UFC 280: Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev – Winners and losers

The expectation from former UFC light-weight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov and his late father, Abdulmanap, was that Khabib would retire from the UFC and shortly after that, Islam Makhachev would take his spot on the throne. Makhachev made that dream a actuality on Saturday with a dominant win over ex-champion Charles Oliveira in the principle occasion of UFC 280.

The second-round submission victory got here virtually two years since Nurmagomedov made his last title protection with a second-round submission win over Justin Gaethje in Abu Dhabi.

Within the co-main occasion, an admittedly egocentric and apologetic T.J. Dillashaw participated in a combat he had no enterprise accepting. He misplaced that combat through second spherical TKO after which promptly delivered a reasonably empty assertion to the remainder of the division, after falling to UFC bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling.

Earlier than the highest two matchups, Sean O’Malley answered many questions on his standing as a reputable contender and potential title challenger within the 135-pound division, whereas veterans Beneil Dariush and Belal Muhammad continued to rack up wins and construct their circumstances for title pictures of their respective divisions.

Learn on for all of the UFC 280 combat winners and losers. UFC 280 passed off at Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi. The primary card streamed on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews.

Winners:

Islam Makhachev: Islam Makhachev was dominant in incomes the vacant UFC light-weight title. He landed an unimaginable 73 p.c of his vital strikes and 84 p.c of his whole strikes whereas going two-for-three in takedowns and racking up 5:05 of management time in the course of the 8:16 of combat motion.

The 31-year-old protege of former UFC light-weight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov was overwhelming in getting the win.

Khabib Nurmagomedov: I’m positive Islam Makhachev was happier than Khabib Nurmagomedov on the finish of the UFC 280 fundamental occasion, however solely by an infinitesimal quantity.

Aljamain Sterling: Aljamain Sterling did what he wanted to do to beat an injured T.J. Dillashaw and whenever you’re the champ, that’s all you must do.

Sean O’Malley: I don’t know if Sean O’Malley has what it takes to change into a UFC champion, however his doubters—of which I used to be one till Saturday—must be silenced following UFC 280. O’Malley’s placing and skill to make use of his size will maintain him in any bantamweight combat. If he can shore up his takedown protection and strengthen his placing protection, he’ll be a extra vital menace than he already is.

Beneil Dariush vs. Mateusz Gamrot: There are ranges to MMA, which Mateusz Gamrot came upon on Saturday, compliments of Beneil Dariush. Dariush picked up his eighth straight win, defeating Gamrot through determination. Dariush’s takedown protection was glorious, his grappling abilities top-notch, the timing of his strikes elegant and his cardio magnificent on the best way to getting his hand raised.

Like Belal Muhammad earlier than him on this card, Dariush fought down the rankings, No. 6 vs. No. 9, and scored an upset win. In his post-fight interview, Dariush stated he wouldn’t beg for something, however the UFC matchmakers have to get him an opponent ranked above him for his subsequent outing.

As for Gamrot, the choice loss didn’t expose him, nevertheless it ought to function a lesson as to what it takes to get to the following stage of MMA.

The UFC matchmakers did a fantastic job in organising this combat.

Taila Santos: For somebody who didn’t combat over the previous two weeks, Taila Santos may need been the most important winner within the UFC ladies’s flyweight division. Alexa Grasso and Manon Fiorot picked up high-profile wins within the division over that point. Nonetheless, neither of these ladies stated they needed a matchup with that division’s champ, Valentina Shevchenko. With that, the UFC matchmakers ought to give Santos a rematch with Shevchenko. The 2 fought in June, with Shevchenko taking the split-decision nod.

Belal Muhammad: Belal Muhammad made a press release at UFC 280. An underdog towards the lower-ranked Sean Brady, Muhammad shed his status as “solely” a degree fighter, at the least for one evening, and confirmed he’s unafraid to interact in a battle.

Muhammad used strain and head strikes to interrupt down the rising Brady to get his first knockout since 2016.

The stoppage victory ought to arrange Muhammad with a title combat or, on the very least, a title eliminator. In his post-fight interview, Muhammad, who’s unbeaten in his previous 9 outings, known as for the title combat or a matchup towards Khamzat Chimaev.

Caio Borralho: Caio Borralho made some incremental enhancements at UFC 280. In his earlier combat, a July determination victory over Armen Petrosyan, he appeared content material to achieve prime management and stall. Borralho was just a little busier in that place throughout this combat. If he hopes to maneuver ahead, Borralho must up his aggression and output.

At 29, Borralho is 3-0 within the UFC and on a 10-fight profitable streak. So, he’s headed in the appropriate route, however towards extra well-rounded opponents, his method to combating will do him no favors.

