Charles Oliveira v Islam Makhachev predictions & UFC 280 betting tips

Free UFC betting tips, predictions and analysis for UFC 280 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Best bets

Charles Oliveira
2pts 6-4 Boyles

TJ Dillashaw
1pt 29-20 Betfred, Coral, Ladbrokes

UFC 280 preview

UFC 280 features two title fights in Abu Dhabi on Saturday with lightweight and bantamweight gold up for grabs.

Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev top the bill with their scrap for the vacant lightweight belt, while Aljamain Sterling puts his bantamweight strap on the line in the co-main against TJ Dillashaw.

Oliveira, stripped of the lightweight belt after missing weight prior to his win over Justin Gaethje, has won 11 in a row but he faces a formidable rival in Makhachev, who is on a ten-fight winning streak.

Makhachev, trained by former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, has overwhelmed his rivals to emerge as a title contender, although there are questions over the level of opponent he's faced.

The Dagestan native has only taken on one top-ten fighter and that's in stark contrast to number one Oliveira, who has beaten three of the top five in his last three trips to the octagon.

Makhachev's sambo wrestling background has allowed him to dominate in other fights but that isn't likely to wash against Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Oliveira.

The Brazilian holds the record for most finishes in the history of the UFC (19) and most submissions (16) and there's plenty of value in backing him to pick up another win.

Saturday's co-main sees Dillashaw take on bantamweight champion Sterling and there's a serious clash of styles.

Sterling is a high-level wrestler and loves to control proceedings on the canvas, whereas Dillashaw would prefer to keep the bout upright and work with his hands.

Dillashaw is vastly experienced, has twice held the bantamweight belt and is well placed to win the title for a third time.

With a takedown defence success rate of 86 per cent, Dillashaw will be confident of dealing with everything Sterling throws his way and that should allow him to play to his strengths on the feet.

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