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
Dariush vs Gamrot – Round 3
Dariush has successfully defended 13 of 16 takedown attempts.
Gamrot may feel he needs a finish, he’s in front of Dariush and looks edgy...
OH! Big left hand from Dariush, and Gamrot hits the deck!
He’s quickly back to his feet, though, as we enter the final minute of the fight...
UFC 280 LIVE
Dariush vs Gamrot – Round 3
It may well be one round apiece.
Dariush is staying patient, waiting on Gamrot to throw punches so he can counter the Pole.
The Iranian-American defends a takedown attempt against the fence! Gamrot perseveres...
But Dariush is still able to keep him at bay!
UFC 280 LIVE
Dariush vs Gamrot – Round 2
Dariush misses with a one-two as Gamrot rolls under the punches and seeks a double-leg takedown, but Dariush shows his experience by reacting at once to stuff the grappling attempt.
A much better round for Dariush here, though it ends with some more wild scrambling between the fighters.
UFC 280 LIVE
Dariush vs Gamrot – Round 2
Another round, another scramble. Dariush then hammers his left shin into the outside of Gamrot’s right one.
Dariush closes distance with a knee to the head, though Gamrot blocks it.
The lightweights trade jabs and look for heavier punches.
Gamrot feints a takedown and draws a big reaction from Dariush.
UFC 280 LIVE
Dariush vs Gamrot – Round 1
Dariush grabs both of Gamrot’s legs and now tries to isolate one for a leg lock...
Gamrot wriggles free and stands, before holding Dariush against the cage wall with a body lock from behind.
Dariush is able to shake off Gamrot, who soon tries for another takedown. Dariush with some solid defence to neutralise the Pole for the time being, though the Iranian-American eventually hits the mat against the fence.
Once more Dariush stands, though, and the pair move into the centre of the Octagon.
UFC 280 LIVE
Dariush vs Gamrot – Round 1
Gamrot comes forward with a right hand at once. He shrugs off a clinch attempt from Dariush, who then fires off a couple of left kicks.
Now Gamrot tries a single-leg takedown as Dariush rushes at him, but Dariush scrambles free...
They’re still scrambling, Dariush trying to roll away... He stands, and Gamrot holds him against the fence.
Now the lightweights separate. Harsh outside low kick from Dariush, and another.
He tries for one more, but Gamrot catches it upon impact and takes down his opponent.
UFC 280 LIVE
Iranian-American Dariush was scheduled to face Makhachev in February but had to withdraw from that bout due to injury.
Makhachev went on to stop late-notice replacement Bobby Green in the first round.
Dariush was therefore very close to a title shot, but now he’s risking his ranking against a lower-ranked opponent in Poland’s Gamrot.
UFC 280 LIVE
Dariush is ranked sixth at lightweight; Gamrot is ninth.
Dariush is trying to fire himself up as he makes his way to the ring.
UFC 280 LIVE
Next up is Beneil Dariush vs Mateusz Gamrot in a clash of lightweight contenders. A statement win for either fighter here could establish them as the next No 1 contender at 155lbs.
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