UFC 280 LIVE results: Islam Makhachev submits Charles Oliveira to win lightweight title
Follow live reaction as Makhachev claims the vacant lightweight title with a second-round win over former champion Oliveira
Islam Makhachev submitted Charles Oliveira in the UFC 280 main event on Saturday to win the vacant lightweight title, following in the footsteps of his childhood friend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Khabib retired unbeaten in 2020, vacating the UFC lightweight strap immediately after retaining it in Abu Dhabi. And it was there that Makhachev won the same belt – almost two years later to the day – submitting Khabib’s literal successor Oliveira to become his fellow Russian’s spiritual successor in the Octagon. Last May, Oliveira won the title vacated by Khabib, and the Brazilian went on to retain it in December. One day before his own scheduled defence against Gaethje this May, however, Oliveira was stripped of the belt after missing weight. Oliveira would submit Gaethje anyway to establish himself as No 1 contender and set up a clash with Makhachev.
That highly-anticipated in-ring meeting played out at the Etihad Arena on Saturday, and it was Makhachev, 31, who came out on top, submitting 33-year-old Oliveira with an arm-triangle choke in Round 2 to win the vacant title. In the co-main event, TJ Dillashaw attempted to battle through a dislocated shoulder in his bantamweight title fight with Aljamain Sterling, but the former champion was largely ineffective and ultimately fell to a second-round TKO loss, as Sterling retained the belt. In the evening’s previous fight, rising 135lbs star Sean O’Malley won a controversial decision against former bantamweight champion Petr Yan. Follow live reaction from UFC 280 below.
UFC 280 LIVE
Nurmagomedov vs Omargadzhiev – Round 1
Nurmagomedov goes for a takedown and is on his knees when Omargadzhiev catches him in a guillotine attempt...
Nurmagomedov stands but is still in Omargadzhiev’s clutches. Omargadzhiev throws a knee in close, too.
Now the welterweights separate. Omargadzhiev shoots for a takedown from distance and is successful!
Again he goes for a guillotine choke... Nurmagomedov is able to move into full guard, however, slip his head free and throw some strikes from on top.
UFC 280 LIVE
Next up is welterweight action between Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Gadzhi Omargadzhiev.
Abubakar is a cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov, who will be in his relative’s corner tonight.
UFC 280 LIVE
Armen Petrosyan def. AJ Dobson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
UFC 280 LIVE
Petrosyan vs Dobson – Round 3
Petrosyan clinches, but Dobson shakes him off.
Petrosyan has been a bit sloppy at times, but he’s been the more active combatant.
We’ll go to the judges’ scorecards.
UFC 280 LIVE
Petrosyan vs Dobson – Round 3
More blood is streaming from that cut of Petrosyan’s.
The fighters trade punches in the centre of the ring again.
Petrosyan is ducking his head slightly and winging one-twos.
UFC 280 LIVE
Petrosyan vs Dobson – Round 2
Petrosyan is starting to land punches with increasing frequency.
Dobson is just about able to secure another takedown, but Petrosyan scrambles and is swiftly back to his feet.
He’s moving gingerly on his left leg, though – his lead leg.
UFC 280 LIVE
Petrosyan vs Dobson – Round 2
Petrosyan was able to stand just before the buzzer in the first round after being taken down.
He and Dobson are now trading punches in the middle of the Octagon; both middleweights land.
Petrosyan with a front kick to the body. Now he kicks low. His eyebrow cut is beginning to leak a bit.
Dobson catches a kick again and tries a flurry of punches, but the accuracy isn’t quite there.
UFC 280 LIVE
Petrosyan vs Dobson – Round 1
Dobson with a takedown late in the round!
UFC 280 LIVE
Petrosyan vs Dobson – Round 1
Petrosyan with some body and leg kicks early, but Dobson catches a couple.
Now Dobson catches the Armenian on the end of a one-two.
More kicks from Petrosyan, who is sporting a small cut around his right eyebrow.
He tags the American with an overhand right, though.
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