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 London weigh-ins LIVE
So, with every fighter having successfully weighed in at the official weigh-ins just now, all that is left is for them to face off at the ceremonial weigh-ins this afternoon. We’ll have live coverage of the ceremonial weigh-ins from 5pm BST.
But that’s not all...
At 3pm BST, the first UFC 280 press conference will take place at the O2 Arena. Charles Oliveira will face Islam Makhachev for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi this October, and the Brazilian will be present at this afternoon’s press conference.
Also present will be Belal Muhammad, who faces Sean Brady at UFC 280, and fast-rising Sean O’Malley. Bantamweight O’Malley was just announced as having a fight against former champion Petr Yan at UFC 280, to the surprise of every fan.
We’ll be providing live updates from that press conference, right here.
UFC London weigh-ins LIVE
Main card
Curtis Blaydes (260lbs) vs Tom Aspinall (251lbs) – heavyweight
Jack Hermansson (186) vs Chris Curtis (186)– middleweight
Paddy Pimblett (156) vs Jordan Leavitt (155) – lightweight
Nikita Krylov (204) vs Alexander Gustafsson (205) – light heavyweight
Molly McCann (125.5) vs Hannah Goldy (125) – women’s flyweight
Paul Craig (206) vs Volkan Oezdemir (205.5) – light heavyweight
Prelims
L’udovit Klein (155) vs Mason Jones (155.5) – lightweight
Marc Diakiese (156) vs Damir Hadzovic (156) – lightweight
Nathaniel Wood (145.5) vs Charles Rosa (145) – featherweight
Makwan Amirkhani (145.5) vs Jonathan Pearce (145) – featherweight
Muhammad Mokaev (126) vs Charles Johnson (125.5) – flyweight
Jai Herbert (155) vs Kyle Nelson (155) – lightweight
Mandy Bohm (125.5) vs Victoria Leonardo (125) – women’s flyweight
Claudio Silva (170.5) vs Nicolas Dalby (170) – welterweight
UFC London weigh-ins LIVE
British lightweight Marc Diakiese takes to the stage...
He looks in great shape... and makes weight! 156lbs!
Every fighter on the card has successfully weighed in.
We’ll post all the weights together in a moment.
UFC London weigh-ins LIVE
While we wait for our final fighter, here’s some light reading...
As Tom Aspinall prepares for his toughest test yet, a clash with Curtis Blaydes this weekend, The Independent spoke to the Briton’s coach Colin Heron about how Saturday’s main event will be decided.
Exclusive interview here, including some great details, such as how Aspinall has been out-wrestling members of the GB wrestling squad...
Tom Aspinall’s coach Colin Heron breaks down Curtis Blaydes challenge at UFC London
Exclusive interview: Heron, who also trains UFC fan favourite Darren Till among numerous fighters, analyses where Saturday’s main event will be won and lost
UFC London weigh-ins LIVE
We’re just waiting on Britain’s Marc Diakiese now. We’re told he’ll take to the stage in about 15 minutes.
UFC London weigh-ins LIVE
Here comes Curtis Blaydes ahead of his main event vs Tom Aspinall...
260lbs for the American! He’s 9lbs heavier than Aspinall...
UFC London weigh-ins LIVE
Paddy Pimblett bears backside and slams ‘fat-shamers’ at UFC London weigh-ins
The Liverpudlian lightweight is known to gain a significant amount of weight between fights
UFC London weigh-ins LIVE
We’re still waiting on Curtis Blaydes and Marc Diakiese.
UFC London weigh-ins LIVE
Here comes Charles Rosa, who fights London’s own Nathaniel Wood at featherweight tomorrow.
145lbs for Rosa! Championship weight.
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