UFC 280 Odds & Props: Oliveira vs. Makhachev Headlines Loaded Abu Dhabi Card

The UFC cooks up one of the most insanely stacked fight cards in recent memory to take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Two championship bouts and a whopping 13 ranked divisional fighters are on tap for October 22. We break down UFC 280 odds and props for Saturday’s top fights.

A battle for the vacant 155-pound title takes center between former UFC Lightweight Champion Charles “do Bronx” Oliveira and No. 4 lightweight Islam Makhachev in what may be the biggest fight of the year. Oddsmakers list Oliveira – priced between +138 and +160 on the moneyline – as the underdog, despite the fighter being the most recent champion in the division. Meanwhile, Makhachev lays odds between -170 and -190.

UFC 280 Main Event Odds: Oliveira vs. Makhachev

Oddsmakers opened up the betting lines in February with Makhachev as a sizable favorite (-300 to -400 range) against the Brazilian. But Oliveira has since been receiving most bettors’ support, with his shortest price currently coming at +135 at BetMGM.

UFC 280 Betting Breakdown

The co-main event features current Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling (between -165 and -175) and former two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion TJ Dillashaw (between +135 and +150) in a highly competitive title bout.

Earlier on the main card is another high-level scrap between former Bantamweight titleholder Petr Yan (between -260 and -286) and fan-favorite Sean O’Malley (between +205 and +230), as well as a lightweight contender matchup between Beneil Dariush (between +160 and +185) and Mateusz Gamrot (between -200 and -215).

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UFC 280 Event Info

• Location: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE
• Date: Saturday, October 22, 2022
• Start Time: Prelims at 10:00 a.m. ET | Main Card at 2:00 p.m. ET
• Where to Watch: ESPN+ PPV

Oliveira vs. Makhachev Betting Preview

Oliveira Must Reclaim Relinquished Belt as Underdog

Charles Oliveira (33-8 MMA; 21-8 UFC) isn’t the same fighter he once was early in his career. The Brazilian went pro in 2008, where he went 12-0 before joining – and struggling in – the UFC. With a 10-8 record with one contest to start his UFC career, do Bronx needed a change, and boy did he do just that.

The 32-year-old went on to beat his next 11 opponents – stopping 10 of them. His first shining moment was knocking out Michael Chandler at UFC 262 to claim the vacant title, which he then defended by submitting Dustin Poirier at UFC 269.

Oliveira’s next and most recent fight told a wild story. After coming in half a pound overweight on the scale before his main event against Justin Gaethje, do Bronx was forced to relinquish his belt without the opportunity to reclaim it. A frustrated Oliveira ultimately choked Gaethje to submission in the third round to remain the top-ranked lightweight contender.

The Brazilian is the third-ranked UFC fighter in the world for a reason. He’s a master of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu who owns multiple UFC records, including for the most finishes (19) and submission wins (16). Oliveira never technically lost his title in a fight, but if he wants to be labeled as the champion again, then he must conquer the longest odds since going on this win streak.

Makhachev Looks to Taste UFC Gold for First Time

Islam Makhachev (22-1 MMA; 12-1 UFC) has next in the lightweight division. Outside of his sole defeat back in 2015 in just his second UFC outing, the Russian fighter has been unbeatable since turning pro in 2010.

The 30-year-old boasts a lengthy hot streak of his own – 10 consecutive wins. The secret? His world-renowned wrestling pedigree. The former World Sambo champion is the top protege of the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov, who has shaped Makhachev into arguably the most dominant wrestler in the division. His 10 career wins by submission and 0.84 strikes absorbed per minute average – a UFC record – both say it all.

The Russian has been favored in all of his UFC fights, laying average odds of -509 over his past seven matches, per FightOdds. He blazed through his previous competition with ease to earn his first title fight, but his final opponent isn’t like anybody Makhachev has faced before. Still, he’s the favorite for a reason, and will look to demonstrate his champion-level talent on October 22.

UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev Props

Bettors can wager on a boatload of props for the event’s headliner. Here are the best odds for various prop bets around the industry:

Method of Victory
Oliveira by submission (+300, FanDuel)
Oliveira by KO/TKO/DQ (+575, BetRivers)
Oliveira by decision (+1200, DraftKings)
Makhachev by submission (+215, BetRivers)
Makhachev by KO/TKO/DQ (+575, BetRivers)
Makhachev by decision (+440, FanDuel)

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Total Rounds
2.5 (Over +135, BetMGM; Under -143, BetRivers)

Note: 2:30 minute mark of each round indicates the ‘half-round’ for under/over bets. For example, if you bet on Over 2.5 rounds, the fight would have to exceed the 2:30 minute mark of the third round for you to win.

Alternate Total Rounds
0.5 (O -800, DraftKings; U +450, DraftKings)
1.5 (O -155, BetMGM; U +138, BetRivers)
3.5 (O +200, BetMGM; U -220, Caesars)
4.5 (O +250, BetMGM; U -300, Caesars)

Will Fight Go the Distance?
Yes (+320, FanDuel)
No (-360, BetRivers)

How Fight Will End
Submission (-110, DraftKings)
KO/TKO/DQ (+220, FanDuel)
Decision (+310, FanDuel)

UFC 280 Main Card Odds

Here’s the main card lineup for UFC 280, along with each fighter’s corresponding moneyline odds at DraftKings (as of Saturday, October 22):

— Lightweight Championship: Charles Oliveira (+160) vs. Islam Makhachev (-190)
— Bantamweight Championship: Aljamain Sterling (-175) vs. TJ Dillashaw (+150)
— Bantamweight Bout: Petr Yan (-275) vs. Sean O’Malley (+230)
— Welterweight Bout: Belal Muhammad (+125) vs. Sean Brady (-145)
— Women’s Flyweight Bout: Katlyn Chookagain (+175) vs. Manon Fiorot (-205)

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