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
Aljamain Sterling def. TJ Dillashaw via second-round TKO (punches, elbows; 3:44).
UFC 280 LIVE
Sterling vs Dillashaw – Round 2
Sterling has Dillashaw down again and has taken the back!
He’s pouring on punches and slashing elbows!
And it’s stopped! Goddard waves it off; Sterling retains!
UFC 280 LIVE
Sterling vs Dillashaw – Round 2
Sterling is fully in control, and the crowd is booing as the Jamaican-American controls his challenger.
Dillashaw tries to stand; Sterling almost catches him in a D’Arce!
Dillashaw escapes, but it seems that left shoulder has come out again...
Referee Marc Goddard is well aware and is keeping a close eye on Dillashaw.
UFC 280 LIVE
Sterling vs Dillashaw – Round 2
A great first round for Sterling, whatever happened with Dillashaw’s shoulder.
Sterling secures another takedown. Dillashaw is still only using his right arm.
UFC 280 LIVE
It seems like Duane Ludwig, Dillashaw’s coach, got his fighter’s shoulder back in!
UFC 280 LIVE
Sterling vs Dillashaw – Round 1
Sterling is trying for a rear naked choke. Dillashaw manages to slip free and almost manages to stand.
He winces, and Sterling takes the back again. Once more Dillashaw tries to get free but can’t, and again Sterling tees off with punches.
Finally Dillashaw creates space and stands, but it looks like his left shoulder has popped out! Indeed, Sterling’s team shout: “His shoulder is out!”
Dillashaw makes it ot the end of the round.
UFC 280 LIVE
Sterling vs Dillashaw – Round 1
The bantamweights clash shins. Sterling then catches a kick and takes down Dillashaw.
Great movement from Sterling as he looks to keep down the former champion.
Dillashaw is being pinned down and is wincing. Has he hurt his shoulder or collarbone, perhaps...? It’s hard to tell at the moment.
Sterling is pouring on punches now, while Dillashaw just tries to cover up. This fight could be stopped soon.
Well, Sterling has taken the back and may stop it himself!
UFC 280 LIVE
Secondly, our exclusive interview with Aljamain Sterling:
Aljamain Sterling looks back on school struggles and forward to UFC 280
Exclusive interview: The UFC champion discusses his bout with the controversial TJ Dillashaw this weekend, fan criticism, and struggling at school
UFC 280 LIVE
Next up: Former bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw tries to regain the belt as he challenges Aljamain Sterling.
Two pieces of essential reading for you ahead of this one...
Firstly, Ollie Cooper’s fight preview:
TJ Dillashaw out to undo ‘deal with the devil’ in UFC 280 bout with Aljamain Sterling
The ex-135lbs champion looks to regain the belt he vacated after testing positive for a banned substance, while Sterling’s legitimacy has been questioned by some fans
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