UFC 280 press conference LIVE: Latest updates as Charles Oliveira and Sean O’Malley speak in London
Re-live updates after Oliveira and O’Malley previewed their huge upcoming fights with Islam Makhachev and Petr Yan respectively
The first press conference for UFC 280 took place today, as Charles Oliveira and Sean O’Malley travelled to London to preview October’s seismic Abu Dhabi fight card.
In the main event of UFC 280 in three months’ time, Oliveira will fight Islam Makhachev for the vacant lightweight title, while O’Malley faces his biggest bantamweight test yet as he goes up against former champion Petr Yan. Elsewhere on the card, Belal Muhammad clashes with Sean Brady at welterweight, and Muhammad joined Oliveira and Makhachev at the O2 Arena today, moments before the ceremonial weigh-ins for UFC London – which takes place on Saturday.
Oliveira was stripped of the UFC lightweight title in May for missing weight, one day before his scheduled defence against Justin Gaethje. The Brazilian submitted Gaethje in the first round but was ineligible to win back the belt, instead establishing himself as No 1 contender. Meanwhile, O’Malley is one of the UFC’s most popular young fighters, and his incrementally tougher in-ring assignments have suddenly given way to a huge fight with ex-champ Yan. Oliveira vs Makhachev, O’Malley vs Yan, and Muhammad vs Brady were all announced this week, and three of those fighters previewed their upcoming bouts this afternoon. Re-live updates from the UFC 280 press conference, below.
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UFC 280 press conference LIVE
Oliveira on the prospect of Khabib emerging from retirement if Oliveira beats the Russian’s compatriot, friend and trainee Makhachev: “He has retired, deservedly. My focus is on fighting in October, then again in January.”
UFC 280 press conference LIVE
Muhammad: “I think getting a dominant win over someone like him, he’s undefeated... If I’m gonna be the champion, I’ve got to beat everyone in the division. I want to fight the toughest guys out there.”
UFC 280 press conference LIVE
Oliveira on being stripped of the lightweight title recently: “The voice of the people is the voice of God, so ask the people: Who is the champ?”
A big cheer follows!
UFC 280 press conference LIVE
Oliveira on Makhachev: “If you see my record, I’ve fought tougher people.”
UFC 280 press conference LIVE
Muhammad on whether he was disappointed not to fight a bigger name: “It’s like you pull up to a drive-through, order Khamzat [Chimaev], and get Sean Bready. I’m still gonna eat the meal.”
UFC 280 press conference LIVE
“After getting a dominant win over a top-10 guy, there was no one else in the division,” O’Malley says, with an interesting take on his No Contest against Pedro Munhoz this month...
O’Malley accidentally poked Munhoz in the eye, leading the bout to be abandoned.
UFC 280 press conference LIVE
“Big test for Petr on 22 October,” O’Malley says, after Bisping suggests the fight will be a test for O’Malley.
UFC 280 press conference LIVE
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping is here to host proceedings! Bisping is Britain’s only ever UFC title holder.
UFC 280 press conference LIVE
A reminder that Oliveira faces Islam Makhachev for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 280 this October, while O’Malley fights former bantamweight champion Petr Yan, and Muhammad takes on Sean Brady at welterweight.
Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev to fight for vacant UFC lightweight title
Oliveira was stripped of the gold in May after missing weight, one night before submitting Justin Gaethje
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