 will also feature a matchup between top ranked welterweights Belal Muhammad and Sean Brady.