Charles Oliveira vs Islam Makhachev Prediction: Over 1.5 rounds?

UFC 280 on October 22, 2022 will be headlined by a Lightweight championship fight - for the vacant title - between former champion Charles Oliveira and rising star Islam Makhachev. The title became vacant when Oliveira was stripped of the championship for failing to make weight in a title defense against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274. The matchup is highly anticipated as it features two fighters who get into the cage at ‘Fight Island’ on a whooping combined 21 fights unbeaten streak.

The Brazilian-born former Lightweight champion has a storied history in the UFC. “Don Bronx” has the most submissions and most finishes in UFC history. His last loss was against Paul Felder in 2017 at UFC 218. Coming into this battle, he is on an eleven-match winning streak. Having joined the UFC in 2010, Oliveira won the Lightweight championship after defeating Michael Chandler via a second-round TKO. He knocked out Justin Poirier in his first title defense with a performance of the night display. His second title defense against Gaethje was marred by the weigh-in controversy. After missing weight, the bout went ahead with only Justin Gaethje eligible to win the title but that didn’t deter “don Bronx” from a first-round submission win via rear-naked choke. 

A rising star in the UFC, the Russian fighter is unbeaten in the UFC since 2016 when he lost in his second fight in the promotion. Since then he has defeated everything that has been thrown at him, including picking up a Fight of the Night bonus award against Arman Tsarukyan. Even though he has not fought the most renowned names in the division, he has steadily risen to now occupy the number four slot in the Lightweight rankings. The 2016 world combat Sambo gold medalist is on a ten-match winning streak. 

A tough fight to call between the two best fighters in the 155Ibs class. Islam Makhachev has been tipped by the bookies as the favorite but he will be coming up against Oliveira who has not tasted defeat in over ten bouts. Both fighters come into this battle full of confidence in their skill and abilities. Oliveira has the most submission wins in the UFC. The Brazilian grappler has in recent years added solid knockouts to his repertoire which has seen him dispatch the best fighters in the division. What is up for debate is if any of those fighters had the wrestling skills of the Dagestani fighter, Makhachev? Islam has been ruthless in bringing down his opponents and finishing them on the ground. Oliveira, who has suffered knockdowns in his last three fights, will have to be ready for a wrestling match against the best in the division. While we acknowledge the absolute power of these two fighters, we believe the battle will not be decided in the first five minutes.

• Over 1.5 rounds at 1.704 on 1xbet
• W1 at 2.37 odds on Bet365
• Will Fight Go the distance, Yes at 3.70 odds on Betway