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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Mike Bohn

Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev vacant title fight set for UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi

Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev will determine the next lightweight champion at UFC 280.

Oliveira (33-8 MMA, 21-8 UFC) will attempt to regain the belt he lost on the scale in May when he meets Makhachev (23-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) on the Oct. 22 card at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The promotion announced the vacant championship bout on Saturday’s UFC on ABC 3 broadcast.

Oliveira, No. 1 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie lightweight rankings, is currently riding an 11-fight winning streak. His involvement in title bouts began at UFC 262 in May 2021 when he knocked out Michael Chandler to claim the strap that had been relinquished by Khabib Nurmagomedov when he retired. “Do Bronx” subsequently submitted Dustin Poirier for the first defense of his reign.

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