Nikita Krylov: Nikita Krylov may need been too assured in his chin and placing within the early moments of his mild heavyweight bout reverse Volkan Oezdemir. Nonetheless, as soon as he settled down and fought to his strengths, he dominated the combat, racking up takedowns and controlling issues on the bottom.

I don’t know the way a lot this victory will increase Krylov within the official UFC mild heavyweight rankings. He was No. 8 earlier than his UFC 280 unanimous determination victory. Nonetheless, he ought to transfer as much as No. 7, which Dominick Reyes at present holds. Reyes is on a three-fight dropping skid. He hasn’t fought since Might 2021.

Muhammad Mokaev: Muhammad Mokaev is a proficient wrestler with a ton of confidence. He additionally simply celebrated his twenty second birthday on July 30. Sadly, that confidence, expertise, age and the hype he had behind him when he entered the UFC earlier this 12 months appear to be working towards him just a little bit.

There have been instances in his combat, a contest Mokaev entered as a -1150 favourite, towards Malcolm Gordon, the place he gave the impression to be extra keen on displaying off than getting a press release victory.

Mokaev is brash and outspoken and he has expertise and potential. However, as he stated in his post-fight interview, he can’t underestimate opponents. I believe he did {that a} bit towards Gordon.

Karol Rosa: Karol Rosa realized early that her opponent, Lina Lansberg, didn’t have a lot to supply in the best way of takedown protection and the power to get off her again. She took benefit of her opponent’s weaknesses in the course of the first two rounds. Nonetheless, Rosa additionally appeared content material to rack up management time whereas she was in prime place on the mat. If Rosa hopes to maneuver ahead, she must discover a higher stability between floor management and aggression on the bottom. If she fails to take action, she may discover herself of the fallacious facet of the scorecards.

Rosa scored on the ft within the third spherical when she discovered success together with her strikes towards a drained Lansberg.

Losers:

Charles Oliveira: Charles Oliveira misplaced his first combat in additional than 4 years on Saturday. The bout was one-sided, however Oliveira’s run between June 2018 and Saturday must be acknowledged, particularly because the 33-year-old received higher very deep into his lengthy UFC profession.

By the point Oliveira’s unbeaten run of 11 fights started in 2018, he was already almost eight years into his UFC profession. That he achieved what he did after beginning his run with the promotion as a 10-8-0-1 fighter must be recommended.

T.J. Dillashaw: T.J. Dillashaw apologizing for staying in a combat he barely had an opportunity of profitable sounded good, however these phrases really feel empty and meaningless. He selfishly stored up the looks that he would be capable to compete and for what? A paycheck? To keep away from surgical procedure? He did himself, the burden class, his opponent and the UFC a disservice by combating at UFC 280 with a shoulder he knew wouldn’t maintain up in the course of the occasion.

Petr Yan: The loss to Sean O’Malley shouldn’t harm Petr Yan an excessive amount of, if in any respect. The combat was aggressive and the break up determination end result may have simply gone his means. Yan received’t get the following title combat, however outdoors of that, he stays one of many prime fighters within the division.

Manon Fiorot: I don’t know if one thing was misplaced within the translation, however Manon Fiorot had a possibility, after scoring a win over the No. 1 ranked fighter within the UFC ladies’s flyweight division, to name for a matchup towards that division’s champion, Valentina Shevchenko. She didn’t do this, which can make her very straightforward to miss when the UFC matchmakers look to line up Shevchenko’s subsequent title combat.

Sean Brady: Sean Brady had an excellent begin to his welterweight bout reverse Belal Muhammad, however his veteran opponent had the superior recreation plan and the chin to implement that plan.

The knockout loss was the primary of Brady’s profession. With that, I’m very to see what sort of fighter Brady returns in his subsequent outing. From all the pieces we’ve seen from the 29-year-old, I count on he might be improved and out to make a degree.

Volkan Oezdemir: Volkan Oezdemir had an excellent first minute of his combat reverse Nikita Krylov. Outdoors of that transient success, he didn’t have a lot to supply.

Oezdemir, a former mild heavyweight title challenger, is now 1-3 over the previous two years.

Lina Lansberg: Lina Lansberg dropped her third straight determination within the night’s open combat. Lansberg provided little in the best way of takedown protection or the power to get off her again as soon as Karol Rosa put her to the mat.

UFC commentators: As soon as once more, Paul Felder and Daniel Cormier talked about takedowns stealing rounds. That’s not how MMA scoring works. They need to each know that. Previous and dangerous habits appear extremely laborious to interrupt for UFC workers.

Anybody who allowed T.J. Dillashaw to proceed: I don’t have an issue in letting T.J. Dillashaw begin the second spherical. I do have an issue with everybody who allowed Dillashaw to proceed as soon as it turned obvious that he was combating with one arm.

Henry Cejudo: C’mon now. Aljamain Sterling was born in New York.