UFC 280: Three more bouts set for Abu Dhabi, including Sterling-Dillashaw and O'Malley-Yan

The UFC’s return to Abu Dhabi is shaping up to be one of the standout cards of the year, with a second title fight and another two marquee match-ups either booked or in the works for the October event.

UFC 280, which takes place at Etihad Arena on October 22 and is headlined by the vacant lightweight title clash between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev, will include bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling’s rescheduled defence against and former belt-holder TJ Dillashaw. Another bantamweight bout is slated for the capital: a highlight clash between star Sean O’Malley and ex-champion Petr Yan.

The UFC is understood to also be finalising a lightweight encounter between No 6-ranked contender Beneil Dariush and No 9 challenger Mateusz Gamrot. More details are expected to be confirmed on Thursday.

Alongside Oliveira-Makhachev, UFC 280 already features a clash between rising welterweights Belal Muhammad and Sean Brady. That bout was made official on Wednesday.

The addition of Sterling-Dillashaw adds considerable weight to the UFC’s return to Abu Dhabi after one year away, with the fight originally booked for UFC 279 in September.

Sterling makes the second defence of his bantamweight crown after capturing the belt in controversial fashion in March last year, when then-champion Yan was disqualified for an illegal knee. Sterling won the rematch, in April, by split decision. His professional mixed martial arts record stands at 21-3.

Dillashaw, meanwhile, will be seeking to reclaim the title he relinquished in January 2019, when he was handed a two-year suspension having tested positive for a banned substance.

The American, 17-4 as a pro, returned to the octagon in July last year, defeating Cory Sandhagen by split decision.