UFC 280 lowdown: Islam Makhachev and Aljamain Sterling headline Abu Dhabi return

The UFC makes its return to Abu Dhabi next month with its latest pay-per-view event: a stacked UFC 280 featuring two title bouts. Here’s the lowdown on what promises to be another blockbuster night in the capital.

UFC 280, the latest pay-per-view event from the world’s lead mixed martial arts organisation. The card is headlined by the highly anticipated clash between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev for the vacant lightweight crown. In the night’s other championship bout, bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling takes on former belt-holder TJ Dillashaw. Several other intriguing fights have been confirmed. UFC 280 marks the conclusion to the third Abu Dhabi Showdown Week.

UFC 280 is on Saturday, October 22. Abu Dhabi Showdown Week runs October 17-23.

Etihad Arena. The arena opened officially with UFC 257 in January last year, and staged UFC 267 in October – the promotion’s most recent visit to the capital.

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At the top of the bill, Oliveira will be attempting to reclaim the lightweight title he relinquished ahead of UFC 274 in May when he missed weight against Justin Gaethje. The Brazilian, 33-8 as a professional, sits third in the men’s pound-for-pound rankings and rides an 11-fight win streak. Makhachev, meanwhile, has won 10 on the spin, including two previous victories in Abu Dhabi. The Dagestani is the division’s No 4-ranked contender.

In the night’s other championship encounter, Sterling defends his bantamweight belt for the second time, this time against former champion Dillashaw. Sterling, who captured the crown last year in controversial circumstances against then-champion Petr Yan, defeated his Russian rival in the much-hyped rematch in April via split