UFC 280 is on Saturday at the Etihad Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

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The action will be getting underway earlier than normal tomorrow. The prelims begin at 10:30 AM ET and the main card begins at 2:00 PM ET. Get your bets in tonight if you’re planning on sleeping in tomorrow.

There are two title fights scheduled for UFC 280. Charles Oliveira will fight Islam Makhachev in the main event for the lightweight title and Aljamain Sterling will fight TJ Dillashaw for the bantamweight title.

Oliveira vs. Makhachev Predictions

Fight Odds: Oliveira (+160) vs. Makhachev (-190)

Oliveira (33-8-0-1) has won 11 fights in a row. He’s coming off a first round submission victory against Justin Gaethje. He has finished 10 of 11 opponents during his current winning streak.

Makhachev (22-1) has won ten consecutive fights, but he hasn’t fought the level of competition that Oliveira has fought. The lack of experience against top lightweights could pose a problem.

Oliveira will have a 4” reach advantage and he’s the more active striker (3.53 SLpM vs. 2.27 SLpM).

Both of these fighters are great grapplers, though. Oliveira averages 2.46 takedowns per 15 minutes (40% accuracy), while Makhachev averages 3.41 takedowns per 15 minutes (65% accuracy).

Oliveira holds the UFC record for submission wins (16). He has 21 submissions in his career. Makhachev has 10 submission wins (5 in the UFC). Will one of these guys tap out his opponent on Saturday?

This is a close fight and tough to call. Oliveira has an experience edge, but Makhachev has looked close to unstoppable since last year. The best bet is to take over 1.5 rounds in the main event.

These two will feel each other out and neither will stop the other early in the fight.

Best Bet: Over 1.5 Rounds (-163)

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Sterling vs. Dillashaw Predictions

Fight Odds: Sterling (-175) vs. Dillashaw (+150)

Sterling (21-3) has won seven consecutive fights. He won a tight split decision in his last fight against Petr Yan. Sterling has won ten fights by decision and eight fights by submission in his career.

Dillashaw (17-4) hasn’t fought much lately and he’s getting older (36). After a lengthy layoff, Dillashaw was back in the cage last July. He defeated Cory Sandhagen by split decision in that fight.

It was good to see Dillashaw could still go five rounds against a tough opponent. Sterling will come into this fight with a 4” reach advantage, which he’ll utilize to keep Dillashaw at a distance.

Sterling averages 4.56 SLpM and 2.24 SApM, while Dillashaw averages 5.26 SLpM and 3.27 SApM.

Dillashaw is likely going to have a tough time taking Sterling to the mat. Sterling will have the striking edge. With Dillashaw being out of action over a year, I’m backing Sterling to retain the title.

Best Bet: Sterling ML (-175)

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Yan vs. O’Malley Predictions

Fight Odds: Yan (-265) vs. O’Malley (+225)

Yan (16-3) will fight Sean O’Malley (15-1-0-1) on the main card at UFC 280. Yan is coming off a loss to Sterling, but he has wins against Sandhagen, Jose Aldo, Urijah Faber and more top bantamweights.

O’Malley hasn’t fought the same level of competition. O’Malley is coming off a no contest in his last fight due to an accidental eye poke. He had won three in a row prior to that.

Against one of his toughest opponents back in 2020, O’Malley was knocked out by Marlon Vera in the opening round. These two guys are going to throw haymakers at each other in this fight.

O’Malley averages 7.75 SLpM and Yan averages 5.45 SLpM. However, O’Malley will have a 5” reach advantage. Will he be able to keep Yan at a distance and pick him apart with his striking?

Yan is also capable of takedowns, but O’Malley has decent takedown defense (62%). Sugar is a live underdog this weekend and he needs to win if he wants to keep moving up the rankings.

I’m betting on O’Malley to pull off the upset, which would likely earn him a title shot soon.

Best Bet: O’Malley ML (+225)

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UFC 280 Betting Lines

Charles Oliveira (+160) vs. Islam Makhachev (-190)

Aljamain Sterling (-175) vs. TJ Dillashaw (+150)

Petr Yan (-265) vs. Sean O’Malley (+225)

Beneil Dariush (+160) vs. Mateusz Gamrot (-190)

Katlyn Chookagian (+180) vs. Manon Fiorot (-210)

Belal Muhammad (+120) vs. Sean Brady (-140)

Makhmud Muradov (+175) vs. Caio Borralho (-205)

Volkan Oezdemir (+150) vs. Nikita Krylov (-175)

Abubakar Nurmagomedov (-165) vs. Gadzhi Omargadzhiev (+140)

Armen Petrosyan (-205) vs. AJ Dobson (+175)

Muhammad Mokaev (-1250) vs. Malcolm Gordon (+800)

Karol Rosa (-330) vs. Lina Lansberg (+275)