UFC 280: Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev Picks and Predictions

Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev face off on Saturday in a lightweight title bout for the main event of UFC 280 at Etihad Arena at Abu Dhabi. Oliveria is ranked 1st while Makhachev is ranked 4th. 

Charles Oliveira comes into this fight with a 33-8 record overall and he has won 11 fights in a row. Oliveira’s last fight came against Justin Gaethje in May of 2022 and that was a victory. 3:22 in the first round he locked in a rear naked choke, and was able to secure the victory. Two fights ago against Dustin Porier he also locked in a rear naked choke. Oliveira is averaging 3.53 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 3.18 significant strikes per minute. He is averaging 2.46 takedowns every 15 minutes and he is successful on 40 percent of his takedown attempts. He also stops 57 percent of his opponent's takedown attempts. He wants to get the fight to the ground and is averaging 2.9 submission attempts every 15 minutes. 

On the other side of this matchup is Islam Makhachev who sits with a 22-1 record overall and he has won ten flights in a row since coming into the UFC. Makhachev’s last fight came against Bobby Green and it was midway through the first round that he won by knockout. Makhachev is averaging 2.27 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 0.84 significant strikes per minute. He wants to get the fight to the ground and is averaging 3.41 takedowns every 15 minutes and he is successful on 65 percent of his takedown attempts. He also stops 88 percent of his opponent's takedown attempts. He is averaging 1.2 submission attempts every 15 minutes.