Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Erickson

UFC 280 predictions: Who are we picking in two title fights in Abu Dhabi?

Oliveira
vs.
Makhachev
Sterling
vs.
Dillashaw
O’Malley
vs.
Yan
Dariush
vs.
Gamrot
Chookagian
vs.
Fiorot
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
164-98

Oliveira
(72%)

Sterling
(52%)

Yan
(63%)

Dariush
(60%)

Fiorot
(63%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
175-92
2018 Champion

Makhachev

Sterling

O’Malley

Gamrot

Fiorot
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
170-97

Makhachev

Sterling

Yan

Gamrot

Chookagian
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
169-98
2014 Champion

Oliveira

Dillashaw

Yan

Gamrot

Chookagian
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
168-99

Oliveira

Sterling

Yan

Gamrot

Fiorot
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
166-101

Makhachev

Dillashaw

Yan

Dariush

Fiorot
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
164-103

Oliveira

Dillashaw

Yan

Gamrot

Fiorot
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
163-104

Makhachev

Dillashaw

Yan

Dariush

Fiorot
Nolan King
@mma_kings
158-109

Oliveira

Sterling

Yan

Gamrot

Chookagian
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
157-110
2017 Champion

Oliveira

Sterling

Yan

Dariush

Chookagian
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
149-118

Oliveira

Sterling

Yan

Dariush

Fiorot
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
132-134

Oliveira

Dillashaw

Yan

Gamrot

Fiorot

The UFC is back in Abu Dhabi for arguably its biggest pay-per-view of the year with a pair of title fights at the top of the card.

UFC 280 takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira (33-8 MMA, 21-8 UFC) goes after the belt he was stripped of when he missed weight earlier this year. He takes on Islam Makhachev (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) for the vacant title. Makhachev is a -190 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Oliveira is +145. Our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have the Brazilian underdog taking the title back at a 7-4 clip.

In the co-main event bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (21-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) puts his title on the line against former champ T.J. Dillashaw (17-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC). Sterling is a -175 favorite, but he has just a 6-5 slim edge in the picks.

Also on the main card, Sean O'Malley (15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) meets former bantamweight titleholder Petr Yan (16-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) in what likely is a title eliminator. Yan is the biggest favorite on the main card at nearly 3-1, and he is a near-unanimous pick from our staff members at 10-1.

Beneil Dariush (21-4-1 MMA, 15-4-1 UFC) takes on Mateusz Gamrot (21-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) at lightweight. Gamrot is more than a 2-1 favorite and has a 7-4 lead in the picks.

And to open the main card, former women’s flyweight title challenger Katlyn Chookagian (18-4 MMA, 11-4 UFC) fights Manon Fiorot (9-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC). Chookagian missed weight for the fight, but the bout will go on at a catchweight. Fiorot is a -220 favorite and has a decent 7-4 lead in the picks.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Oliveira (72 percent), Sterling (52 percent), Yan (63 percent), Dariush (60 percent) and Fiorot (63 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 212.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.