Taking place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi later this month, UFC 280 has two amazing fights scheduled at the top of its card. SBS has you covered with this great UFC 280 betting breakdown. In the main event, the UFC Lightweight Championship will be up for grabs as the vacant title will be contested between former champion Charles Oliveira and challenger Islam Makhachev. Oliveira was stripped of his title at UFC 274 when he failed to make weight for his title defense against former interim champion Justin Gathje. In the penultimate bout of the night, the UFC Bantamweight Championship will be on the line as current champion Aljamain Sterling squares off against former two-time title holder, T.J. Dillashaw.
In this report, SBS will go over what to expect from each fight, the predicted winners, and also some other thoughts about UFC wagering.
| UFC 280 Main Event Bouts | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliveira vs. Makhachev | Makhachev | -190 | -190 | -190 |
| Sterling vs. Dillashaw | Sterling | -175 | -175 | -175 |
Fighter Spotlight: Charles Oliveira
One of the most decorated fighters in the UFC, Oliveira is aiming to take back his crown in this showdown against Makhachev. Even though Oliveira missed weight in his last bout and thus was stripped of his title, he still was able to finish off his rival Justin Gaethje via rear-naked choke in the first round of their battle at UFC 274. In the process, Oliveira extended his UFC record for most finishes (19) and submissions 16) over the course of a career. An extremely talented fighter, the 32-year-old has not lost since December of 2017 and is currently riding an 11-fight win streak.
Fighter Spotlight: Islam Makhachev
A fighter with a nearly perfect record of 22-1, Makhachev has not lost a bout since October 2015. Known for his tenacious and overpowering submission game (10 total submission wins in his career), the Russian fighter is one of the most dominant lightweights in the UFC and is a prime contender to win his first title ever later this month. At only 31 years of age, Makhachev has put together an impressive resume the likes of which make him an ideal candidate to challenge Oliveira for the title. With three of his last five wins coming by way of submission, this bout should be a technical masterpiece. In terms of excitement, your UFC 280 betting picks should start and end with this fight.
Prediction: This will be one of the closest UFC battles in some time, but take Makhachev to win here, but just barely.
Fighter Spotlight: Aljamain Sterling
Coming off back-to-back wins over Petr Yan, the first match where he initially won the UFC Bantamweight Championship, Sterling is set to have his second match of 2022. Following a split decision victory at UFC 273 over Yan, Sterling is now the unified UFC Bantamweight Champion. With 10 total wins by way of decision over the course of his career, Sterling has been able to score points in bunches with his unorthodox wrestling style. Earning the nickname, “The Funk Master” for his unorthodox style, the 33-year-old from Uniondale, New York is consistently recognized as a top 10 fighter in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Fighter Spotlight: T.J. Dillashaw
Following a two-year suspension in 2019 for a banned substance, Dillashaw made his comeback last year with a strong split decision win over Cory Sandhagen in July. Previously the UFC Bantamweight Champion back in 2017, the 36-year-old was able to win his title over Cody Garbrandt and then defend the title against Garbrandt in 2018 as well. With his return to the octagon, Dillashaw is looking to improve on his 17-4 record which was one of the best in the division prior to his suspension. This could be his long-awaited comeback story coming full circle and a key matchup to focus on in your UFC 280 picks.
Prediction: Another great matchup, Sterling has the momentum here but it should be another wire-to-wire finish.
After you are all set regarding your homework for your UFC 280 bets, make sure to also check out all the other amazing resources SBS has put together for you. Indeed SBS has some of the best UFC 280 bets analysis out there. Of course, the next page you need to check out is our UFC betting sites guide which goes into detail regarding the latest MMA betting markets and also the latest news coming out of the UFC. Also, if you are a gambler that is always on the go then the SBS best betting apps rundown is exactly what you need to never miss out on any of the action. Finally, when it comes to deposits and withdrawals, it is always a good idea to know what is available for you to utilize. This is why our payment methods breakdown is extremely helpful.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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