Islam Makhachev, Aljamain Sterling betting favorites to leave UFC 280 as champions

With UFC 280 just over one month away, the hype around the event is starting to grow.

The promotion’s next numbered card, which takes place Oct. 22 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi and airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+, features two anticipated championship bouts at the top of the bill.

In the main event, Charles Oliveira (33-8 MMA, 21-8 UFC) will attempt to regain undisputed lightweight champion status when he takes on Islam Makhachev (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) for the vacant 155-pound belt. It’s a unique matchup, as it marks the first time in UFC history that two fights on streak of 10 or more consecutive wins inside the octagon will clash.

The co-headliner, meanwhile, will see bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (21-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) try for his second consecutive title defense when he meets ex-titleholder T.J. Dillashaw (17-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC), who has the chance at history by becoming a three-time divisional kingpin.

With the stacked fight card rapidly approaching, the betting odds for both title matchups remain quite tight.

According to Tipico, which is the betting partner of USA TODAY, Makhachev is currently a -165 favorite (bet $165 to win $100) against Oliveira, who sits at +135 (bet $100 to win $135).

The line is identical for the co-headliner, but it’s Sterling who is the -165 favorite against Dillashaw, who comes back as the underdog at +130.

The latest UFC 280 lineup includes:

• Champion Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev – for lightweight title
• Champion Aljamain Sterling vs. T.J. Dillashaw – for bantamweight title
• Sean O’Malley vs. Petr Yan
• Beneil Dariush vs. Mateusz Gamrot
• Katlyn Chookagian vs. Manon Fiorot
• Sean Brady vs. Belal Muhammad
• Caio Borralho vs. Makhmud Muradov
• Nikita Krylov vs. Volkan Oezdemir
• Lucas Almeida vs. Zubaira Tukhugov
• Magomed Mustafaev vs. TBA
• Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs. Gadzhi Omargadzhiev
• A.J. Dobson vs. Armen Petrosyan
• Malcolm Gordon vs. Muhammad Mokaev
• Lina Lansberg vs. Karol Rosa

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 280.