UFC 280 is shaping up to be the biggest fight card of the year. From top to bottom, this card is filled with some of the best fighters in the world in the most profound divisions. Many fights across this card have enormous implications for the Lightweight and Welterweight divisions of the UFC. Let’s dive right into the three biggest fights while laying out the top UFC 280 predictions.
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Oliveira vs. Makhachev Predictions
Oddsmakers opened this fight as Islam Makhachev a -310 favorite. Now fast forward to fight week he sits at -175. The general public has been backing the underdog in a huge way causing the line to drop almost 50%.
Charles Oliveira vs Islam Makhachev is undoubtedly the biggest fight of the year. Oliviera comes into this fight winning his last 11 bouts. Most recently, notable finishes of Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, and Michael Chandler. All done in dramatic fashion.
Charles “Do Bronx” Olivera faced an extreme amount of adversity in all three of his previous bouts and fought back to get stoppage wins. “Do Bronx” has proved that he is currently the number one lightweight in the world.
Islam Makhachev coming into this bout has 10 straight victories with the last four coming by finish. It really is a battle between two of the hottest fighters in the world today.
What makes this fight so fascinating is how dangerous both fighters are in the grappling aspect of MMA. Oliviera has the most submission wins in UFC history. On the flip side, Islam Makachev is regarded as arguably the best wrestler and pure grappler in the UFC.
When breaking down this fight, it’s without a doubt the worst stylistic matchup Oliviera has ever faced stepping into the octagon. The infamous clash between jiu-jitsu and combat sambo. Viewing these fighter’s matchups in the past we have seen Oliviera be stopped on the ground multiple times. Losing via ground and pound against Paul Felder and submitted via guillotine choke against Ricardo Lamas and Anthony Pettis. Oliviera has shown he is vulnerable to being takedown and controlled for minutes in fights against Kevin Lee.
When you look at what Makhachev has done in the past to opponents, taking down every fighter he’s faced including Brazillian jiujitsu black belts like Thiago Moises and Davi Ramos, then controlling elite wrestlers like Arman Tsarukyan. It’s hard to deny that he won’t be able to do it to a guy like Oliveira who’s shown suspect takedown defense in the past.
I believe Makhachev will get this fight to the ground early, drag Oliveria to deep waters in the 2nd and 3rd rounds and then eventually finish him on top with a submission.
I am all over the Makhachev side here at -175 and would play it up to -200 as my best bet on the card.
Top Pick: Islam Makhachev -175 | DraftKings Sportsbook
Sterling vs. Dillashaw Predictions
Moving onto our second title fight we have Aljamain Sterling taking on TJ Dillashaw.
Sterling is coming off a massive victory over Petr Yan, where he silenced his critics in a decision victory over what some fans viewed as a top-five pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Sterling could be the best grappler and pure wrestler in the 135-pound division, as he took down Cory Sandhagen and submit him. He also took down Yan for multiple rounds and dominated him on the ground. Overall Sterling has proved to be a problem for every fighter in the bantamweight division.
TJ Dillashaw is coming off a split-decision victory over Cory Sandhagen. Before this fight, he was on a two-year layoff due to testing positive for steroids. Many people forgot how good Dillashaw has been in the past but question if it is a result of his PEDs.
Some of the public view this fight as “striker vs grappler”, but many fail to realize that Dillashaw is a former Division I college wrestler. I actually think this matchup favors TJ, as he’s shown the ability to defend takedowns at a high level in the past. If he can fend off Sterling’s attempts, he will be able to keep this fight standing while having an edge on feet striking.
Dillashaw will look to make history on Saturday, aiming to become the only fighter in UFC history to hold the belt three different times in the same weight class. I’m siding with the underdog Dillashaw here. I think at +145 he has enormous value as an underdog.
Pick: TJ Dillashaw +145 | DraftKings Sportsbook
Yan vs. O’Malley Predictions
Before we see the bantamweight title fight, let’s take a look at the number one contender fight in the bantamweight division. Petr Yan, former UFC champion, takes on the rising superstar Sean O’Malley in a massive fight for the bantamweight division.
This is a fight that oddsmakers opened up Yan as a -400 favorite. Now on fight week, he sits at -270. Sean O’Malley has shown in the past he is vulnerable to leg kick attacks and this is a fight where I struggle to see him find success. This is a huge step up in competition for O’Malley as we rarely see a #12 fighter taking on the #1 contender in the world.
I think Yan’s boxing and well-rounded fight style will show in this fight, he wins a dominant decision here and puts an end to the hype of “the sugar show.” I usually don’t recommend laying numbers on big favorites but the money on O’Malley’s side brought this line do too much for me not to back Petr Yan here.
Pick: Petr Yan -275 | DraftKings Sportsbook
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