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
Sean O’Malley def. Petr Yan via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28).
Wow... That is unexpected.
UFC 280 LIVE
Yan vs O’Malley – Round 3
O’Malley is dragged to the mat. Just over 90 seconds left.
O’Malley briefly tries to isolate Yan’s arm for a Kimura. Then he focuses on standing, and he’s successful.
One minute to go! O’Malley rolls under a big overhand right, then he eats a left hook...
Again Yan mixes it up well with some grappling. A slick roll from “Sugar” to get away. What a fight this has been – fight of the night for sure.
O’Malley switches stances then is tripped late in the round.
We’ll go to the scorecards...
UFC 280 LIVE
Yan vs O’Malley – Round 3
Third and final round! Yan is on the front foot, kicking to the body. Good footwork from O’Malley, though, as the American tries to find openings.
Yan strikes to force “Sugar” back to the fence, where he looks to grapple O’Malley.
But O’Malley shakes him off then lands a huge right hand, which opens a big cut on the eyebrow of Yan!
They’re trading massive shots here! A stiff left hook lands for Yan! This is chaos!
Yan eats a head kick then shoots for a takedown!
UFC 280 LIVE
Yan vs O’Malley – Round 2
Yan looks for another takedown against the cage wall, and he’s successful. O’Malley is framing against the Russian, trying to keep him at bay.
Yan slides an elbow through, though, onto the temple of the American.
Yan ends a chaotic round on top.
UFC 280 LIVE
Yan vs O’Malley – Round 2
Knees to the body by Yan, but he soon backs off.
A lovely trip from Yan after feinting a jab. O’Malley springs back to his feet.
Yan is trying to swarm O’Malley against the fence. A sharp jab gets through for the former champion.
Harsh body kick from Yan now. O’Malley kicks low then probes with his jab.
UFC 280 LIVE
Yan vs O’Malley – Round 2
Slick head movement from O’Malley to avoid Yan’s punches, then he tags the Russian with a right hand!!
He has Yan wobbled! Oh, my word!!
Now Yan with a huge right hand, and he takes down O’Malley! This is wild! O’Malley erasing any doubts about whether he belongs at this level!
Yan is in full guard and landing ground and pound from above! O’Malley is eyeing submissions; he’s still very much cognisant.
And O’Malley stands against the fence!
UFC 280 LIVE
Yan vs O’Malley – Round 1
Again Yan shoots for a takedown with O’Malley against the fence. He dumps the American to the mat! “Petr” is the chant in Abu Dhabi.
Yan moves into O’Malley’s full guard, but “Sugar” defends well, kicks away the Russian and stands!
Yan with a few leg kicks; O’Malley flicks out a couple of front kicks to the body.
Now O’Malley shoots for a takedown! A real rarity! He almost slips behind Yan and takes the back, too, just before the buzzer!
UFC 280 LIVE
Yan vs O’Malley – Round 1
Yan sometimes starts slow and is used to having five rounds to work with; tonight he only has three.
The bantamweights trade body kicks. Some stance-switching from O’Malley, who is getting backed up early.
Yan shoots for a takedown with O’Malley against the fence. Good defence from O’Malley, who shoves away Yan as the Russian tries for a knee off the break.
Oblique kick low from O’Malley. Yan just misses with an overhand left.
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