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.